Sump design

[ddouglass1577]

I have a 90 gallon reef tank that needs a sump. I have a 40 G bearer that I will use. I want to add a refugium. Nothing big as it will be a place for pods to hang out. Let me know what you think. Please note that it's not to scale and I had to change something's on the drawing so the return pump looks really big but it's not ><

 

[ddouglass1577]

I am making a sump out of a 40G Breeder tank. I want to see what you all think of it. The picture is not to scale. I Had to change the picture around, so instead of redrawing the whole picture I just changed the dimensions. Also how many filter socks should I have? The tank is 90 gallons and has only 1 drain of 1in

 

[RocketEngineer]

Personally, I don't use filter socks.

I think your return section is too small. If you eliminate the filter sock section or combine it with the skimmer section, that space should now be part of the return.

 

[mmittlesteadt]

I have a 65 gallon sump in my basement. It is the exact same footprint as my 40 gallon breeder (my display tank in the living room upstairs), only taller.

Below is a pic of it. Perhaps it would be of use to you visually, but the baffles in your 40 would be shorter obviously. My refugium is 27 gallons (calculated by dimensions). I also have a sufficiently sized return chamber to maximize evaporation, ATO, pump failure, etc.

 

[ddouglass1577]

Taking all that you all have said how does this look?

 

[ddouglass1577]

 

[ddouglass1577]

 

[RocketEngineer]

You only need one baffle coming out of the refugium.

 

[ddouglass1577]

You only need one baffle coming out of the refugium.

I figured, but didn't know if the water coming down 5 inches would cause some bubbles to form which would go to the main display tank so I added the bubble trap

 

[mmittlesteadt]

I figured, but didn't know if the water coming down 5 inches would cause some bubbles to form which would go to the main display tank so I added the bubble trap

You can minimize bubbles and splashing if you install your baffles at a slight angle (like less than 1/4" difference between top and bottom). That's what I did and the water doesn't "fall" nor "splash" into the next chamber, but rather gently flows down the baffle into the next chamber.

 

[ddouglass1577]

You can minimize bubbles and splashing if you install your baffles at a slight angle (like less than 1/4" difference between top and bottom). That's what I did and the water doesn't "fall" nor "splash" into the next chamber, but rather gently flows down the baffle into the next chamber.

I like it!!!! Thank you

 

[mmittlesteadt]

I should add that some people prefer the water splashing over the baffle as it naturally breaks up the surface tension of the water in each subsequent chamber.

But...this adds noise and bubbles, and increases salt creep. Not a big deal if you like those things. I hate that, so the angled baffle eliminates it. I do have really cheap powerheads/pumps in each chamber (except the first one with the skimmer) pointed slightly at the surface, so the surface is more turbulent.

But my entire system...both the display tank and sump is so silent that if you close your eyes, you wouldn't know anything was running, aside from the skimmer.

 

[ddouglass1577]

I should add that some people prefer the water splashing over the baffle as it naturally breaks up the surface tension of the water in each subsequent chamber.

But...this adds noise and bubbles, and increases salt creep. Not a big deal if you like those things. I hate that, so the angled baffle eliminates it. I do have really cheap powerheads/pumps in each chamber (except the first one with the skimmer) pointed slightly at the surface, so the surface is more turbulent.

But my entire system...both the display tank and sump is so silent that if you close your eyes, you wouldn't know anything was running, aside from the skimmer.

That's good to know. I will have the baffles on the left side and the slanted baffle on the right