My 10 gallon sump build

[critofer]

hey all,

I have a 29 gallon reef tank and want to get a sump for a little more filtration and so i can put my scimmer in it.

I just made some plans so i would like to see what you guys think

I want your opinions, concerns, comments, advice, etc....

BTW this is my first time designing a sump

 

[allsps40]

You dont want your skimmer next to the return pump. For 2 reasons 1 you will get mad bubbles in the tank from the skimmer 2 you want the skimmer to be in an area with a consistent water level, the return pump area is where the water level will drop as water evaps. I also recommend leaving has much room as you can for the return and skimmer areas. Even if it means your fuge is a little smaller, it wont make a difference. Here is my old 10 gallon sump/fuge and I wish I would have made more room for the return pump, it would run dry daily if not topped off. Oh I ran this on a 29 gallon, good size sump for this tank.

 

[critofer]

okay, what if i put made the fuge part smaller and made the input area larger and put the skimmer there?

 

[critofer]

bump

 

[KeMo]

I would put the Skimmer on the left were the water comes into the sump. The have baffles and the return in the middle. Then on the right have your refug. You will need to change the plumbing a bit. Like this

 

[critofer]

KeMo, out of the 3 areas in my sump design the first one will be for the skimmer, second is return pump and the 3rd area is for the refug ? If the return is in the middle wouldnt the water not really get to the refug?

 

[Agu]

You don't want the skimmer next to the return pump.

If the return pump chamber isn't large enough you'll be topping off way too often.

You could branch off from the drain to the refugium. Personally I'd prefer to have the fuge in the middle to break up bubbles from the skimmer on one end and the return pump on the other end.

If you use glass baffles, sand down the exposed glass edges at the top of the sump so they aren't razor sharp. Do this before you install the baffles as it's about impossible to do it after installation. I neglected to do this and can't count how many times I've nicked a finger .

 

[allsps40]

okay, what if i put made the fuge part smaller and made the input area larger and put the skimmer there?

Yep that is the way to go.
Agu, thats the way I planned mine and it works great. Fuge stops any bubbles before they get to the return with only 2 baffles and 3 chambers. Pic of my current sump.

 

[KeMo]

this is how I run mine and what I was talking about

 

[XtremeFromHell]

Heres how i have mine and it works, but i like some of the other ideas on here as well.

 

[KeMo]

The way I showed mine and I think it is good is because I can also use the fuge as a QT if i need be. Just have to close of the T valve..