Sump Design

[A1t2o]

This is what I do each week. (sort of) Like mentined above, I don't use a filter sock on a regular basis, but right before a water change I'll use a power head and stir everything up in the sump each week. Whatever might have settled down there gets pumped up to the DT and then I catch it on the way back down. (or siphon it out/dirty water) Being that this is done on a regular basis though, there's really not much crap that accumulates in my sump to tell you the truth. I'm staying ahead of it so to say... GL.

I just add filter floss in the baffle before the return section when I stir it up. Then I come back and take out brown filter floss an hour or two later. That way it doesn't get into the DT in the first place. Way too much crap settles on the rocks or in dead spots for me to try that. I do use a turkey baster to blow off all the rocks at the same time though and try to pull out as much crap as I can.

 

[RayAllen3422]

I just add filter floss in the baffle before the return section when I stir it up. Then I come back and take out brown filter floss an hour or two later. That way it doesn't get into the DT in the first place. Way too much crap settles on the rocks or in dead spots for me to try that. I do use a turkey baster to blow off all the rocks at the same time though and try to pull out as much crap as I can.

I like the way you think. :wavehand:

 

[C.Eymann]

This is what I do each week. (sort of) Like mentined above, I don't use a filter sock on a regular basis, but right before a water change I'll use a power head and stir everything up in the sump each week. Whatever might have settled down there gets pumped up to the DT and then I catch it on the way back down. (or siphon it out/dirty water) Being that this is done on a regular basis though, there's really not much crap that accumulates down there to tell you the truth. I'm staying ahead of it so to say... GL.

nice,

what I do is I actually use a big turkey baster to suck out the piles of detritus right before I start doing the same thing in my display (bb) during a waterchange. I also scaped my display so the rock work is solid and has plenty of space to snake tubing back behind it. when it's water change time it's all about hunting detritus.

 

[Swensos]

Is there any issues with the refug before the skimmer? I guess copes and everything make it by and get pumped back into the tank.

Maybe... I'm not 100% sure. I figure, if you have a healthy pod population, you'll probably be skimming pods, unless you're running filter socks, which I don't. I'm going to make some "pod condos" made out of those little plastic creature keepers, which I'm going to alternate between the display and the fuge at night. That way I know pods are making it to the display in good numbers.

 

[cloak]

I just add filter floss in the baffle before the return section when I stir it up. Then I come back and take out brown filter floss an hour or two later. That way it doesn't get into the DT in the first place. Way too much crap settles on the rocks or in dead spots for me to try that. I do use a turkey baster to blow off all the rocks at the same time though and try to pull out as much crap as I can.

It's pretty much the same thing. Although I do get a great feeding response from the corals when things get "dirty" in the DT.

Btw, my power head will put that turkey baster to shame...

 

[A1t2o]

It's pretty much the same thing. Although I do get a great feeding response from the corals when things get "dirty" in the DT.

Btw, my power head will put that turkey baster to shame...

Power head for sump, the turkey baster is for the display tank to get all the nooks and crannies without blowing my corals all over the place. I have too many LPS corals that are just sitting on the rocks for me to take a power head to them.

 

[cloak]

Just do it carefully with the PH in the DT.

Just as an example, I'll bet that turkey baster can't get under the rocks like this... Blind eye?

 

[RayAllen3422]

Just do it carefully with the PH in the DT.



Just as an example, I'll bet that turkey baster can't get under the rocks like this... Blind eye?

Isn't it bad to stir everything up like that?

 

[cloak]

Not in my experience... Then again, this has been happening about once every 30-40 days for the past 7 years or so... I'm doing the work, as opposed to a CUC.

 

[A1t2o]

I've done it with a PH before and I would have to dig it into my DSB for it to look like that, so thanks but no thanks. Plenty of crap does get to the DT so I'm not worried about feeding the corals. TBH you are helping me with my point because that crap is coming out of my tank in the filter floss, but a portion of yours settles in the DT and decays adding to the nutrients that can be used by nuisance algae.

I do stir a small portion at the top of my sand bed for this very same reason, so I respect your process. Just looks like yours is going a little too far.

 

[CStrickland]

I stir up my sand and blow off the rocks with a baster or a ph and I've never had an issue. But last week I lost my temper and rearranged some rocks, I guess I found my tank's secret detritus stash cause my nitrates rocketed up to something like 20 or 40 from my usual 5. So I'd say take it slow in the beginning.

 

[cloak]

I've done it with a PH before and I would have to dig it into my DSB for it to look like that, so thanks but no thanks. Plenty of crap does get to the DT so I'm not worried about feeding the corals. TBH you are helping me with my point because that crap is coming out of my tank in the filter floss, but a portion of yours settles in the DT and decays adding to the nutrients that can be used by nuisance algae.

I do stir a small portion at the top of my sand bed for this very same reason, so I respect your process. Just looks like yours is going a little too far.

Really? I guess all of our work ethics can't be the same though. To each their own... KISS.

 

[cloak]

Btw, here's half of my older DSB. Like you mentioned above though, these are another story...

 

[rsain]

Disagree, you will want to keep you water level in the return section high enough so that there is no "waterfall". If the water level drops because of evaporation, you can hear the water falling and see the occasional bubbles in the display tank. This will alert you to either refill the ATO or add manually depending on your setup. I run with 3 baffles in the same setup you have pictured and it works perfectly for me.

Agreed that it will work perfectly. Especially as you describe. Ran a 3 pane bubble trap for years. But it won't trap bubbles nearly as well as a 4 pane (slows turbulence and forces directional flow allowing bubbles to not get trapped in unobserved currents/eddies).

I use float switches and relays to automate the ato and ato refill.

-ryan

 

[RayAllen3422]

Okay everyone:

I need to finalize my design and get the sump built so I can get the tank up and running. I am ordering the glass baffles tomorrow. The baffles I am getting are 1/4" thick to be put in a glass 75 gallon aquarium.

I am going with a dual overflow single return with three chambers. Left is the skimmer, center is the return, and right is other (i.e. live rock, chaeto, heaters, etc.). One overflow will be directed to the skimmer and one to the live rock chamber. The only bubble trap will be after the skimmer chamber. Please review the picture and let me know if there are any major flaws in this design. I will be ordering the glass tomorrow. Thanks for any insight!!!

 

[Shawn O]

Should work well enough. Good luck.

 

[RayAllen3422]

Should work well enough. Good luck.

That doesn't sound encouraging. Thanks for the vote of confidence. [emoji3]

 

[RayAllen3422]

One other question I forgot to ask. How much space do you leave along the sides for glass baffles? I am having someone else cut them so I need the measurements to be precise.