Sump Question.. See pictures

[fragmatic]

I am not sure but I think you can plumb that skimmer and not have in inside the sump.  That would help a lot. Also, if this is the case, you can plumb a branch off your return into the skimmer supply with a valve. You would use that valve to prime the skimmer when it needs a prime.

 

[fragmatic]

I am not sure but I think you can plumb that skimmer and not have in inside the sump.  That would help a lot. Also, if this is the case, you can plumb a branch off your return into the skimmer supply with a valve.  You would use that valve to prime the skimmer when it needs a prime.

 

[fragmatic]

What happened? I don't have this edit thing figured out yet...LOL

 

[ReefRacer]

I really wanna turn the pump on its other side where it would be laying on more surface of the mag 9.5,I did install the foam thing that came with it finally and it has helped out with catching bubbles

That was going to be my suggestion although not optimum...all the good critters in fuge could get caught also. Can't see from the pics how te water is falling into the fuge, but its just falling in straight, my experience you'll get bubbles no matter how slow. I made a little spray bar with PVC and attached it to the fuge inlet with a 90. Had the drilled holes under the water line of the fuge and ZERO bubbles. Also spreads the flow across the whole fuge.

 

[fragmatic]

You can put a sock on the return outlet to reduce the heck out of the bubbles. Just remember to take it off once and a while and wash it out. The fact is any thin coarse synthetic actual sock will work with a draw string added, but they sell them for the purpose at your local fish store.

 

[fragmatic]

You can put a sock on the return outlet to reduce the heck out of the bubbles.  Just remember to take it off once and a while and wash it out.  The fact is any thin coarse synthetic actual sock will work with a draw string added, but they sell them for the purpose at your local fish store.

EDIT: I hope. a panty hose foot works great.

 

[fragmatic]

OK. I need to go find some instructions on this forum thing. 'back in a bit.

 

[Budman's Corals]

You can put a sock on the return outlet to reduce the heck out of the bubbles.  Just remember to take it off once and a while and wash it out.  The fact is any thin coarse synthetic actual sock will work with a draw string added, but they sell them for the purpose at your local fish store.

EDIT: I hope. a panty hose foot works great.

I had a sock on my older tank and im using it now,but i dont get any bubbles from teh flow coming into the skimer chamber ,theres no air in the system like when u use a dorso

 

[fragmatic]

That was going to be my suggestion although not optimum...all the good critters in fuge could get caught also. Can't see from the pics how te water is falling into the fuge, but its just falling in straight, my experience you'll get bubbles no matter how slow. I made a little spray bar with PVC and attached it to the fuge inlet with a 90. Had the drilled holes under the water line of the fuge and ZERO bubbles. Also spreads the flow across the whole fuge.

You are right, do not use the "foam thing" it traps bad stuff and causes problems. The only filter should be the live rock and the skimmer, and any GFO or carbon type reactors you choose to use.

 

[fragmatic]

Sorry for the constant banter, I'm trying to help and figure out this thing at the same time. My sump if very similar to yours. My skimmer has to be in a compartment, so I put it in a separate small tank. Here is how I did that and some of this may be of use to you.

I put an additional pump in the center compartment. That pump feeds my small tank with the skimmer, another separate tank which is my refugeium, and my reactors, each of these has a valve to shut off flow to them. The other two tanks (one small for the skimmer and the refugium) are up slightly higher than the sump and are acrylic. This let me drill the sides and have over flows back into the middle compartment of the sump. Additionally, this adds total volume of water to your system which is always a good thing, and allows for a REAL refugium with a trickle flow that grows pods and such.

 

[Budman's Corals]

Sorry for the constant banter, I'm trying to help and figure out this thing at the same time. My sump if very similar to yours. My skimmer has to be in a compartment, so I put it in a separate small tank. Here is how I did that and some of this may be of use to you.

I put an additional pump in the center compartment. That pump feeds my small tank with the skimmer, another separate tank which is my refugeium, and my reactors, each of these has a valve to shut off flow to them. The other two tanks (one small for the skimmer and the refugium) are up slightly higher than the sump and are acrylic. This let me drill the sides and have over flows back into the middle compartment of the sump. Additionally, this adds total volume of water to your system which is always a good thing, and allows for a REAL refugium with a trickle flow that grows pods and such.

sounds like a good idea but what would i need the 50 gallon sump for then.
let me ask ya,the water level on the right and center chambers will always be the same ,is that correct

 

[fragmatic]

sounds like a good idea but what would i need the 50 gallon sump for then.
let me ask ya,the water level on the right and center chambers will always be the same ,is that correct

The water level on the left is maintained by the overflow partition, the center water level is maintained by the bubble trap dividers, the last one on the right will drop with evaporation. That one in the right is the one that needs to be sensed by the ATO level indicator. The actual RODI water being delivered by the ATO can be put in the system anywhere.

 

[fragmatic]

50 gallons? OK, I see your point. No, you should put it all in there then! LOL

 

[ReefRacer]

sounds like a good idea but what would i need the 50 gallon sump for then.
let me ask ya,the water level on the right and center chambers will always be the same ,is that correct

The center chamber water level for the sump pics you posted would be the same as the right chamber until the level went below the left most bubble baffle. At that point te middle chamber water level would fall. The right chamber would stay constant. I think someone mentioned this already, but your ATO switch should be in the center chamber.

 

[ReefRacer]

Ahh..you meant after fragmatics mods. My mistake.

 

[fragmatic]

The center chamber water level for the sump pics you posted would be the same as the right chamber until the level went below the left most bubble baffle. At that point te middle chamber water level would fall. The right chamber would stay constant. I think someone mentioned this already, but your ATO switch should be in the center chamber.

But not if he does the flow from left to right like I believe that sump is designed to be rigged. Then it would be a the far right compartment. To me that sump is clearly a left to right cascade design.

 

[Budman's Corals]

50 gallons? OK, I see your point. No, you should put it all in there then! LOL

I got 120 plus that so its alot water compared to the 75 and 20 g sump i did have,but i got filter sock on with return pump 90 elbow pointing down so im gonna watch it today and see if it helps,I really dont wanna mess with all new plumbing if u know what i mean..

Thanks for your input though gives me ideas of other stuff to do when im looing for something to do lol,, Im always wondering what i can do next

 

[Budman's Corals]

But not if he does the flow from left to right like I believe that sump is designed to be rigged. Then it would be a the far right compartment. To me that sump is clearly a left to right cascade design.

The sump was designed for a herbie style system..

I can see if running left to right if i used a dorso and return up thru the bulkhead, but this system is so quiet,the only bubbles i get is the one falling from the fuge,nothing in skimmer area ..

 

[ReefRacer]

From the pics...I would agree with Fragmatic. It does look like it was made to run left to right. I had the same exact sump design and I actually did have my skimmer in the middle chamber and return in right. Then I switched them and went to an external pump and closed-loop system. Here is an 'out-of-the-box' idea that I have actually used before when modifying an active sump.

Do have access to any plexi? Make a single wall bubble trap that you can insert between return pump and fuge wall. A length of plexi with balance legs would help trap the falling bubbles from the fuge and then water would overflow into return chamber. Here's a quick photoshop mockup.

 

[Budman's Corals]

From the pics...I would agree with Fragmatic. It does look like it was made to run left to right. I had the same exact sump design and I actually did have my skimmer in the middle chamber and return in right. Then I switched them and went to an external pump and closed-loop system. Here is an 'out-of-the-box' idea that I have actually used before when modifying an active sump.

Do have access to any plexi? Make a single wall bubble trap that you can insert between return pump and fuge wall. A length of plexi with balance legs would help trap the falling bubbles from the fuge and then water would overflow into return chamber. Here's a quick photoshop mockup.

oh i see that way the bubbles would have to come straight up rather then out into the water where it gets sucked up by the pump...great idea..