DIY Sump proportions

[Jeff38]

I will be building a sump/refugium with a 29gal 30 inches aquarium. I was wondering if there is an established proportion for the 3 sections.

I was going to go about 1/3 for the receiving end, 1/3 for the refugium section and 1/3 for the Skimmer & return pump section.

Could these proportions be tweaked a little in order to make the refugium a little bigger?

Thanks!

 

[Gorgok]

I wouldn't put a skimmer in a return chamber... that is the place water level changes. Skimmers like stability. But the section sizes is really up to you. I would make the return chamber big enough that even if you don't top off at all for a couple of days the pump won't run dry, just in case things happen... How big that is depends on the system though. The drain section, where i would put the skimmer, for me is the rest of the sump (no refuge at all). But really it should be big enough for the drain pipes and machinery it houses. Again that depends on the system and what machinery you have/need. Whats left is whats left. It won't be big by any means. A separate refuge tank teed off the return pipe would be better really.

 

[rwb500]

my sump is a 20 long (same footprint as a 29g) and it has two compartments - one for the return pump (about 8" wide) and one for everything else, with a bubble trap in between. Definitely don't put your skimmer in the return section, as said above.

 

[Jeff38]

Yeah, skimmer in first chamber. Makes sense!
So no ultimate rule on setting the size of each compartment. I was told to be very careful as if you make the return compartment too small, you risk not having not enough water for your return pump. But then again, what IS too small??
Thanks for the input!