Help building my fuge

[tangman99]

I'm probably going to use a 29 gallon tank for my sump/fuge with a fuge on one end, protein skimmer on the other end and return pump in the center. How do you determine the size of each compartment?

I want to make sure my fuge is big enough to do it's job and I also want to make sure my return section is big enough to handle evaporation for a few days also. Not really sure if the protien skimmer side needs to be considered beyond holding the equipment.

 

[Fast Fred]

Have you seen this site?

http://www.melevsreef.com/

 

[tangman99]

Wow! That guy builds some awesome sumps! Is there somewhere on that site that explains how to determine the size of each section? I could not find it but I could have easily overlooked it.

 

[Fast Fred]

If it were me, I would let the skimmer dictate the size of compartment #1. Whatever is left, I would probably devide in half. Compartment #2 - Fuge, Comp. #3 return pump. That is if you insist on compartmentizing everything.

In my set up, I have a 55g 4' tank as my sump. 1/3 of it is refugium, the rest is for mechanical filtration and equipment, including the skimmer. As far as I'm concerned, there is no rule against having your skimmer in the same section as the return pump. The only concern is that skimmers (at least the one I have) like to be in the same depth of water in order to skim consistantly. Secondly, you have to deal with the micro bubbles that escape from the skimmer. Both of these are problems that are solvable.

 

[edwardj]

I had a setup similar to that - later I separated the fuge to an external tank. I wanted more room for the fuge, and my return compartment wasn't big enough and i had microbubbles. Do you have the option of an external fuge? Even a hang on one in or outside the tank could be an option. At least your copepods won't have to travel throught the return pump.

Edwardj

 

[Tanker_21]

Saw one design that uses something similar to eggcrate to split his return and fuge. This way he is still able to keep his chaeto from going into the return area and at the same time uses both compartments so he's not constantly topping off.