HELP - Questions on plumbing my system

[TheNanoReefer]

Ill try my best to keep this short and sweet.

I am building my first reef aquarium right now, getting closer to my rock cycle. I have a 55 gallon, eshopps overflow box, making a custom fuge/sump and now I bought this Octopus 125 recirculating skimmer last night.

So i plan to finish up my sump/fuge this weekend as well as start on plumbing everything, but Im seriously confused here and need major help on how to do this.

because my cabinet has a divider down the center, I am going to have my skimmer in one "side" and my fuge on the other "side" and cut a hole in the center piece to allow pipes to go to each "sides".

So im wondering how to do this, should the overflow come down and go directly into my skimmer (read that this skimmer allows for that or a pump). and then from the skimmer to the fuge/sump, and then the sump will have a pump pumping back up to the main tank?

or... should the overflow box come down into the sump, then have a small pump pumping to the skimmer, then the skimmer going back to the sump, then a pump going back up to the main tank?

also, I do not have any pumps yet and not sure what size I should get?

here are some pics of my setup so far. Thanks ahead of time

 

[TheNanoReefer]

also, what size pvc piping should I get? i was thinking 1"? Im just concerned and want everything to flow smoothly. If the drain from overflow to skimmer isnt as fast as the pump pumping back up to main tank, i will have a mess. Same thing other way, if drain down to skimmer is faster than pump going back up.... im sooo confused... lol

 

[OnlyTono]

Here's what i have - I built this last year and it's been up and running since November with no real issues. My stand had a shelving unit separating the two sides, so i created a split sump system.

The Water comes in from the overflow and goes in two directions - half to the Refugium, and half tot he skimmer sump.

Water from the Refugiuem, then goes through a built-ion overflow box and drains back to the Skimmer sump on the backside of the baffles from the skimmer.

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Hope that provides a few ideas for you.

 

[OnlyTono]

I forgot to mention, all the piping is inch PVC. Also as is usual, i have a ball valve on the return pump to dial back the flow to help balance out the system.

Also - it's very important that your sumps total combined reserve volume should be large enough to handle the amount of water that will drain back from the system in the event of a power outage. In my case, the sumps have enough extra space to handle a little over 7 extra gallons. If the power goes out and the return pump stops, the tank drains to the bottom of the overflow and return pipe which will send about 5-6 gallons to the sumps before the siphon is broken. That's cutting it a bit close, but it works.

 

[Waddleboy]

To help out I would have a pump go to your skimmer from the sump. Let the overflow go to the sump and let another pump take water from the sump to the skimmer. 1" returns should be fine for your tank. Also since your skimmer is external you can just cut piping holes through the center brace. Remember use unions. Lastly for a return pump i woud try to get between 600-900 gph IMO. Just remember to account for head loss.

 

[TheNanoReefer]

so i guess plumping the overflow directly to the skimmer isnt a good idea?

 

[Waddleboy]

so i guess plumping the overflow directly to the skimmer isnt a good idea?

i dont think its the best idea personally. thats a lot of water going through it and i dont know if those skimmers are designed to handle that

 

[TheNanoReefer]

I havent really decided on how I am going to do this yet... I do have another 10 gallon that I could utilize as well that will fit underneath with the skimmer.


1. Overflow box --> 10 gallon (MJ1200) --> skimmer --> fuge (mag7) --> aquarium
2. Overflow box --> directly into skimmer (no pump) --> fuge (mag7) --> aquarium
3. Overflow box --> fuge (MJ1200) --> skimmer --> fuge (mag7) --> aquarium

what do you guys think is the best solution?

 

[jgsalwater]

I havent really decided on how I am going to do this yet... I do have another 10 gallon that I could utilize as well that will fit underneath with the skimmer.


1. Overflow box --> 10 gallon (MJ1200) --> skimmer --> fuge (mag7) --> aquarium
2. Overflow box --> directly into skimmer (no pump) --> fuge (mag7) --> aquarium
3. Overflow box --> fuge (MJ1200) --> skimmer --> fuge (mag7) --> aquarium

what do you guys think is the best solution?

Numer One.....A separate small pump to the skimmer will give you better flow control. Using the fuge after skimmer will keep micro bubble carry over to a minimum. Also I would install the skimmer directly into the tank you have in front of it. Have your tank over flow go into the skimmer tank. You don't want to ruin that wood floor. All this fittings are potential leak points on the skimmer and it is added insurance not to have water damage placing it into the tank.

Additonal comment: You will find it easier to eliminate all connecting plumbing and simply have one large, combination fuge and skimmer tank with an overflow partition between the two sections for an over flow from the skimmer section to the fuge tank and not use two tanks.

 

[TheNanoReefer]

Thats a good idea... So maybe i should have heater in there too...

So should i make my sump just a huge fugium now? Wonder how i should do my baffles now..

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[jgsalwater]

Thats a good idea... So maybe i should have heater in there too...

So should i make my sump just a huge fugium now? Wonder how i should do my baffles now..

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A single double wall part ion between the fuge and skimmer with a double wall forcing the water to go down first and then up to over flow into the skimmer section (correction). That is assuming you don't have a large micro bubble carry over from the skimmer. You will reduce micro bubble carry over by simply using a very small feed pump to the skimmer. One of the smaller MaxiJets is all you need to feed the skimmer. The section for the skimmer only needs to be big enough to fit the skimmer and a return pump into it, and make the fuge as large as possible with the tank over flow feeding it and the skimmer discharge going back into the fuge. I wouldn't hurt to make a partitioned for the tank feed pump to again reduce micro bubble being feed back into the main tank. This is how I have mine set up, except I could not fit my skimmer into the tank...wish I could. Very limited space.

 

[TheNanoReefer]

So you guys think a mj1200 for skimmer ang mag7 for return will be good?

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[jgsalwater]

So you guys think a mj1200 for skimmer ang mag7 for return will be good?

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Use a smaller Maxijet to feed the skimmer. A 600 MaxiJset is big enough.
For a return feed pump I have used a SEDRA 9000 which have given me excellent service and life. They run for 4 or 5 years or more between rebuilds or replacement. Your system could probably use the same size.

You don't want to over size your pumps more than is needed. You are just adding heat into your tank, which you should keep to a minimum to avoid needing to add a mechanical cooler.

 

[TheNanoReefer]

So you guys think a mj1200 for skimmer ang mag7 for return will be good?

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[TheNanoReefer]

Ok, I have the skimmer inside the 10 gallon on the right side of my cabinet. Moved the overflow box to the right side of my aquarium. I will have 1" pvc coming down directly into the 10 gallon with a small pump (like a MJ600) going into the skimmer (heater also in this 10 gallon)....

then I need to pipe water from the 10 gallon over to the acrylic sump/fuge on the left side. Should I get another pump to pump it over? The skimmer has an exit pipe, Im assuming the flow from this will be strong enough to move over the the acrylic sump right?

Then in the acrylic sump, I want to have the water come over into a small chamber only a couple inches wide, then have a staggered set of 2 baffles, then a large area for refugium, then another set of 2 staggered baffles with the last section for a return pump pumping water back to the main aquarium above (thinking Mag7)

Does this all sound about right? Is there anything else I may want or regret not doing in the future?

What about growing pods? I want to be able to grow pods in my sump/fuge because I plan to eventually get a green madrin. Is there anything special I Need to do for that? Im not even sure if there is anything else, but looking for thoughts... thanks

 

[TheNanoReefer]

Anyone? Bump

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[Waddleboy]

Your explanation is a little confusing. Your have a 10 gallon plus sump. Sump has return and refugium. Then you have a pump in the 10 gallon to the skimmer? And the skimmer outlet to connect the 10 gal to the sump? If so I don't know this but I don't know if the skimmer can move enough enough water to make good flow. You might consider putting the 10 gal hire, drilling anchor at top and gravity feed to the sump.

As for the fuge they like growing in algae best. So some chateo in the refugium it will be good.

 

[TheNanoReefer]

Bump

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