Sump design review

[Tnops]

Hello buddies this is my first diy sump design (30g long for a 75g display), does the measurements and chambers look sensible enough to implement?

 

[Saltyreef]

The fuge and frag section wont have any waterflow if you build the sump chambers like this.

You want a drain on one end and a return on the other for coast to coast cascading flow.

 

[Tnops]

The fuge and frag section wont have any waterflow if you build the sump chambers like this.

You want a drain on one end and a return on the other for coast to coast cascading flow.

yea glad I posted before realizing stupid things like this haha. If I want it to work in a similar fashion like having the return pump in the middle, how would I be able to do it? Do I need water coming in from both sides?

 

[Saltyreef]

yea glad I posted before realizing stupid things like this haha. If I want it to work in a similar fashion like having the return pump in the middle, how would I be able to do it? Do I need water coming in from both sides?

Yeah, with the correct height baffles.

 

[Tnops]

Yeah, with the correct height baffles.

Do you know what I would need to change about the heights?

 

[Saltyreef]

You would want to make a bubble trap on both sides of the return if you wanted to design it that way and figure out how you want the water to flow through the fuge and frag chambers.

 

[Asm481]

Are you gonna have enough volume for drain down when you shut off pump or the power is cut? Wish I could have found a 30 long when I built my sump. I just built a sump with a 20 long, 8 inch for skimmer, fuge and return at 5 inch height.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Looks familiar…Now where have I seen that design before…

 

[Tnops]

Looks familiar…Now where have I seen that design before…

Yup took some inspiration from this one along with others while researching! This one looks really ideal for the equipment that I am running

 

[Tnops]

Are you gonna have enough volume for drain down when you shut off pump or the power is cut? Wish I could have found a 30 long when I built my sump. I just built a sump with a 20 long, 8 inch for skimmer, fuge and return at 5 inch height.

Yea I think it will be fine, it should let about about 7-10 gallons based on the previous sump and since its a 30 it should hold well. I also quite literally found this one on the sidewalk haha

 

[archercorals]

The macro algae space will not do much. Id choose between frags or Marco.

 

[Troylee]

yea glad I posted before realizing stupid things like this haha. If I want it to work in a similar fashion like having the return pump in the middle, how would I be able to do it? Do I need water coming in from both sides?

What you have is fine.. bring your drains into the skimmer section and either “tee” off the return into the fuge/frag section or use a small pump in the return section to feed the fuge/frags..

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Just my 2 cents, why not stick with a proven basic design like the the trigger systems.

 

[Tnops]

Just my 2 cents, why not stick with a proven basic design like the the trigger systems.

If you can pay for me I would be more than glad to use it

 

[Tnops]

What you have is fine.. bring your drains into the skimmer section and either “tee” off the return into the fuge/frag section or use a small pump in the return section to feed the fuge/frags..

For feeding the fuge and frag with water, I will place another hose from the overflow in the refugium section which will serve the same purpose as the pump in the return section right?

 

[Troylee]

For feeding the fuge and frag with water, I will place another hose from the overflow in the refugium section which will serve the same purpose as the pump in the return section right?

You can do it that way also but… if you Tee off your drain you’ll get lots of detrius that will settle in your fuge vs clean water on a return… it can be done but it’s more Maintence..

 

[RocketEngineer]

I second using the return pump. I avoid putting restrictions in my drains except in very defined situations. In the pic above, I had two outlets on the return: a media reactor and the refugium supply. Tan it like that for years.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

If you can pay for me I would be more than glad to use it

Hello, what I mean is make your sump design based on the trigger sumps, basically don't redesign the wheel

 

[RocketEngineer]

Hello, what I mean is make your sump design based on the trigger sumps, basically don't redesign the wheel

It’s not about recreating the wheel, it’s about designing something for a different set of goals. In my case, I wanted more height in the refugium section vs my skimmer water height. And as I didn’t want particulate in my refugium plus not liking filter socks, the conventional layout was not a good option. By placing the pump in the middle, I achieved my goals.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

It’s not about recreating the wheel, it’s about designing something for a different set of goals. In my case, I wanted more height in the refugium section vs my skimmer water height. And as I didn’t want particulate in my refugium plus not liking filter socks, the conventional layout was not a good option. By placing the pump in the middle, I achieved my goals.

Hello, I understand your awesome design, I was mostly referring to someone doing their first sump design