New refugium project - pls state your opinion, ideas.

[BZOFIQ]

Morning Reefers.

I am in a process of designing a new refugium for my 180G tank. I will have it either custom build by glasscages or put the dividers in myself. The size of the fuge is going to be 60*18*18. I am going with rimless tank. I have the design pretty much figured out but I was wondering if anyone would recommend some changes or design elements that I might have overlooked.

Here is the initial drawing...

The numbers are sizes.

The first compartment is for the skimmer, next are baffles (I want zero bubbles going into the fuge), next is refugium, next is a section with bits of LR, next is chemical media in mesh bags and last compartment is for the pump.

Please let me know what you would have done differently.

 

[puckbs]

i tend to put my skimmer where my returns come in, extra bubbles never hurt anything, plus, it saves some room

 

[BZOFIQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11778694#post11778694 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puckbs
i tend to put my skimmer where my returns come in, extra bubbles never hurt anything, plus, it saves some room

That is exactly where its going the first section on the left. that is where the return water from 2 overflows is going in. Water pumped back into the tank goes from section on the right.

The reason I want to get rid of the bubbles is because in my current setup the bubbles accumulate in the cheto and all the stuff just gets caught in the there causing quite a mess.

 

[SeaIsle]

is there any benefit to putting the pieces above the baffles? Also did you give thought to having the return in the middle and T'ing the return to put water into the fuge?

 

[BZOFIQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11779316#post11779316 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeaIsle
is there any benefit to putting the pieces above the baffles? Also did you give thought to having the return in the middle and T'ing the return to put water into the fuge?

The pieces up top are there for structural stability as I am going with rimless design, so I am trying to get all the support I can. I guess they can be skipped if anything but that isn't going to be much work anyway. Glasscages refused to provide complete setup so it looks like I'll be getting the tank only and siliconing my own baffles. They quoted me 60*18*18 rimless with 3/8 and 1/2 glass for $325 and $425 respectively with $100 delivery. What do you guys think?

I toyed with the idea of putting the return (pump) in the middle but with that design I get less space for the fuge part and the skimmer will be closer to the pump possibly introducing bubbles.

 

[Monkeyfish]

I think you'd be better off forgetting the rimless design (it's only a sump) and pick up a regular AGA 75 gallon tank since you're gonna make your own baffles any way. This'll save you almost $400 and you won't have to wait to get started.

 

[BZOFIQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11781458#post11781458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Monkeyfish
I think you'd be better off forgetting the rimless design (it's only a sump) and pick up a regular AGA 75 gallon tank since you're gonna make your own baffles any way. This'll save you almost $400 and you won't have to wait to get started.

You read my mind. On the way from work I had those same thoughts. I called my friend at Petland Discounts (seems to be the cheapest place to get a tank) and the 75 gallon tank is only $119. It's not 60" long but for the money I save I might go with the 72" inch T5 fixture by Current. It's currently on sale at Dr. Foster & Smith for only $569 (12 bulbs 470W). I guess it's a no brainer at this point. THanks for your input. Now I just have to go back to the drawing board and re-arrange the baffles.

 

[SeaIsle]

Although my sump is considerably smaller I simply purchased a tank and ordered precut acryllic baffles and siliconed them in. Im just curious with your talks of the t5 fixture. Are you going to put that over your sump? or are you just making the point that with the money you save you can invest that in a t5 fixture for your display? Just as an fyi people sometimes call me slow in the head.

 

[BZOFIQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11785744#post11785744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeaIsle
Although my sump is considerably smaller I simply purchased a tank and ordered precut acryllic baffles and siliconed them in. Im just curious with your talks of the t5 fixture. Are you going to put that over your sump? or are you just making the point that with the money you save you can invest that in a t5 fixture for your display? Just as an fyi people sometimes call me slow in the head.

I should have been more specific. Yes, I meant that the money I save I'll invest in a new 72" T5 fixture for my new 180G display tank.

 

[BZOFIQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11787726#post11787726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xoomer
I should have been more specific. Yes, I meant that the money I save I'll invest in a new 72" T5 fixture for my new 180G display tank.

The sump gets 4 x 9W compacts (total 36W)

 

[SeaIsle]

Have you ordered the baffles? Also, look into the retro fit kits for the lighting. I installed the Icecap 4 bulb t5 system and it was really easy and also you then have individual reflectors. Keep us posted.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Sea Isle - where did you order the pre-cut baffles from and how much did they cost?

 

[BZOFIQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11815010#post11815010 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeaIsle
Have you ordered the baffles? Also, look into the retro fit kits for the lighting. I installed the Icecap 4 bulb t5 system and it was really easy and also you then have individual reflectors. Keep us posted.

I am ordering the baffles today. All cut out from 1/4 inch glass I was quoted $90.

As to the fixture. I am ordering Current Nova Extreme Pro 72" which has 12 36" T5, each with separate reflector. My current 135G reef has 8 48" 28W T5 and the softies are ding great. The new setup should be even sicker as it will cover the whole tank and give me about 2.6 W per gallon vs. 1.6 W/G with current setup. I will post some pics later of the current setup later.

I picked up a 75 Gallon tank yesterday w 2 holes for $160.

 

[SeaIsle]

www.glasscages.com
3 - 11 3/4 x 14 x 1/4 clear acrylic

1 - 11 3/4 x 16 x 1/4 clear acrylic

4 pcs of acrylic $ 28.00

Shipping UPS $ 18.00
---------------
Total $ 46.00

I have read that thier products are not always well cut but this was with finished products. I also read this after I had ordered or I wouldnt have. However, I was very pleased.

 

[SeaIsle]

I have a nova extreme 4 bulb t5 system on my fresh planted tank and am really happy with thier product. Nice deal with the tank.

 

[BZOFIQ]

OK, here is the updated sump. The skimmer is probably going to stay as a hang on in the corner or maybe be connected externally to the sump next to the return pump. I will figure that out once it is in the stand. I scraped the idea of putting it where the water comes from the tank as there would be minimal access to that side of the sump. Glass baffles to be ordered tomorrow morning and the silicone won't be here until next week anyway. Well, I've got 5 more weeks anyway before I move to the new place.

 

[seldin]

I agree that if you can be satisfied with the dimensions of a fish tank and cut the baffles as additions, you will save a lot of $$$.

For me, I have a 55 gallon reef and I wanted maximize my volume of water for my sump area. So I am getting a custom sump / refugium from LifeReef.

Getting a lot of extra on it. ATO topoff, light fixture. Setup specially for a DSB. The unit is very tall.

 

[cthedaytrader]

I was just wondering if you intend to have the water travel around the baffles, from the pictures it ools like its going to flow from side to side. You wouldnt have a bubble trap then and youll have tons of micro bubbles in the display,

you should check out melevs reef site he has tons of info on sumps and designs

http://www.melevsreef.com/

 

[jnfallon]

FWIW I have those exact dimensions on my sump and it is set up pretty much like your top diagram.

Overflow/skimmer->fuge->return.

I have found that having all the flow go through the fuge is no good (I use a dart return pump), and so I plan to replumb and only put half the return water through the fuge. Depending on your flow through, you may want to reconsider.

I also switched to an overflow flow fed external skimmer years ago and highly recommend. I like way more than the internal setup.

 

[cthedaytrader]

I think it was early when I wrote that post lol and I thought that was a top down diagram lol not aside view lol