Sump Question

deancoxx

New member
I was just thinking about a setup for a sump with 2 chambers. First will have the skimmer and the second will be the return pump and maybe in the future a media reactor with the input and output both in the same chamber. I'm not doing a refugium area because I heard that if it's too small (this would be in a 30x18 sump) it's not that useful. My question is how do I get the detritus and other junk to settle in one of the chambers so I can find all of it easily and vacuum it out. Is there a certain way to do the baffles? The other question is how do I get any dirt that gets into the bubble trap out since the 3 baffles will be only 1 inch apart. I don't think my vacuum wil fit in there. Thanks
 
The baffles most likely won't accumulate anything as water will always be flowing through it. Detritus usually settles in an area of the sump where flow is the lowest. Easiest solution is put a filter sock on your drain and just change it out every few days to a week depending on how much gunk your system produces.
 
I was just thinking about a setup for a sump with 2 chambers. First will have the skimmer and the second will be the return pump and maybe in the future a media reactor with the input and output both in the same chamber. I'm not doing a refugium area because I heard that if it's too small (this would be in a 30x18 sump) it's not that useful. My question is how do I get the detritus and other junk to settle in one of the chambers so I can find all of it easily and vacuum it out. Is there a certain way to do the baffles? The other question is how do I get any dirt that gets into the bubble trap out since the 3 baffles will be only 1 inch apart. I don't think my vacuum wil fit in there. Thanks

Sumps are ALWAYS useful...more water volume = better

I would add a bubble trap so you dont get any micro bubbles, like you said.

SOunds like a solid simple plan!
 
For our frag tank we just did a very simple two compartment sump. Just had a bubble trap between the area where the skimmer is and where the returns are. Works just fine :)
 
When doing water changes, I turn off the return, stir everything up in the sump, and use a small pump to empty the sump. You can use a small piece of tubing on the input to more easily vacuum between the baffles.
 
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