Half Way Through Sump Build - Help Please!

[mike.p]

I'm about half way through building a sump for my 150g future reef tank. My original plan was to do a skimming chamber, refugium, media rack (mainly for polishing pads,) then the return chamber. But I snagged a Vertex Zeolite Reactor, and decided to give it a go. Problem is, even with sticking it in the return chamber with the pump, I am now running into a space issue.

Ideally, I want to make the skimming chamber 10", so as to have room for future upgrades. So now I don't think that I'll have room for a refugium; or it would be so small, as to probably be pointless. I'm attaching some photos, and would love some advice. Oh, and pardon the mess in my garage, house is getting remodeled. lol

Should I ditch the fuge, and just have an extra large skimming chamber? Make a small fuge, with whatever available space I have? Or use the remaining space to make some 1.5" spaced baffles, to stick MarinePure ceramic plates in?

Thanks in advance!

 

[heathlindner25]

I would ditch the fuge, it appears you need a larger skimmer already.
Just for the record , I don't think that reactor has to be submerged in your sump.

 

[mike.p]

I would ditch the fuge, it appears you need a larger skimmer already.
Just for the record , I don't think that reactor has to be submerged in your sump.

Yeah, the one I have now is an Eshopps, it's rated for 200 gallons, so I figured it would work for the 150. Down the line, I probably want get one of the Nyos skimmers.

So, I've been toying with that idea... In the manual, it does show that the reactor has to go in the sump. Do you think it would work placing it externally? Maybe break up the "U" right at the ball valve union, and extend it up, and into the tank?

 

[Redbellyjx]

When you start the zeovit cycle, you will probably cycle the reactor in 3 hours on/3 hours off cycles. You have to be sure that the water level is high enough that the stones in the reactor remain submerged in water when the reactor is turned off.

 

[thegrun]

I noticed your filter socks are taking up a lot of space, have you considered a single sock (dump the drain line directly into the filter sock) and placing it and the skimmer all in the same chamber (that is how I have my tank set up). It still seems like you would have room for a refugium even with the filter socks as is, even a 6" space chamber would be worth while IMHO.

 

[MidwesternTexan]

If you want about the best, long term, nearly 0 cost set up,


Add an area for a suitable ATS,

and ditch the filter socks.

You'll be glad you did

 

[mike.p]

I noticed your filter socks are taking up a lot of space, have you considered a single sock (dump the drain line directly into the filter sock) and placing it and the skimmer all in the same chamber (that is how I have my tank set up). It still seems like you would have room for a refugium even with the filter socks as is, even a 6" space chamber would be worth while IMHO.

That was totally my initial plan at first. The reason I set it up the way is to reduce noise. After checking out some setups at the LFS's, and a bunch of videos, I decided to do it this way. It seems that with the pipes submerged in a "flood chamber," it's a lot quieter with the water overflowing into the socks.

Or am I crazy, and it really doesn't make any difference? lol :headwally:

 

[thegrun]

I don't have any noise at the bottom of my drain where the water goes into the filter sock. I user a 24" piece of silicone tubing at the end that terminates 2" below the waterline that I can bend out of the way to change socks.