Will this sump design work
- Thread starter dzhuo
- Start date
laverda
Well-known member
The baffels actually look like more of a maze at first, but that would work to trap bubbles also. What do you plan to have in the refugium? Cheeto has now problem with and prefers high flow. The flow rate really depends on your return pump any way, so the flow may not be that high depending on what pump and the size of the sump.
sorry been offline for a bit... the pic you posted after mine is exactly what i am talking about... that is how mine is... i figured it causes the water to flow all the way to the other side of the fuge so it will get distributed between more plant life instead of just flowing out of the sump
diamondawg42
New member
Re: Re: sump design
Re: Re: sump design
Re: Re: sump design
It depends on what you want your 'fuge to do. If you want it to be a chaeto growth facility only, then high flow is preferred for maximum chaeto growth. If you want it to be a copepod/critter breeding ground, then a slower flow is beneficial.
Padrino
New member
The problem i see is that you have the same flow rate through the fuge as the skimmer. Switching the A and B as labeled in the last page is useless since the baffles would be useless and you would experience microbubbles in the tank. Here is something i am working on changing a little . i have been working on this design for over a month.. just not sure what i want to do and space is a big limiting factor on a 90 gal aquarium. maybe you can get an idea for this.
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
Eliminate what's in RED
Add what's in BLUE
Run water level in return area HIGHER than the now "short" baffle.
And I think you'll be OK
Padrino
New member
hmmmm interesting way to look at it.. based on this i would enter teh fuge at the blue markings, i don't think you would want to skim the water that has gone throu the fugge, i would not want to skim any pods and such. for this reason both the skimmer and fug would have its own input but both would flow into the return area.
Now im not sure why did you say to remove half ot the last baffle marked in red?
Now im not sure why did you say to remove half ot the last baffle marked in red?
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
I'm sorry. I guess I should have explained myself.
With my changes you would be changing where the water exits the fuge. I did this because you would have a high drop into the return area in your design. This "could" cause bubbles in the return area that "could" get sucked into the return pump.
Yes this does mean any pods get put into your skimmer section. Do you think every pod is going to wonder over to the skimmer inlet and get sucked in? I highly doubt it. The majority would travel on through. If you happen to lose a pod or two - what's the big deal. It's not like the pods exiting your fuge are the main food source for your display tank.
Why chop the last baffle to about half the height?
I did this because, once again, with a high drop into your return area you stand the chance actually creating bubbles (defeating the whole purpose of the bubble trap). Cutting that last baffle off and running a higher water level in the return area will prevent that. The last baffle will now act like a deflector. If any bubbles happen to go through the bubble baffle they are directed toward the surface where they can pop.
Unless you are going to run some crazy 3000 gph flow through this sump I would venture to guarentee that the deflector will work and you won't have any bubbles enter your return pump.
With my changes you would be changing where the water exits the fuge. I did this because you would have a high drop into the return area in your design. This "could" cause bubbles in the return area that "could" get sucked into the return pump.
Yes this does mean any pods get put into your skimmer section. Do you think every pod is going to wonder over to the skimmer inlet and get sucked in? I highly doubt it. The majority would travel on through. If you happen to lose a pod or two - what's the big deal. It's not like the pods exiting your fuge are the main food source for your display tank.
Why chop the last baffle to about half the height?
I did this because, once again, with a high drop into your return area you stand the chance actually creating bubbles (defeating the whole purpose of the bubble trap). Cutting that last baffle off and running a higher water level in the return area will prevent that. The last baffle will now act like a deflector. If any bubbles happen to go through the bubble baffle they are directed toward the surface where they can pop.
Unless you are going to run some crazy 3000 gph flow through this sump I would venture to guarentee that the deflector will work and you won't have any bubbles enter your return pump.
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
OK then - Set up your way you would have about a 5 inch drop from the fuge to the return area. That "could" create bubbles.
Have the exit from the fuge going back into the skimmer area as in my design and you don't have to worry about it.
Seriously - you don't have to worry about it killing all your pods.
Have the exit from the fuge going back into the skimmer area as in my design and you don't have to worry about it.
Seriously - you don't have to worry about it killing all your pods.
