Sump design

helms20 · Oct 20, 2017

Hey everyone I was hoping you could look at my sump design and help me tweak it.

I am not sure if the fuge is large enough. It's only a 20 gallon tank and pulling from a 45 gallon tall tank.

Anyways I am willing to change it but not sure how or what I need to change if anything.

Basically it will be an inlet that overflows through a sponge/foam down through a sock, under a baffle into the skimmer section, over a baffle to the fuge, through an under-over-under bubble trap to a small return section.

Let me know what you all think when you have time. Dimensions are 30 long, 12 wide, and 12.5 tall.

Caseyoidae · Oct 20, 2017

Looks good! Make sure skimmer fits

theMeat · Oct 20, 2017

Looks good. Looks like inlet/sock area could be smaller. Could have drain pipe going directly into sock to gain some fuge room. Could also get a hang on sock holder

helms20 · Oct 21, 2017

theMeat said:
Looks good. Looks like inlet/sock area could be smaller. Could have drain pipe going directly into sock to gain some fuge room. Could also get a hang on sock holder

Good idea. The socks I looked at were 4" in diameter so I marked it at 6. So you think remove the inlet piece and expand the fuge into that area, as well as reduce the sock filter size?

Would I even need a baffle between the sock and skimmer? I wasn't sure so for worst case I drew one in.

cracker · Oct 21, 2017

hello helms. Your design looks good. I wouldn't think Ya need a baffle between sock & skimmer. as the sock will take care of any micro bubbles. Just make sure the skimmer intake won't be close to/facing the sock .

helms20 · Oct 21, 2017

cracker said:
hello helms. Your design looks good. I wouldn't think Ya need a baffle between sock & skimmer. as the sock will take care of any micro bubbles. Just make sure the skimmer intake won't be close to/facing the sock .

Great thanks for the comments.

helms20 · Oct 21, 2017

Ok so this brings up another question. What about reactors? Should I pipe out to a reactor through a manifold on my drain lines, or on the return, or something else? I was thinking I would need a pho and carbon reactor. Since this is my first tank and first sump I am not sure.

cracker · Oct 21, 2017

I would think for reactors You would want to feed off the return. However You then get into pump size pressure ratings etc. The pump has to be powerful enough to supply "some" pressure to the reactors & still have decent flow up to the display. There is a good thread last night on manifolds.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/manifolds-are-you-running-one.331712/#post-4127841

Idoc · Oct 21, 2017

I wouldn't put a manifold off the drain lines... manifold should either go off the return line or use a separate pump to feed.

As previously mentioned, the baffle between the socks and skimmer section can be removed. This increases the skimmer space so you have room for future expansion of items. I think your fuge section is plenty big for a 45g DT. I've seen alot of people shoot for the fuge to be at least 10% of the DT. In your case, that would be at least 4.5g... How many gallons is your fuge going to hold?

Make sure you do those sump chamber "gallons" calculations... and more importantly, the gallons of "free space" above the baffles so you know how much DT water can back-siphon into your sump without worrying about an overflow flood.

helms20 · Oct 21, 2017

Ok this tank is only 12" tall so should I take it back and get a 29 gallon tall? It will be shorter but deeper.

helms20 · Oct 21, 2017

@Idoc yes the gallons for the fuge as was posted would be 4.2 gallons roughly.

theMeat · Oct 21, 2017

The longer the sump, the bigger the refugium could be, the less need for water changes and reactors.
As far as height... Would say 16-18 inches is ideal, but it depends on how much room you have under tank, and height of skimmer, and height of water skimmer is supposed to sit in.
Pick your skimmer then build your sump around that.
Have one pump for return, and another for running reactors so it's not a guess as to how much water is going to display.
Make sure to drill a hole/siphon break just below tank water surface on return line, and measure how much water falls down to sump so you now max fill on sump and avoid floods

cracker · Oct 21, 2017

there Ya go helms, That was a lot of good info. That should keep You busy planing a while .

helms20 · Oct 21, 2017

theMeat said:
The longer the sump, the bigger the refugium could be, the less need for water changes and reactors.
As far as height... Would say 16-18 inches is ideal, but it depends on how much room you have under tank, and height of skimmer, and height of water skimmer is supposed to sit in.
Pick your skimmer then build your sump around that.
Have one pump for return, and another for running reactors so it's not a guess as to how much water is going to display.
Make sure to drill a hole/siphon break just below tank water surface on return line, and measure how much water falls down to sump so you now max fill on sump and avoid floods

Question if you don't mind. Would I Be better off with doing away with the reactors and increasing my sump or run with both?

JOKER · Oct 21, 2017

If you plan a fuge, you would want the return in the middle to get the best use from fuge I think. I was always told to feed fuge dirty water instead of skimmed water. I am running nothing other than rock, skimmer, filter sock in skimmer section, and a deep sand bed in sump on my roughly 200 gallon system. It is setup with skimmer on one end, deep sand bed on the other, and return in the middle. Last time I checked phosphate was .02, and nitrate was around 8

helms20 · Oct 21, 2017

Joker thank you for the info. I think I am going to return this tank and purchase one from someone that is very similar but 7" taller so I have a little more wiggle room.

theMeat · Oct 21, 2017

What kind of reactor?

helms20 · Oct 21, 2017

@the meat I was thinking a pho and a carbon. Not sure which one

theMeat · Oct 21, 2017

You can run both off one pump, and one return. Reactors are mostly external, only room for a pump is needed.

Try to set up as big a fuge, or algae scrubber, or bio pellets, and avoid carbon of phos would be my plan. Then if you need to add it ....

Would also disagree with return pump in middle