Sump Set up

[denise willenborg]

So I am upgrading to a 135 gallon and I am using a 55 gallon sump. I got one of those sump kits from Jaxs racks but my dilemma is I am not sure I want to use the Clarasea roller mat or filter socks. Any suggestions of how I can make my sump work with either one of them or both of them. I have the Clarisea on my 93 gallon cube now and it works but the tank isnt super clear. Thanks!

 

[reef lover]

Got a pic of the sump layout?

 

[denise willenborg]

HI -
I attached a few pics. Do you think that this would work for the drains? I didnt realize how tall the 55 was so I don't have much room to work below the tank. I do have a 40 gallon breeder I can use for the sump but I already bought the baffle kit for the 55. I just added an extra piece of plexi glass with some holes in it for the water to flow through. The first compartment will be for one 7 in filter sock and the second will be the Clarisea then the skimmer, fuge then return pump. Here is my idea and tell me if I am crazy or if you think it would work or not but since it is set up peninsula style i was thinking of having two return pumps. One L1 will run back up to the display tank but then plumb it so the return is at the opposite end but I will run it above in top section so you dont see the plumbing. Then run a second return pump. An S1 i have and have that come up to the same end as overflow. There is more to my idea but I am curious of your thoughts of what I have in my head so far?
Thanks,

Denise

 

[reef lover]

First drain looks good. The second i would try more of an angle. The less horizontal pipe the better.and i shy away from running 2 return pumps cause if one fails your sump water level will fluctuate and mess up other stuff. Just run one large pump and split it into 2 returns.

 

[denise willenborg]

Well the second one goes in the side of the Clarisea which is on the lower side of the unit. I was just thinking that will be a long way for one pump to do the return considering it will have to go up and down to the other end of the tank . Does that make sense? It will basically be an "S shape from the return part of sump. I just dont want a pipe running up front of the tank to have the return at the opposite end of overflow. I should have thought about this when I built the stand and had corners on the ends so I could have ran the return up that..........Hindsight!
I am just not sure if that will be an issue for the overflow from the filter sock compartment to have to flow through the Roller mat section before getting to the skimmer? Any thoughts?

 

[denise willenborg]

So, the next thing i need to figure out is I really want to do an auto water change system cuz i suck at doing water changes as often as I should. I saw a few different setups and think I want to do a drip system. Basically you make a small overflow with say 1/2 inch pipe and put it in the tank so when the water gets that high it will just drain out. I am planning on putting my ato in the basement below because my water main is right there to tap into. I can then run the drain for the rodi unit into the sink in the basement along with the drain for the auto water change. I would have a timer on the ato that would shut off at like say 2am and then I would run the water with a small pump for the saltwater for like 2 hours and let it drain out some of the water . Then turn the ato back on. Is that doable? Or do i just have these ideas that work in my head but not in reality

 

[reef lover]

Ok so i would still run 1 return. From right sump comp. to the bottom left of tank. Run it up to the top and then along the top. You could break the return into 3 to 4 nozzles returning water over the top and out of sight. As long as the pumps big enough it shouldnt be a problem.
And i think with a lil tweaking the awc will work out. Might want to incorporate at least a couple failsafes like floats, checkvalves to make sure you dont get a flood...but this is not my strong area...lol. so hopefully some other peeps will chime in.