karimwassef
Active member
I currently have an arrangement where I have 4 tanks.
My DT is 380g
Above my DT, I have a 100g surge fed directly from a pump in my DT's weir overflow
Below my DT, I have a 180g sump with refugium/chaeto, skimmer inlet/return, chiller inlet/return and main return pumps.
Next to my sump, I have a secondary 100g aux sump plumbed around a corner - this captures the surge overflow into the sump.
There's two surges at 20g each for a dual surge at 40g. It's an actuated surge (all submerged).
The actuators are intentionally leaky - this means that they will continue to allow a low flow (400gph), even when closed. This tends to keep things from building up in the surge pipes. To manage this, my surge pump runs intermittently during non-surge times (like at night). It runs until the surge reservoir is full, then stops... Allowing the water to slowly drain until it gets close to the bottom and then restarts. The surge pump doesn't have a one way valve. So when it stops, about 20g flows back into the DT overflow and then to the sump. This back and forth is magic for my chaeto and refugium.
So... What if this was turned upside down? Basically, integrate the "sump" ABOVE the DT with a built in surge section? It wouldn't technically be a sump, but let's say all the sump engagements would move over the tank (refugium, chaeto, skimmer access, chiller access, dosing, etc...)
The container under the DT would just be an overflow catch!
Why?
I have a very tall skimmer so I have to pump up 10ft there.
Most of my tank's heavy flow comes intermittently from my surge releases (2 x 20g/10 sec). The main pump's flow is a fraction of that (3000gph). The average flow through the surge is also medium (3000gpg).
My sump's chaeto is brimming with life, especially pods. But being pumped generally kills them. If my overhead surge/"sump" was gravity feeding my DT, they should all survive. With only nutrients being pumped back up, this should maximize my pod access into the DT.
Complication. Since both the sump/surge combo and the DT would be overflow based, neither can act as a true sump with a water level sensor. The aux tank at the bottom of the stack would need to do that.
My DT is 380g
Above my DT, I have a 100g surge fed directly from a pump in my DT's weir overflow
Below my DT, I have a 180g sump with refugium/chaeto, skimmer inlet/return, chiller inlet/return and main return pumps.
Next to my sump, I have a secondary 100g aux sump plumbed around a corner - this captures the surge overflow into the sump.
There's two surges at 20g each for a dual surge at 40g. It's an actuated surge (all submerged).
The actuators are intentionally leaky - this means that they will continue to allow a low flow (400gph), even when closed. This tends to keep things from building up in the surge pipes. To manage this, my surge pump runs intermittently during non-surge times (like at night). It runs until the surge reservoir is full, then stops... Allowing the water to slowly drain until it gets close to the bottom and then restarts. The surge pump doesn't have a one way valve. So when it stops, about 20g flows back into the DT overflow and then to the sump. This back and forth is magic for my chaeto and refugium.
So... What if this was turned upside down? Basically, integrate the "sump" ABOVE the DT with a built in surge section? It wouldn't technically be a sump, but let's say all the sump engagements would move over the tank (refugium, chaeto, skimmer access, chiller access, dosing, etc...)
The container under the DT would just be an overflow catch!
Why?
I have a very tall skimmer so I have to pump up 10ft there.
Most of my tank's heavy flow comes intermittently from my surge releases (2 x 20g/10 sec). The main pump's flow is a fraction of that (3000gph). The average flow through the surge is also medium (3000gpg).
My sump's chaeto is brimming with life, especially pods. But being pumped generally kills them. If my overhead surge/"sump" was gravity feeding my DT, they should all survive. With only nutrients being pumped back up, this should maximize my pod access into the DT.
Complication. Since both the sump/surge combo and the DT would be overflow based, neither can act as a true sump with a water level sensor. The aux tank at the bottom of the stack would need to do that.
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