20 gal long sump design help

[kniquy]

I have a 75g DT and I am going to change out my biowheel sump with a 20gal long sump. I am interested to get some help on where to start. How many compartments will i need. I believe i want space for my skimmer, I would like to get a GFO reactor and i think my DT would benefit if i grew some macro algae. I am not sure the height of the baffles nor how wide i would need each section. The tank is 30x12x12. Is there something to buy that i can use to mount the filter socks?

Just need some help as where to start. I am a visual person so if someone can post pics of their actual 20 gal sump (or even something that might be a little bigger) that would be great!!!

 

[mcgyvr]

Google images has PLENTY of sumps.. Visualize away..

It comes down to what YOU want in there.
FWIW when I had a 20L sump I had 3 sections.. 1 small overflow drain section into a larger "fuge" section which also held the skimmer" and a small return section on the far end.. Worked just fine.. Middle section was a 2" sand bed and packed full of cheato that grew like mad down there with a 6500k compact fluorescent bulb from home depot.

In general the higher the baffles the better assuming you have enough room to accommodate the water coming back in when the power goes out.

Ditch the filter socks... Not needed really... Just more of a maintenance chore than anything.

 

[tomreefer]

Ok for one if you want a skimmer find out the water depth recommended for it. I have 4 baffles 3 compartments. First and second baffle should be 1" apart for trying to eliminate bubbles. All my baffles are 7". second baffle should be 1" above the first baffle. First, second and third baffle should be 1" apart from each other and 4th baffle is where my fuge is.

 

[kniquy]

So i bought my 20L a few months back and now that we are past the holidays i am planning on building my sump. I did end up having 4 -7" high glass baffles cut but now i am not sure how i should set it up.

I need a compartment for my skimmer which i am planning on purchasing a Aqua Maxx Cones Co-1 which has a foot print of 6.3" x 8.7". And from what i have heard it needs a 9" water level -- So just how would i go about setting up the baffles to get a 9 " water level.
Do i need to go back and have a 9" high piece of glass cut?

I plan to have a middle section for a small refugium and then a third section for my return pump.

With my 4 glass baffles any suggestions on how i should install them?

I wish i knew how to put a diagram up here for my plans.

Any guidance is appreciated!! (Keep in mind i'm a girl so some of the technical build stuff is confusing to me.

 

[kniquy]

Does anyone have a 20 gal long set up who could give a little guidance on the baffle height and placement? I have 4 - 7" high glass baffles with the plans to have 3 sections. One section for the skimmer at 9" water height (which now i am thinking i need to have one glass cut to 9" high in order to get the high water level.

Input please!!!!

 

[bulabr]

Hi

Don't forget to pay attention to the distance as the picture below in purple. When you put your cleaned filter 02(brand new), the level of the water is almost the same in both sides, but, when the filter starts to be dirty, the water level starts to increase because there is accumulation of the dirt and sand. if the level of the water goes up the baffle 4, you start to lose the performance of your filter system. The idea is to change your filter because it is dirty, but not in advance of its full capacity only because the water level increased. In another hand, if you remains with your filter for long time, could increase your level of ammonia. I change my filter when it changes the color from white to brown.

Bulabr

 

[kniquy]

So, you have your skimmer with your return pump -- do you have any issues with bubbles getting into the DT? I was planning on having the skimmer in my first section.

What kind of filters are you actually using between the baffles?

 

[bulabr]

I put the skimmer in the last stage because of the dirt. If you put in the first stage, the dirt will go inside it, and there will be a mess. The last stage takes the water clean inside the skimmer after to cross two media filters. No problem with bubbles at all.

Filters that I use: the first stage I use foam, around 30 Pores Per Inch, for the second and last stage I use Poly Fiber media pad.

Bulabr

 

[Mrramsey]

I don't think that is a good design at all. The skimmer should be in the first chamber to process the incoming water. If you want filters run socks. Putting the filter material in the baffles would filter but look at the concept. You are saying that when the water level rises in the refugium it is time to change the filter, OK, but the result would mean that the water level drops in the return chamber thus causing the ATO to add fresh water to the system when it is not required. This would be problematic especially on smaller setups where smaller amounts of fresh water have large effects on the salinity.

 

[bulabr]

There are a lot of opinions in the internet about put the skimmer in the first stage, or in the last stage. I have bioballs in the first stage, and the water drops from a horizontal pipe with a lot of holes(around 30cm) in the same time, like spreading water on the balls. I can not have socks. I don't think is good idea to have dirty water in the pump skimmer(impeller). But, as it have been said, if you have socks, you dont have problems. The ATO only add water because the evaporation. I've never have problems with salinity.

Bulabr