drill sump or no?

[tomreefer]

Im trying to decide if its worth to drill sump for return or not. Im thinking of leaving out the pump out of tank. I also plan on using 2 pipes going into sump one with a ball valve for the fuge. Is this sound like a good plan?

 

[Raoul5Duke]

It's pretty easy to drill if thats the route you want to go. Google it or check out youyube for instructional videos. The method you described of diverting a small amount of flow to the fuge is pretty standard as well, again if that is how you want it setup.

 

[mcgyvr]

Do you have a pump that can run externally?
If not that answers your question..

If so plan on how you will do maintenance on the pump or replace it with water in the tank (ball valves/unions on each side)

 

[tomreefer]

Ok well im keeping the return in the sump. Now should I have 2 drains coming from main tank? One to skimmer section/One to fuge with ball valve or should I t-off the return to fuge? Im thinking of getting 2 bulkhead fittings for this to eliminate bubbling and noise for drains

 

[Raoul5Duke]

I believe you want to T off the return pump not the drain.

 

[drillsar]

I think you can do it both ways. Melevs reef had a article on this

 

[tomreefer]

no I want to have 2 drainage system one to skimmer other to fuge area. Using 1 overflow with ball valve can this be done?

 

[slief]

You could do that but I would have all the water from the displays overflow go the the skimmer section first and then let that water go through the fuge. It will help keep micro bubbles out of the display while also help in getting more of the display water though the skimmer. Not all the water will make it's way into the skimmer anyway so in my opinion, there would be no reason to feed them separately. Your just adding unneeded complexity to your system and increasing the chance of micro bubbles making to your display since the return pump will be down stream from the fuge.

I run a completely separate sump with filter socks and my skimmer. That sump feeds my down stream fuge and my return pump draws from the end of the fuge. It works great and I have no issues with microbubbles. My fuge also thrives along with my display fuge which is fed via a manifold powered by my return pump. The display fuge drains back to my main fuge as well.
This was my approach and it has worked great for the last 4 years. I am fortunate to have a lot of space and a large tank so this was a no corner cut approach. If I need to do maintenance on the fuge I can open a valve on the fuge bypass line (2" pipe running in front of the fuge on the right) and completely bypass the fuge without shutting the return pump or sump down.