What is your DIY Sump/Refugium

[nissanrs]

was thinking of getting some ideas from the pros regarding sumps/refugiums.
pictues ideas guides anything to help me and others for future projects.

 

[ryecoon]

Heres my sump i just made.
10 Gallon Tank with 3 Partitions, intake/Refugium/Return Chambers. Upgraded Multi switch power connector. 15 Gallon Reservoir of RO/DI (7 stage water)
Perks Added to fuge:
1. Mini Max (GFO Reactor)
2. Carbon Sock
3. Chemi-Pure Elite
4. Eheim Protein skimmer for 250 gallon Tank.
5. JBJ Auto Top Off
6. Blue Origin Doser
7. TLF kalk Reactor 300

Live Stock:
1. (5) Mangroves
2. Chaeto
3. Dragons breath
4. Live rubble rock
5. Live Sand
6. Miracle Mud

 

[luxauterna]

I used a 35 gal glass aquarium. I cut some acrylic baffles and used aquarium silicone to glue them in. I like to use the first chamber for the skimmer and drain, second chamber is for the fuge which contains small pieces of live rock, chaeto and caulerpa, and the third chamber which is separated by two baffles holds the return pump. I used to have a BRS GFO reactor in the fuge chamber as well, but I think it was taking away from the macro. Also, when I replumbed the return to be higher in the stand, it did not leave enough room for the reactor body.

 

[ravi197699]

Here is what i put together and below is the link where pictures are included, I went with 40 breeder and only thing i had to change was baffles, I have to switch from acrylic baffes to glass... other than it was fine and worked well....

 

[redfishbluefish]

I used a 40 breeder.....and this is my second sump/refugium. My first sump/refugium had similar sections, but with three-baffle bubble traps. I realized they weren't doing anything but taking up space. So my current sump/refugium has no bubble traps....and I get no bubbles back into the DT.

I have two drains coming down from the DT, each entering the back corners of the sump. The drain on the left goes into a large sock (7" sock), while the drain on the right enters the refugium directly. On the left side is the sock, skimmer and one heater. The center section has the return pump, pump to the carbon reactor, ato float switches, a second heater and biopellet reactor, with the exit port feeding the skimmer. The right side is the refugium.

 

[ryecoon]

I used a 40 breeder.....and this is my second sump/refugium. My first sump/refugium had similar sections, but with three-baffle bubble traps. I realized they weren't doing anything but taking up space. So my current sump/refugium has no bubble traps....and I get no bubbles back into the DT.

I have two drains coming down from the DT, each entering the back corners of the sump. The drain on the left goes into a large sock (7" sock), while the drain on the right enters the refugium directly. On the left side is the sock, skimmer and one heater. The center section has the return pump, pump to the carbon reactor, ato float switches, a second heater and biopellet reactor, with the exit port feeding the skimmer. The right side is the refugium.

Nice. Looks like its doing its job real good. Hows your parameters?
Also, why is there a second heater?

 

[ryecoon]

Thats a good idea having 2 drains going into the the side corners. how many times does it turn over your tank?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Nice. Looks like its doing its job real good. Hows your parameters?
Also, why is there a second heater?

Parameters are great....I dose two part, three times a day using dosing pumps....you can see the calc line ("C") attached to the back wall, dumping into the center section. The alk is out of view to the left.....behind the union.

I'm a big believer in two heaters....a back-up when one craps out....and also running both through a controller. Heaters will fail, and they either just stop working or getting stuck "ON." With a controller, it doesn't matter if and when it gets stuck on because the controller is turning it on and off.

 

[ryecoon]

Good idea! what controller do you use and is it suggested to have to dosers channelled to separate chambers? I just bought a doser by blue origin for $200 I dont know how great it will be in time because it was cheaper than the others ive seen.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Thats a good idea having 2 drains going into the the side corners. how many times does it turn over your tank?

I don't know???? I have a 90 gallon DT with a Glass Holes 1500 gph overflow (two 1 1/2 inch drains) and a MAG 9.5 as the return pump. So you tell me, how many times does it turn over my tank? :wink:

 

[redfishbluefish]

Good idea! what controller do you use and is it suggested to have to dosers channelled to separate chambers?

I'm old and so is my controller.....it's a Reefkeeper II. And with the heaters, because of the electrical draw, I run them through a DA Expansion Socket.

The Reefkeeper controls two BRS 1.1 pumps. And as far as both going into one section, they are dosed at different times, so not a problem.

 

[ryecoon]

I don't know???? I have a 90 gallon DT with a Glass Holes 1500 gph overflow (two 1 1/2 inch drains) and a MAG 9.5 as the return pump. So you tell me, how many times does it turn over my tank? :wink:

whats the gph on the MAG 9.5?

 

[ryecoon]

I'm old and so is my controller.....it's a Reefkeeper II. And with the heaters, because of the electrical draw, I run them through a DA Expansion Socket.

The Reefkeeper controls two BRS 1.1 pumps. And as far as both going into one section, they are dosed at different times, so not a problem.

Ok cool. Im planning on getting a reefkeeper also. Its pretty good on price compared to others. Have you had any problems with it?

 

[redfishbluefish]

whats the gph on the MAG 9.5?

It's 950 gph....but I don't know what the headloss is. It pumps up about four or five feet.

If we assume around 700 gph, that makes turnover about 7.8 times.

 

[ryecoon]

is this the controller you have? Do i need to order more attachments for it?

 

[ryecoon]

 

[ryecoon]

Sorry im gearing off topic. Can you PM me?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Ok cool. Im planning on getting a reefkeeper also. Its pretty good on price compared to others. Have you had any problems with it?

I've got four of them....and if you can still find them for sale, they are typically $100 or less. Yes, I've had problems.....One that DA refused to agree was a problem....had to do with setting three time points....it wasn't recognizing the first time point. I just learned to work around that fault. The other issue is that the display eventually goes dim. The first time this happened DA fixed it for $50. However, they no long do this repair because they claim the displays are no longer available. It so happens that the displays are still available from on-line distributers for about $15. If you have solder skills, it's an easy DIY repair.

 

[ryecoon]

Ok cool. So it comes with PH probe, Heater and what else? do i need to purchase any power plug connections?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Ok cool. So it comes with PH probe, Heater and what else? do i need to purchase any power plug connections?

We have so hijacked this thread.......I'll answer you in a PM, and let the thread get back to the OP's question/request.