'Cube' sump design

[jb61264]

i'm looking to build a sump for my 29 Gallon BioCube. The dimensions I have to work with in the cabinet below would be 16 x 16 x 12...not ideal I know but hopefully doable. Are there any good 'cube' design models for sumps out there?

I was thinking about something like splitting it in half for a fuge and then splitting the other half in half and using one quarter for the overflow/inlet (maybe house a skimmer but I am already using a CPR SR3 in chamber 2 above in the BioCube) and then the other quarter would be the return...I like the idea of feeding the fuge with a 'T' off of the return.

Should the overflows from the fuge and the skimmer chamer into the return chamber be the same height?

Any suggestions?

 

[uncleof6]

How about sumptin like this?

Regards,

Jim

 

[reef211]

Sup,

I build this sump for a friend of mine. His tank is a 60 gals cube. The sump is a 20x20x16 and it been running for a 2 years now. I hope this design help you out.

Big Mike
<center>
<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b86/mikeaphan/IMG_0340.jpg"><br /><br />
<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b86/mikeaphan/IMG_0344.jpg"><br /><br />
<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b86/mikeaphan/IMG_0339.jpg"><br /><br />
</center>

 

[uncleof6]

Now I find that interesting somehow. Does anyone else?

Here is a rendering of the one I drew up earlier:

Regards,

Jim

 

[reef211]

Sup Jim,

Wow nice drawing, what program did you used to do that?

 

[uncleof6]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14599847#post14599847 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reef211
Sup Jim,

Wow nice drawing, what program did you used to do that?

Thanks. Two programs.... sketchup pro and hypershot pro. I think we both nose around Melev's site.

Regards,

Jim

 

[jb61264]

Guys, these are EXACTLY what I was looking for...a million thanks!...

Big Mike: there is a small chamber behind the pump on the right side of the first drawing...is that where the overflow from the tank comes in?

Jim: that drawing and rendering is amazing! thanks!

What do you both think about having the overflow coming in to the same chamber that would include a skimmer in this design?...is that not "best practice"? do skimmers need non turbulent flow to operate best?...should I put a little chamber in there similar to the sump design Big Mike's has (except that one is next to the fuge.

I'll probably plumb mine with a "T" in the return line to feed the fuge...I dunno, I just like the idea of feeding the fuge with the return water for some reason

 

[reef211]

Im glad that these drawing and designs help you out, the chamber in the back is where the overflow come in from the baffler help block the sand for refugium section.

Big Mike

 

[reef211]

Kool, Thanks Jim.

BIg Mike

 

[uncleof6]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14600523#post14600523 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jb61264
Guys, these are EXACTLY what I was looking for...a million thanks!...

Big Mike: there is a small chamber behind the pump on the right side of the first drawing...is that where the overflow from the tank comes in?

Jim: that drawing and rendering is amazing! thanks!

What do you both think about having the overflow coming in to the same chamber that would include a skimmer in this design?...is that not "best practice"? do skimmers need non turbulent flow to operate best?...should I put a little chamber in there similar to the sump design Big Mike's has (except that one is next to the fuge.

I'll probably plumb mine with a "T" in the return line to feed the fuge...I dunno, I just like the idea of feeding the fuge with the return water for some reason

It is best practice yes. and feeding the fuge from the return line is "best practice" Having said that, it would not be "best practice" to have the fuge overflow into the skimmer section. Source: Melev's Reef . I designed this on the assumption that you were using a CPR Backpack, which probably works fine for these small tanks. Source: GARF

Flow in this sump (considering the above): Drain enters front right section. Return section, front left. Fuge, rear, overflows to return section.

To modify for an insump skimmer: Move the "bubble trap" to the left, and shorten the length of the "tooth" overflow or leave the "bubble trap" where it is and move the "teeth" to the right so it overflows into the bubble trap and the now "return section" Hope that makes sense. Size the front sections as needed to accommodate the skimmer-- to a point.

I sited sources, to remove my opinion from the mix.

Regards,

Jim

 

[jb61264]

Thanks again for your input Jim. One additional question I have for you...do you think it would make sense to go up to 10" in the sump? or at least 9"?...and then raise the height of the bubble trap setup so that I have a higher potential water level in case I do ever run a skimmer in the first chamber? I think I do want to do the design with the assumption that I will run a skimmer in that first chamber. I think I've read somewhere that at least 8" is recommended for a skimmer?...I can't remember but it seems like I read that somewhere.

 

[uncleof6]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14603606#post14603606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jb61264
Thanks again for your input Jim. One additional question I have for you...do you think it would make sense to go up to 10" in the sump? or at least 9"?...and then raise the height of the bubble trap setup so that I have a higher potential water level in case I do ever run a skimmer in the first chamber? I think I do want to do the design with the assumption that I will run a skimmer in that first chamber. I think I've read somewhere that at least 8" is recommended for a skimmer?...I can't remember but it seems like I read that somewhere.

It depends on the skimmer, but what i see is 'can run in up to x" of water.' Is there an optimal water depth? If there is, it is in the fine print somewhere and I can't check them all. Over the "up to" limit, obviously is not good. This sump is big in one sense, and small in another. But there is not a whole lot of room either way for drain down. And that is the deciding factor.

This one will hold less than 13 gallons with nothing in it.( i.e. no Baffles, skimmer, pump, sand) with these things in it, obviously it will be much less. Can you raise the baffle height? That depends on the drain down.

HTH,

Jim

 

[sunsetSPS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14599400#post14599400 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uncleof6
Now I find that interesting somehow. Does anyone else?

Here is a rendering of the one I drew up earlier:

Regards,

Jim

What software you use for these drawings?

 

[uncleof6]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14599906#post14599906 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uncleof6
Thanks. Two programs.... sketchup pro and hypershot pro. I think we both nose around Melev's site.

Regards,

Jim

 

[preecy]

Sorry to drag up such an old post but I have just purchased a custom built 100G tank which is pre-drilled for two overflows and one return. I also purchased a 18" cubed tank which I plan to use as a DIY sump with an in sump skimmer. The designs above look great and exactly the kind of thing I have been looking for, however, I am a little confused by the layouts. As you can probably tell I am fairly new to the hobby but I was led to believe the overflow/in-take from the tank usually enters the sump in the chamber/section where the skimmer is located. The water is skimmed and then flows, usually through a bubble trap, to the fuge. The water then flows from the fuge, again via a bubble trap, to the return section where the return pump is located. I cant workout how the designs above achieve this or am I completely missing the point here?

 

[uncleof6]

Sorry to drag up such an old post but I have just purchased a custom built 100G tank which is pre-drilled for two overflows and one return. I also purchased a 18" cubed tank which I plan to use as a DIY sump with an in sump skimmer. The designs above look great and exactly the kind of thing I have been looking for, however, I am a little confused by the layouts. As you can probably tell I am fairly new to the hobby but I was led to believe the overflow/in-take from the tank usually enters the sump in the chamber/section where the skimmer is located. The water is skimmed and then flows, usually through a bubble trap, to the fuge. The water then flows from the fuge, again via a bubble trap, to the return section where the return pump is located. I cant workout how the designs above achieve this or am I completely missing the point here?

http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html