Another sump design...

[balistidae]

hey everyone. i have a 45 gallon that i am looking to use for a sump. I havnt done one before and from what i have gathered from other posts this is what i caame up with. Please criticize it and what not. I would like to know if the water level on the right side will stay high enough to run my prizm backpack as shown. Also will the pump area water level reamain at that height?? thanks alot, Greg

 

[golfish]

It looks ok to me. I'm not big on running sump and fuge combos so I really don't know how its going to work. I can tell you that the pump area will stay at what ever height you want it too as long as you keep topping off. That will be the area where you'll see the evaporation.

 

[squidd]

My thought is...that it looks "complicated"...moreso than it needs to be...
I would suggest maximizing the "fuge" area and losing the bio ball drip tray...
You can add more LR to the fuge which "may" aid in denitrification (bio balls won't) and the "dripping" into the return pump area will cause problems with micro bubbles and salt creep...
You only need the first two baffles (from right) past the skimmer chamber...whats the "black" center section...? Carbon...?
That would be more effective in a high flow area, such as under the overflow drain pipe, where it would be "tumbled and bounced" (in a fine mesh bag)...
And of course you have the "fuge in center design which forces ALL the flow from tank to return through the fuge area (IMO Too Fast)
But other than that , it looks OK...

 

[balistidae]

thanks for the replies. I was using the bioball areas to control the caulerpa from "migrating" out of the fuge and bungiong up the rest of the system. What if i just filled the pump area a little more so the water wont be falling so far?? thanks again, Greg

 

[balistidae]

any more thoughts???

 

[squidd]

Take a look at this design...fuge on the "side" with seperate feed...
Flow can be regulated and slow enough "not" to blow your macros in to the next chamber...

 

[squidd]

You could "squeeze" the skimmer chamber and use your HOB skimmer... and make the fuge area just that much larger...

 

[balistidae]

Revised design haha....and suggestions??? thanks, Greg

 

[nyreefer]

Sorry to bring this thread back. I really like the design of the return pump in the middle. I have a Mag7 pump and would like to try this but I am afraid it will not have enough power to get the water 5ft up to my main tank. I have a 1" overflow (Amiracle) and planned to use 3/4" pvc for the return line from the pump. I also planned to try xenia in the fuge and I'm not sure they would get enough flow without compromising flow back to tank. Are bubbles from the fuge in the return line an issue? Sorry for being obnoxious just lots of questions and eager to begin...