need help designing new sump

[canned fish]

Greetings. I ordered a 100 gal. aquarium 72x18x18 to build a new sump. I intend to use all glass. Would anyone like to contribute to designing this sump? I have a Reeflo Orca 250 skimmer (external), and a dart (external)for return. I am considering using a submersible return pump instead to avoid drilling the glass sump... No holes, No leaks. Also, I have two 1.5" drain lines from the overflow.

 

[blennielove]

Hello Canned Fish, by the way is that tuna or sardines?
Anyways, I just watched this on youtube, it is very informative. I think it sounds like what you are trying to do with the exception of external skimmer.
Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxnu...BD9B65327&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1
or search Reef Tank D.I.Y. Sump part 1 on youtube.
Good luck!

 

[justinm0424]

I know glass is cheaper but acrylic is the way to go for sumps. They are a lot easier to make and add compartments and acrylic is 100 times stronger than glass. I have a 40gal breeder sump and drilled the glass for return but it cracked because of the vibrations.

I would makesure you have plenty of baffles and space them out enough so they're aren't microbubbles. Also makesure the return section is large enough to deal with the pump but small enough so the ATO pump has enough to fill it in one fill.

 

[canned fish]

blennie, good video, I picked of some pointers. Should I go for the 10% sized fuge? That would be half of my sump.

 

[JohnM99]

Infinite combinations make it difficult to pick just one plan - check out this site - http://www.melevsreef.com/ - he has a ton of info on sumps.

Avoid mistakes people have made -
- skimmer compartment not big enough
- fuge too small
- fuge gets too much flow
- no room for extra stuff (Ca+ drip, probes, heaters)

A setup like this works well - split the return from the tank in 2, one part goes to the skimmer, the other to the fuge. Each of them then feeds separately into the return pump section.

>>> Skimmer >> Return << Fuge <<<

Also make sure that there is enough room in the sump to handle power outages - when the pump goes off, a lot of water flows back into the sump - make sure it is tall enough to hold all of that easily.

I am just revising mine for the 17th time - wish I had done a better job to start..............