Sump Design - Filter after Fuge

[Khazmodain]

I'm currently attempting a sump layout that's inspired by the Triton method. This calls for a large fuge but I'm currently puzzling out what's the best method to prevent chaeto, snails, etc from progressing through the sump and making it into a pump. Here's what I'm currently thinking:

This would allow me to place something like a foam filter pad/floss on the egg crate and would catch anything that escapes the fuge. The downside is the added maintenance replacing and cleaning filter pads and removal of pods leaving the fuge. I'm planning on routing teeth into the overflow that leaves the fuge but is that enough by itself? Any other ideas with something like gutter guards?

 

[Reefable]

I'm currently attempting a sump layout that's inspired by the Triton method. This calls for a large fuge but I'm currently puzzling out what's the best method to prevent chaeto, snails, etc from progressing through the sump and making it into a pump. Here's what I'm currently thinking:

This would allow me to place something like a foam filter pad/floss on the egg crate and would catch anything that escapes the fuge. The downside is the added maintenance replacing and cleaning filter pads and removal of pods leaving the fuge. I'm planning on routing teeth into the overflow that leaves the fuge but is that enough by itself? Any other ideas with something like gutter guards?

i am in the same process as you. i am adding a 125G 72" long sump and trying to get ideas which would allow me to have a big fuge...lets hope someone chimes in...

 

[jacksonpt]

I had a similar problem with my sump when I first set it up. 2 things made a huge difference.

1 - I slowed the flow rate through the fuge area
2 - I cut teeth in the baffle, as you are planning to do. This has been enough to "strain" the water of macro algae as it is leaving the fuge.

 

[JonezNReef]

I am planning on a similar setup for my build, just a little bit bigger. I decided to make my fuge a separate tank that is drilled towards the top on the side and it will drain into a separate sump. That way I could have strainers on the bulk heads to keep anything from exiting the fuge.
I think you could get away with just teeth in the baffle and the egg crate as a back up. If you think the holes int the egg crate are to big then to avoid the filter pad on the egg crate you could add a second piece of egg crate that is cut to off set the holes in the first layer which would keep algae and snails from making it to the pumps but no real maintenance.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I do not recommend feeding a refugium straight from the overflow - especially if you are going to follow others advice to lower the flow rate. Emptying directly into the fuge results in it becoming a dirty settling chamber for detritus. Feed the fuge with clean water.


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[Vio]

I do not recommend feeding a refugium straight from the overflow - especially if you are going to follow others advice to lower the flow rate. Emptying directly into the fuge results in it becoming a dirty settling chamber for detritus. Feed the fuge with clean water.
+1, i got 300 Gal. then 60 gal. swamp then 90 gal. refuge. i use the swamp to collect detritus, Protein Skimmer, Active carbon and some GFO (only for mechanical filters) last chamber feed the refuge and come back close to intake return pump. So far , super happy.

 

[Khazmodain]

Nope, it's going to be a high flow fuge. Triton advocates 10x display turnover through the fuge. I'm not going to be quite that high.. should be around 2500-3000gph after head loss through a 40g section (60-75x turnover in the fuge).

 

[ca1ore]

Makes sure to have a place for the water for when your mechanical filters on the eggcrate clog. I designed something similar for my sump (eggcrate for polyfilter in my case, but that clogs too). The downstream baffle in mine is only about 2" taller than the eggcrate shelf so water can flow over it in a pinch.



I use an external skimmer, so more room for chaeto. I also use gutter guard to 'screen' the pump chamber.

 

[Khazmodain]

Makes sure to have a place for the water for when your mechanical filters on the eggcrate clog. I designed something similar for my sump (eggcrate for polyfilter in my case, but that clogs too). The downstream baffle in mine is only about 2" taller than the eggcrate shelf so water can flow over it in a pinch.

I use an external skimmer, so more room for chaeto. I also use gutter guard to 'screen' the pump chamber.

Good call. I'll plan on shortening that baffle that supports the eggcrate. I also may not have it drop so low.. it seems like I might end up with flow going straight along the bottom of the second chamber. I also have an external skimmer.. I just wanted to make sure I have room for any additional equipment here in the future such as a possible zeovit reactor.

 

[Lsufan]

I know people like it both ways but I am a fan of having the return section in the middle & feeding the fuge from the return. In smaller sumps it's probably more practical to have the fuge in the middle but on larger sumps I like being able to keep the fuge somewhat remote by having the return pump feed it. It alows u to be able to keep the flow thru the sump & flow thru the fuge seperate. It also alows u to take the fuge offline for cleaning by closing the valve feeding the fuge & not having to shut the rest of the system down.

 

[Khazmodain]

I wish I could find a picture someone posted a while back of their sump. They somehow had used pvc pipe to create a clip and fastened gutter guard onto their baffle. I haven't been quite able to recreate it in a way I'm satisfied with.

 

[Khazmodain]

Hopefully this works out to keep chaeto out of downstream chambers.

I'll still probably place an egg crate shelf in case I want to use a mechanical filter for water polishing from time to time.

 

[jacksonpt]

Hopefully this works out to keep chaeto out of downstream chambers.

I'll still probably place an egg crate shelf in case I want to use a mechanical filter for water polishing from time to time.

What is that material? Looks like gutter guard, but the mesh appears smaller than what I've seen. I might put some of that between my baffles...

 

[Khazmodain]

What is that material? Looks like gutter guard, but the mesh appears smaller than what I've seen. I might put some of that between my baffles...

Yep, it's just vinyl gutter guard. I'm wondering if the mesh appears smaller in the picture since the sump is fairly large (48x24x24). So far it is working well.