Sump design feedback

[NubNub]

Hello

I am going to build myself a sump for my tank and was looking for feedback of my design and alternatives if you think my design is no good.

The sump is for a 600 litre tank.
The area for a sump I have is 95cm * 70cm.
I'm going to build it out of 10mm acrylic.
The filter sock will also be in a separate box above the skimmer section, so know they are missing from design and area given above is for sump without filter section.

The water will flow into the skimmer section along the back and then into the return. I am going to feed the refugium with its own feed, and the water level will be higher than the rest of the sump (50cm). In the rest of the sump it will be 40cm in skimmer section and 30cm in the rest of sump.

Paul

 

[clsanchez77]

Looks great. In fact it looks a lot like the Trigger Systems Emerald 34 I have on my tank, but bigger

I'm a little rough on my metric but I do have a few comments:

• What skimmer are you going to use? Knowing the actual skimmer will help determine if the skimmer area is big enough. Also, the skimmer dictates the water height.
• 65 cm is almost 26 inches and is way too deep for a sump. Skimmer typically only operate at 8"-10" water. Similarly, your refugium will be too deep for efficient light penetration and the bottom of it will not be lit well enough to compete with your display tank for algae growth. You will end up with about 15" of sump height not used.
• What size display tank...more specifically what is the footprint area of the tank? How many liters of water will you need to hold when the pump is off. Your sump height need only be about 10" to 12" of water plus the height of your pump off reserve plus only a "few" more inches (or about 30 mm or so).
• 4 cm between baffles is enough to function but will be hard to construct. Give yourself more space or fabricate some templates/supports so you get that right.

The Emerald 34 is 34" (86 mm) long by 15" (38 mm) high and 15" (38 mm) wide and is constructed of 6 mm acrylic and is the perfect sized sump for my 110 gallon (416 liter) tank.

Despite the comments, overall I like it

 

[NubNub]

Hello

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm not sure what skimmer I'm using but will take your comments on board and before I commit to the size I will pick a skimmer and make sure it fits, and make sure I can do something with the water level (may have to make stand for it to sit on)

The tank size is 125cm L * 60cm W * 70cm H which is about 600 litres.

I will give the baffles a bit more space to help make my life easier.

What depth do you think is good for a refugium to work correctly?

Once again thanks for the feedback. It has settled me down in thinking I'm going in the right direction, once combined with the alterations you have suggested.

Paul

 

[clsanchez77]

I definitely think you are in the right direction . The issue with refugium depth is light penetration. Even if you use a very powerful light to penetrate a deep refugium, once chaeto grows thick, nothing underneath will be lit. I would target 10"-12" depth. I think I am running mine at 10" but I would have to double check it.

 

[NubNub]

Ok thanks

 

[MarsRover]

Looks great. In fact it looks a lot like the Trigger Systems Emerald 34 I have on my tank, but bigger

I'm a little rough on my metric but I do have a few comments:

1. What skimmer are you going to use? Knowing the actual skimmer will help determine if the skimmer area is big enough. Also, the skimmer dictates the water height.
2. 65 cm is almost 26 inches and is way too deep for a sump. Skimmer typically only operate at 8"-10" water. Similarly, your refugium will be too deep for efficient light penetration and the bottom of it will not be lit well enough to compete with your display tank for algae growth. You will end up with about 15" of sump height not used.
3. What size display tank...more specifically what is the footprint area of the tank? How many liters of water will you need to hold when the pump is off. Your sump height need only be about 10" to 12" of water plus the height of your pump off reserve plus only a "few" more inches (or about 30 mm or so).
4. 4 cm between baffles is enough to function but will be hard to construct. Give yourself more space or fabricate some templates/supports so you get that right.

The Emerald 34 is 34" (86 mm) long by 15" (38 mm) high and 15" (38 mm) wide and is constructed of 6 mm acrylic and is the perfect sized sump for my 110 gallon (416 liter) tank.

Despite the comments, overall I like it

With respect, i have a few issues with the liberties of assumptions your response takes, without indicating them to the OP....

1. A deep sump can and will work with ANY skimmer. Yes, many skimmers require a specific water level height, thus, with a given water level you will have to put the skimmer on top of a stand inside your sump in order to get it to that height. This is only a problem if the clearance above your sump (i.e. if your sump is under your tank... the height from the top of your sump to the bottom of your tank/stand) is insufficient to support the height of the skimmer above the water level. The way i am doing it in my sump is i am getting marine pure blocks and laying it down like tile work in the bottom of my sump section to elevate my skimmer to the appropriate water level. Doubly filtration.....
2. 26 inches is, no doubt, a deep sump; as compared to most folks out there. That said, if you can support it in your situation, go for it if you want, just know it isn't necessary...though...more water volume the better i guess. Yes, light penetration to the bottom will be harder BUT that is assuming a glass bottom refugium and additionally the response above assumes you will be growing chaeto. With a super deep sump you can run a deep sand bed in your sump which helps with filtration and still have plenty of room for chaeto etc... 6" sand bed in your sump brings your "bottom" to water surface height to 20" which is more like a normal sump water depth. Plenty of room to stuff tons of live rock etc... in there.
3. sure
4. I completely reject this statement. I have a vectra L1 running on full blast and the space between my 3, 3 baffle partitions is only a mere 1/2" (1.27cm) (it worked with 3/8" too...). You can easily assemble it if you turn the tank on its small side (so when the baffles are installed they are flat/parallel to the ground), and layer the baffles with spacers like you are building a layered cake. This is what i did and it was cake.

My biggest concern with you building these dimensions is that you are building it yourself out of acrylic.

First questions first, what thickness of acrylic are you using? Are you doing any sort of additional bracing to the tank (highly recommended...)?

 

[clsanchez77]

With respect, i have a few issues with the liberties of assumptions your response takes, without indicating them to the OP

There is always one in every crowd.

what thickness of acrylic are you using?

In his post.

Have a good day

 

[NubNub]

I'm going to use 10mm acrylic, and I was going to bracing round top of tank, and the bottom and too of refugium.
I was going to try a deep sand bed aswell

 

[CastAway]

Designed my own sump and regret placing my baffles so close together; make cleaning very difficult. Wish I would had provided for the width of my hand and forearm at least.

Just my two cents.

 

[NubNub]

All views welcome

 

[NubNub]

All views welcome

 

[MarsRover]

I'm going to use 10mm acrylic, and I was going to bracing round top of tank, and the bottom and too of refugium.
I was going to try a deep sand bed aswell

yeah, i mean thats close to 1/2" and with the baffles, that is like support. might work! only one way to find out

Designed my own sump and regret placing my baffles so close together; make cleaning very difficult. Wish I would had provided for the width of my hand and forearm at least.
Just my two cents.

Yeah. I figured between a coat hanger and a bottle brush i will be okay.

 

[NubNub]

I am definitely going to make baffles bigger, did not even consider the whole cleaning aspect.