Sump tank build thread

[jsehlms]

the outlet and inlet on my mag7 are both 1/2", that is why i went with 3/4" for both... I read over the instructions front and back and even looked at the box and it says nothing about the diameter pipe/tubing to run, just that it has those size inlet and outlet (1/2").

Then you'll need to run 1" piping off the output of the mag.

From: http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html

What sized plumbing should I use?

The Mag pump comes with printed instructions that state to double the outlet size to determine the plumbing needed. The Mag 7 has a 1/2" outlet, and the pvc needs to be 1". If you use 1" plumbing, you'll get better flow than if you used smaller I.D. (inside diameter) pvc.

 

[Mr.Tan]

Ahh, i see that now...well dang, that sucks. I wish someone would have mentioned something earlier before I bought everything and now have all the tubing run/cut and "glued" together. I didn't notice it anywhere in the instructions, maybe it just blended in somewhere.

 

[jsehlms]

That's ok. You'll soon learn in this hobby you learn from your mistakes and do it better the next time. As I'm doing now 6 months later. Using 1.5" piping for my mag9.5 instead of the measly 3/4" I used when I first set it up thinking, output is 3/4" so that's what I use.

 

[Mr.Tan]

Yeah i've done a lot of that so far! i would really like to pull my tank apart and re-do the rock work, but im afraid to do so because i dont want to start another cycle and kill my fish (1 coral beauty, 2 chromis and a coral banded shrimp)... I'll be sure to get some 1" ID PVC tubing to use with the output of the pump now instead, just sucks cause i'll have 10 feet of un-used 3/4" PVC tubing laying around now..


i have another question... Is it at all possible to run like phosban in a filter bag that they include in the sump without having to buy a reactor?

 

[Mr.Tan]

here is a progress picture also.


after much debate and reading, I AM most likely going to move the return pump down in to the return section of the tank. I feel like it is going to be the best place for it for start up (since it requires the pump to be primed if its external, and it also states that it needs to be below water level for starting?) UNless i can add in a tube that i can add water to for priming it?...i want your opinions on this part

and i ran into a snag yesterday, of course... I was doing the last baffle and i was squeezing hard on the tube for the silicone to come out (aquarium silicone) and the bottom blasted open!!!!!!!!!! spewing all the silicone out all over my hands, i was so ****ed! I now need to go buy a new tube for $10 just to do the bottom portion and the one side of the baffle, again im super ****ed haha.

 

[jsehlms]

I AM most likely going to move the return pump down in to the return section of the tank. I feel like it is going to be the best place for it for start up (since it requires the pump to be primed if its external, and it also states that it needs to be below water level for starting?) UNless i can add in a tube that i can add water to for priming it?...i want your opinions on this part

I'm not sure how you would keep this primed in the event of a power failure. Having it in the sump is the best/easiest method.

and i ran into a snag yesterday, of course... I was doing the last baffle and i was squeezing hard on the tube for the silicone to come out (aquarium silicone) and the bottom blasted open!!!!!!!!!! spewing all the silicone out all over my hands, i was so ****ed! I now need to go buy a new tube for $10 just to do the bottom portion and the one side of the baffle, again im super ****ed haha.

You should be able to go to Petco and pick up a small 3oz tube of sealant for around $5.

 

[Mr.Tan]

yeah thats what i was thinking...we don't lose power hardly at all around my area, but with my luck once i would get it setup it would go out.

Unfortunatly the tube i bought was a 3oz, and it was $10

 

[Mr.Tan]

revised the setup, pump is now down in the sump itself rather then mounted externally.

test filled the sump, unfortunatly i wasent aware that having a 10" piece leading in to the refugium would cause the skimmer side to sit at 10", so I have to have a new piece of glass cut that is 9" so it isn't as high...kind of a bummer, but i guess its something that is to happen when doing this without any real knowledge behind it.

 

[sponger0]

Just get some egg crate to lift up the skimmer

 

[Mr.Tan]

its going to sit up a decent amount higher, the gatevalve outlet will be to high for comfort...plus it doesnt leave much room for water to run back incase of a power-outage. I can/should be able to get another piece of glass cut for about $7 (since 4 pieces cut and polished cost me $25.44). I mean, i even considered just removing the third baffle completely out of the three for the bubble trap, to promote upward flow through the refugium (not planning to run any sand in the refugium, just chaeto and some LR and other macro algae). Would this be a bad idea?

 

[Mr.Tan]

any input on this? is it bad to have only 2 baffles in the "three baffle bubble trap" area? the first and then second that is up higher that the water passes under and then have that just lead straight in to the refugium? I wasent planning any sand in the refugium, just chaeto/macro algae and some LR... i feel like it would help with making better flow through the refugium rather then have it potentially just float overtop of the refugium area..

 

[Mr.Tan]

anybody?

 

[jsehlms]

Since you're doing the fuge first and no sand in the fuge, no. It's probably a good method as you'll get full flow from bottom left to top right through the fuge rather than just across the top in a 3 baffle skimmer side.

Edit: No as in it would be fine to do just the 2 baffles.

 

[Mr.Tan]

ha i had to re-read that to figure out if you meant no as in good or no as in bad .... Thanks for confirming that, I couldn't see how it would be a bad idea since it would be pretty much promoting the flow through the refugium rather then having it risk just missing everything completely. I'm gonna remove that baffle tonight, thanks again!

 

[Mr.Tan]

oh and I guess i'll take this time to make another update:

overflow pipe is run

just need to do the part from the wall to the tank and then reinforce the stand the sump sits on along with raise the skimmer to appropriate height and it should be ready to be fired up

 

[jer77]

Glad to see you have the pump inside the sump under water. I forgot to mention the priming issue. That's probably why I've never seen a return pump above the water level of the sump. You don't need the third baffle in the bubble trap if nothing is there to clog it like sand or rocks.

 

[Mr.Tan]

Thanks, yeah after much debate and thinking over all the recomendations i decided the pump would be much better inside the sump. I actually kind of like how much simpler the piping is with it down inside too. Nothing will be there to clog the flow from the bubble trap area, i did remove it last week (which was a seriosu pain in the butt with getting the silicone off!).

Hopefully this week i'll have it up and running!

 

[jer77]

Looks just like my first sump. Ahh... the memories! You'll like the octopus skimmer too. Are you able to add a mesh wheel impeller to that kind of pump to increase the air intake? I had an octopus extreme with the Sicce Pump and used a separate impeller. Either way the skimmer is a good one.

 

[Mr.Tan]

Looks just like my first sump. Ahh... the memories! You'll like the octopus skimmer too. Are you able to add a mesh wheel impeller to that kind of pump to increase the air intake? I had an octopus extreme with the Sicce Pump and used a separate impeller. Either way the skimmer is a good one.

I am not sure if I can add one, i don't see why not though? I would eventually like to replace the pump all together with a bubble blaster because I have heard good things about them producing greater amounts of mircobubbles. I can't wait to get it up and running and see how it works! Any day now :spin2:


update: Everything is done piping wise, just need to reinforce the stand the sump will be sitting on now (have the wood, just need to get it done). Also need to get some suction cups on the return pump to keep it still (and help with vibration). I did a test run with it sitting on the bare glass and the stand is kind of flimsy and it made a LOT of noise from vibrating!!! Hopefully it goes away once I do the said things...

that shelf above the sump is going to be gone, didn't have time to take it out in this picture...also, everything you see that has bare wood or just looks like poop, the whole area is going to be repainted white to look nice and fresh.

piping leading to tank you can see will be painted black so it doesnt stand out as much. tank looks dirty thanks to the cell phone picture. Some of the rock will be gone too, gonna downsize it a bit

don't really know what else to do with the HOB filter, its taking up to much room :thumbdown

 

[sponger0]

Since your gonna have a sump, you can get rid of the HOB. Your filtration is your rock and skimmer.

But looking good. Makes me wanna do more work to mine.