suggestions for sump/refugium

[marcor12]

View attachment sump.pdf

For my 90 gallon display tank, I took a 30 gallon for the refugium
Need help on barrier spacing , between and heights from bottom of tank and areas for each section. The return section needs to be wide enough for a in sump skimmer (footprint). right now have a HOB skimmer...thxs all lee :wavehand:

 

[AmherstReef]

I have a 90 with a 30 gallon sump underneath. First section holds the skimmer, then there are baffles, second section holds return pump and heaters, third section is the refugium. I can measure the sections later after work if you want them

 

[EllieSuz]

I had Millie at Caribbean Forest build my sump to my specifications. The first compartment is just for return water. That flow is too heavy, in my opinion, to dump it directly into a macro algae or skimmer compartment. The next two compartments hold Chaeto, rubble and a skimmer. The fourth one holds the return pump. I had to exchange the position of the skimmer and Chaeto when I got a new skimmer with a larger footprint, so if I had it to do over, I would make the skimmer section larger than necessary to accommodate an upgrade.

 

[marcor12]

are you guys able to open the pdf file?...

 

[EllieSuz]

Yeah, it opened in Adobe Reader. Where do you intend to put the skimmer? It can't be in the same compartment as the chaeto. The skimmer pump would chew that stuff up like crazy and dump it into the display tank.

 

[marcor12]

I was going to put the skimmer in the return pump area and direct the exit water back to the sock area

 

[EllieSuz]

I'm no expert at these things, so I hope you'll get more replies from others. However, I don't think you should put a skimmer in the same compartment as the return pump.

 

[AmherstReef]

See post above

 

[cardiffgiant]

I have a 90 with a 30 gallon sump underneath. First section holds the skimmer, then there are baffles, second section holds return pump and heaters, third section is the refugium. I can measure the sections later after work if you want them

This is how I did mine when I had a 30 gal sump under the tank. At roughly 10 gallons, the fuge would be less than 10% of system volume. At that size you'll get some diversity and some pod production, but the nutrient export might not be as significant.

What return pump and skimmer are you planning?

 

[iamwrasseman]

dont put the skimmer in the return compartment as you will end up with micro bubbles in you display tank . the skimmer should be the first component that your tank water comes into contact with so put it in the compartment where the drain flows into . remember keep it simple

 

[jacksonpt]

I agree with most of what has been said so far.

Make the sump 3 chambers - 1st: skimmer and drain, 2nd: return, 3rd: fuge. Make the fuge as large as you can, though there is some balance/trade-off here... you don't want the return section too small as this is where you'll see the water level fluctuate with evaporation. You'll also want at least 1 baffle between the skimmer and the return pump.

Also, make sure you allow for sufficient backflow into the sump when the return isn't running (maintenance, failure, power outage, etc).

Something like this is the tried and true design... simply adjust the dimensions/measurements to suit your setup.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I designed my sump differently than many others suggest here.

My main (return) pump intake and skimmer (intake) are located in the final section of my sump. My skimmer output is directed back to the section of the sump where the main drain empties into the sump.

"Dirty" water passes through my refugium before reaching my skimmer.

(I never cared much for Calfo's recommendation that drain water should hit the skimmer first.)

In my sump water flows from left to right. My design requires only TWO baffles. KEEP IT SIMPLE.