Sump design help

[andreasch]

Hello everyone. I need your help please about sumps.

I have a 600 liters tank (2m x 50cm x 60cm) and am gonna make my first reef tank. Am in the process of changing my sump I was using so far for freshwater and I'll make a new one with dimensions 120cm x 30cm x 45cm (that's the max I can get). The guy who will make me the sump told me he will make me a 4-chambers one. He asked me if I want a specific design of the sump or if want to leave it on him to do it how he thinks is best. And since I am new to this, can u suggest me anything on how to do it, or some details I shall have in mind from before?

I know i need 1 chamber for filter media, 1 for skimmer/reactors, one for the return pump, so I have one chamber left. He asked me if I want this chamber to be used as a place to put new fish there for acclimation before add them on main tank. Is this a good thing to have? I thought it would be better to use it as a refugium instead of this but tell me also what u think please

Thanks in advance and sorry if all these questions are already answered in previous posts and didn't notice them.

 

[Ludders]

I would have one area for filter socks, fuge area, a larger area for equipment, followed by a bubble trap, then the return area.

 

[Idoc]

If you have the space, maybe plan for a refugium. Thou will want this space tho be about 10% of your total system to be of much use for nutrient export, though. I have my refugium in the middle of my sump between the skimmer and the return pump sections. If I could redo this decision, I would move the sump after the return section and feed it with a line off my return line so I could control three flow through it better. Doesn't hurt to plan it into your sump now...adding it later is more difficult. If you don't use the space as a refugium eventually, then you could use it for other things.

 

[andreasch]

If you have the space, maybe plan for a refugium. Thou will want this space tho be about 10% of your total system to be of much use for nutrient export, though. I have my refugium in the middle of my sump between the skimmer and the return pump sections. If I could redo this decision, I would move the sump after the return section and feed it with a line off my return line so I could control three flow through it better. Doesn't hurt to plan it into your sump now...adding it later is more difficult. If you don't use the space as a refugium eventually, then you could use it for other things.

Thank u. When u say 10% you mean of the display tank? Or included also the volume of the sump?

 

[Idoc]

Thank u. When u say 10% you mean of the display tank? Or included also the volume of the sump?

I've seen it quoted anywhere from 10-20% of the total water volume. But many people do less size understanding that the refugium won't be the total nutrient export for their system. But, if you can get a big ball of chaeto growing, its gotta be working pretty well pulling nutrients from the water. Mine is actually slightly less than 10% size and was only being used for chaeto growth, but I'm not using it right now... hope to get it back online soon. I have to come up with a better way to light mine in the middle of the sump... the light spill over into the other sections was causing bad algae growth in thise sections. Having it on the end of the sump would be better to control light spread.

 

[Greenfishman]

My sump is in 4 sections.
1. Has the filter sock/skimmer.
2. Extra live rock (poss turn into refugium)
3. Return pump (room to place a reactor if I require)
4. ATU reservoir for RO water.

Works for me!

 

[andreasch]

After the experience you had so far from your sumps, how you would divide now a 120cm x 30cm x 45cm(heigh) sump? In how many chambers and in what dimensions each chamber?

 

[Nathan Milender]

Does anyone use the dead space under their skimmer for anything? I need to raise my skimmer 4", this is a lot of space underneath. I was thinking of just using plastic garbage for this but then I thought why not use sand or something active? Since I do not hear about anyone else doing this I feel like there is some complication I am unaware of.