DIY: sump'fuge questions

[kimbertent]

Well, I want to build and sump tank with refugium in it to replace my wet/dry filter. I was originally going to do it in a 20L(30x12x12) tank but it was too long and wouldnt slide into my stand. I wanted to do a basic desisn with three zones, Protein Skimmer->Refugium->Return pump..all of them seperated by baffles.
since the 20L wont fit and i know a 20H (24x12x16)will, is it possible if i can add a 5g before it using a 1in bulkhead as shown in the picture.

im sort of a newbie so be nice
My Questions..
1> is it possible?
2> is it big enough for a 72g bowfront?
3> is there any other suggestions anyone has?

 

[kimbertent]

bump

 

[Bkndsdl]

If it's as big as you can get, sounds like it'll have to be enough......I don't know if you can have too much fuge. Looks plenty big, though. Any reason for the 1" between bubble trap baffles? You could cut down on the gap; mine's 1/2" between baffles and works just fine.

The only thing I would do is to swap the fuge/return. I think it's kinda counterproductive to skim out what goes in the fuge (mainly pods). You'll have to feed the fuge from the return pump with a tee and ball valve for flow, but I think it would work better.

HTH!

 

[MJAnderson]

What kind of stand do you have? I have the AGA and mind isn't as long as yours.

I have the 72g bow as well and I gave up on a fuge (for now) since I needed a return area large enough to handle 3+ days of water so I could travel. But I needed 14"x12" for my skimmer. Add 2" of baffles and take away another 1" for all the glass and that only left 13". Not sure how attached you are to your fuge, but you can run macro algae in your return. No pods though.

ANother option (which I may try later) is to add the fuge on top of your current sump if you go with a shorter tank. As mine is only 12", I can put a 10g tank on top of it over my return area. Run water from your return (or drain) into the 10g and overflow that into your return. Glass-cages.com sells small acrylic tanks that you can drill (or they will do for you)

 

[kimbertent]

-MJAnderson,

I dont know what brand my stand is.. it's 48"x12"-18"x32"
it has on door in the middle.

Im not sure what you mean by this...

Add 2" of baffles and take away another 1" for all the glass and that only left 13".

-Bkndsdl,

Im not sure how far apart im going to do the baffles...ive read that it should be wider like 2" then ive read it should be smaller(like what you said)

when you said swap the return and fuge...is that how you set yours up? ive read its good to have the ps->fuge->then return.
which way should i do it?

 

[uf-engineer]

Interestingly enough, I'm building the same sump / refugium setup. I was wondering if one bulkhead would be enough.

 

[MJAnderson]

Ah...mine is the same dimenstions but has 2 doors with a brace in the middle. I can't slide a tank in there.

well your tank is 24" inches, but that's outside dimensions. I think your glass is 1/4" of an inch? You have 2 walls and 3 baffles that's 1 1/4" of glass, so you have 22.75" left. Baffles can be as wide as you want, I think 1" is minimum. I've seen 2.5".

It's easier to go ps--fuge---return since the water flows from left to right. But your fuge appreciates less flow than your sump, so some people do ps--return--fuge and run a "T" from their drain or return to the fuge.

Check out www.melevsreef.com for some great sumps and a discussion.

 

[Bkndsdl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7718372#post7718372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kimbertent
-Bkndsdl,

Im not sure how far apart im going to do the baffles...ive read that it should be wider like 2" then ive read it should be smaller(like what you said)

Kimbertent, I know I've seen where the bigger the bubble trap the better, but mine works flawlessly with only 1/2" between the baffles. It also saves space. I guess it depends on what you feel comfortable with.

when you said swap the return and fuge...is that how you set yours up? ive read its good to have the ps->fuge->then return.
which way should i do it?

Yes, I have my sump set up that way. It gives me the opportunity to control the flow to my fuge, and it keeps me from skimming out pods.

 

[kimbertent]

thanks you for all the suggestions and comments.
I'll post pics for you guys when i start. =)