Would like some tips on my first sump, Kinda confused

[jonny4ever]

So right now I have a 40 breeder with hob gear and intank gear. I would like to get an overflow box and use a 10g tank I have as a sump. A 5.5inch mechanical filtration/skimmer are (I use a small tunze 9001 skimmer I don't think I'll upgrade) so that's more than enough space. Then I have a 9inch section to use as a refugium and another 5.5inch section for my return.

Here's what I would like help on

Mechanical filtration. So like the water for my over flow has to be plumbed to my mechanical filtration section and have it trickle down onto the mechanical filtration? Would a filter sock/cup application be easiest? Im good at diy stuff I have acrylic and other materials to use. I can use egg crate and a piece filter sock holder that came with my aio tank that I never used because I made a media basket for it. All I would need to do is get the filter cup to be within the water level of the sump or would It be best if I leave it a little higher so the water flows into it perfectly first?

Any help on baffles would be cool but I've seen some videos and have an idea more or less. Would it be necessary to also add some form of mechanical filtration before the return pump?

Over flow box. I would like to prevent flood as much as possible, It's pretty common for the power to go out in my house once or twice a month. So I was thinking the cpr over flows that now use hydor pumps? Or would an eshopps one do the job? I want something that can continue its siphon even after the power goes out and comes back on. Cheaper the better. Would a 600-800gph overflow box be too much for my 40 breeder? I would be upgrading this tank to a bigger one eventually like a 75g so if the overflow would be good for both tanks that would be nice

 

[Timfish]

I would keep it as simple as possible. FWIW I've had very good success keeping systems for years without all the dividers and stuff.

Mixed Reef started in 1997, 10-07-19

240 Sump, started in 1997

 

[jonny4ever]

Nice, yeah I was even thinking of using those aqua foam filters as nothing more than a divider of light. It’s my first sump so simplicity is key, any draw backs to maintaining the same level through out the sump?

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

10g is a tight space for a sump so you may have better luck with filter socks as opposed to a cup, but you would want to plumb it so the water drains directly into it. I would not put any mechanical filtration before the return pump, because any pods that live in the refugium would be sucked up before making it to the return pump and many people like those pods to get transported to the DT for food. Some people put filter material in between baffles, but for me that only took a day to clog and slow down my flow. It is very possible to overfill the sump this way so I quit doing that. The Eshopps overflows work great and keep their siphon without issue. I have one on my 75 and between power outages or just pausing the pump for feeding it always works when the pump kicks back on.

 

[jonny4ever]

10g is a tight space for a sump so you may have better luck with filter socks as opposed to a cup, but you would want to plumb it so the water drains directly into it. I would not put any mechanical filtration before the return pump, because any pods that live in the refugium would be sucked up before making it to the return pump and many people like those pods to get transported to the DT for food. Some people put filter material in between baffles, but for me that only took a day to clog and slow down my flow. It is very possible to overfill the sump this way so I quit doing that. The Eshopps overflows work great and keep their siphon without issue. I have one on my 75 and between power outages or just pausing the pump for feeding it always works when the pump kicks back on.

awesome thanks. Are filter socks more annoying and expensive to maintain then floss in a cup? I think those nano filter cups would fit fine, I can make that section 6inches long. So it would be 6x10x12 (lwh) but I don’t plan on having the water level anymore than 7 inches. I’m also wondering if it’s best if the sock/cup is over the waterline a tiny bit, so the DT water flows into the sock/floss perfectly

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

awesome thanks. Are filter socks more annoying and expensive to maintain then floss in a cup? I think those nano filter cups would fit fine, I can make that section 6inches long. So it would be 6x10x12 (lwh) but I don’t plan on having the water level anymore than 7 inches. I’m also wondering if it’s best if the sock/cup is over the waterline a tiny bit, so the DT water flows into the sock/floss perfectly

TBH I've only tried socks and filter floss in between baffles so I can't say about the cup. But the socks and floss became an almost daily pain to work with because of how quickly they became clogged with detritus. The sump I have has water levels too high for me to put a skimmer in, so my filtration changed to a canister filter and refugium with chaeto. I had to play around with it a lot to find what would not require daily maintenance, but still control nutrients. I think I finally found what works for my system but it took about a year. I think you'll be fine, but don't lose your patience if you find yourself having to tweak things for a while as your system matures. You do want to place the cup/socks just a bit over the surface of the water for the reason you stated.

 

[ZoWhat]

Over flow box. I would like to prevent flood as much as possible,

BEAN ANIMAL

Research the heck out of how to set this design up under keywords "Bean Animal"

Absolutely #1 choice worldwide


.

 

[jonny4ever]

TBH I've only tried socks and filter floss in between baffles so I can't say about the cup. But the socks and floss became an almost daily pain to work with because of how quickly they became clogged with detritus. The sump I have has water levels too high for me to put a skimmer in, so my filtration changed to a canister filter and refugium with chaeto. I had to play around with it a lot to find what would not require daily maintenance, but still control nutrients. I think I finally found what works for my system but it took about a year. I think you'll be fine, but don't lose your patience if you find yourself having to tweak things for a while as your system matures. You do want to place the cup/socks just a bit over the surface of the water for the reason you stated.

Do you think this will work? The cups at the 8inch line, would like to keep the water line at around 7 inches. I just wanna use smoke of that black foam to divide the light, I plan to place the small skimmer next to the cup, and 2 black piece of filter foam so the chaeto doesn’t wander to the other sides so much. I don’t really care about how pretty it is, just want it to work lol

 

[jonny4ever]

BEAN ANIMAL

Research the heck out of how to set this design up under keywords "Bean Animal"

Absolutely #1 choice worldwide


.

Thanks I’ll look into it

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

Do you think this will work? The cups at the 8inch line, would like to keep the water line at around 7 inches. I just wanna use smoke of that black foam to divide the light, I plan to place the small skimmer next to the cup, and 2 black piece of filter foam so the chaeto doesn’t wander to the other sides so much. I don’t really care about how pretty it is, just want it to work lol

I think it'll work. I would double check the recommended water height for your skimmer if you haven't already. If you have to place something underneath it to keep the water height lower then you'll want to measure to make sure your cabinet is tall enough for the skimmer. I found that out the hard way. My cabinet was too short for me to raise my skimmer up so I blew 200$ for equipment that didn't work in my system.

 

[jonny4ever]

I think it'll work. I would double check the recommended water height for your skimmer if you haven't already. If you have to place something underneath it to keep the water height lower then you'll want to measure to make sure your cabinet is tall enough for the skimmer. I found that out the hard way. My cabinet was too short for me to raise my skimmer up so I blew 200$ for equipment that didn't work in my system.

I use a really small tunze 9001 in tank skimmer. Uses a magnet, recommended water height is around 5.5 inches. The whole entire skimmer is 8 inches including the cup. Trying to clean up my tank corner, so much gear on my 40 breeder. The aquaclear is a refugium, I like refugiums. So I’m thinking with a 3/4inch black filter foam I will only lose about 1.5 inches. Leaving me with a good 5.5 inches for the filter cup and skimmer, around 8 inches for a refugium and another 5 for the return pump. The tank is 12 inches I don’t think an overflow box would make my sump go up 4-5 inches. Especially if place it high. The whole point of the foam is to just stop the chaeto from moving around and black light from spilling everywhere and giving me algae. The simpler the better honestly

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

I use a really small tunze 9001 in tank skimmer. Uses a magnet, recommended water height is around 5.5 inches. The whole entire skimmer is 8 inches including the cup. Trying to clean up my tank corner, so much gear on my 40 breeder. The aquaclear is a refugium, I like refugiums. So I’m thinking with a 3/4inch black filter foam I will only lose about 1.5 inches. Leaving me with a good 5.5 inches for the filter cup and skimmer, around 8 inches for a refugium and another 5 for the return pump. The tank is 12 inches I don’t think an overflow box would make my sump go up 4-5 inches. Especially if place it high. The whole point of the foam is to just stop the chaeto from moving around and black light from spilling everywhere and giving me algae. The simpler the better honestly

Sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck I hope it goes smoothly.

 

[jonny4ever]

Sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck I hope it goes smoothly.

Thanks appreciate it