Sump Design

[FishDaddy1992]

I have a 55 gallon Aquamaxx that I am wanting to set up to replace my 36 gallon bowfin. I am considering a sump vs HOB. I have a 20 gallon and a 10 gallon that I could use as sumps. My problem is I am not sure which one to go with. Further, are there any ”blueprints“ for the baffles and such for the sump? If not, how do I know where to put the baffles and such? I am wanting to put a skimmer and refuge in the Sump and place heaters and such in it.

 

[Kazumi]

You put the baffles wherever you want them. Figure out how big a refugium you want, and put a baffle there. For where the skimmer would be, make it large enough to fit the skimmer that you want, and add some extra space in case you want to go with a larger footprint skimmer in the future.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Your baffle location is determined by the equipment you wish to put in there.....especially with the skimmer. I'd suggest getting the skimmer first and actually doing dry runs in getting it in and out with baffles marked. You want to make sure you can clear the stand to get it out.

I spent some time in determining this and also baffle height (trying to maximize water volume). I calculated back flow volume when the return pump was turned off. It's an old picture, but you get the idea....40B sump (actually 50B):

Two 1 1/2 return lines in the back corners. Filter sock (no longer being used) and skimmer in the left section. Refugium on the right and return section and biopellet reactor (no longer being used) in the center. This is my third sump with baffles in the same location but this one without bubble traps....found I didn't need them.

 

[Super Fly]

I'd go with the larger 20 gal sump, for my tank I used a 29G tall aquarium to build one then ended up getting a larger sump later. Here's a good website I used to help design/learn about sump

Reef Tank Sump Design - gmacreef

A reef tank sump can take advantage of modern overflow methods to process water quietly and safely. It will also fail-safes in place to prevent floods.

gmacreef.com

 

[FishDaddy1992]

Your baffle location is determined by the equipment you wish to put in there.....especially with the skimmer. I'd suggest getting the skimmer first and actually doing dry runs in getting it in and out with baffles marked. You want to make sure you can clear the stand to get it out.

I spent some time in determining this and also baffle height (trying to maximize water volume). I calculated back flow volume when the return pump was turned off. It's an old picture, but you get the idea....40B sump (actually 50B):

Two 1 1/2 return lines in the back corners. Filter sock (no longer being used) and skimmer in the left section. Refugium on the right and return section and biopellet reactor (no longer being used) in the center. This is my third sump with baffles in the same location but this one without bubble traps....found I didn't need them.

How do I know if I need a bubble trap or not? Seems like I would have to set up the sump and run it to find out if I need it. Further, what are the baffle Measurements for a bubble trap?

 

[redfishbluefish]

If you know your skimmer, you can ask if it's a bubble maker. When I built my first sump I had an external skimmer and was told to expect bubbles. I made that section with three baffles:

Baffles were 1 inch apart with the center baffle about 1 inch off the floor of the tank.

My second build had a single baffle that wasn't siliconed to the tank but was attached to the first thicker baffle:

The blue "bubble" baffle was about 1 inch from the siliconed baffle. It was with this sump that I noticed I didn't have a bubble issue. The final sump eliminated that blue baffle.

 

[RocketEngineer]

I built mine based on the skimmer size as well:

 

[1ocean]

I built mine 60x24x18 out of 1/4 inch acrylic. Now I am removing the reactors from the chamber to add 100 pounds of florida live rock. Building a separate box to add to the sump for the reactors I am building. The reactors will be in this "dry box" just as a precaution incase a reactor leaks. A separate pump in the sump will feed the reactors and the ozone reactor. The reactors will return water to the last chamber of the sump and the ozone reactor will return water to a second skimmer. Here are a few pictures of the sump now and during build.