any sump/fuge builders?

hoover86

hoover86

Member
Originally Posted by Winstew
The sump is really a simple design.. you can find many different plans online. I just got into the hobby and its the first one i have built and it works like a charm. The chamber design is very simple. The input from the tank enters on the right chamber, flows down and under that partition then up and over the second wall. The center part is for the skimmer and fuge if you desired. The water then overflows to the last chamber when the return pump sits and then back up to the tank.

Will it be a problem that I have a hang-on style cpr skimmer? If you could e-mail me plans and like where you place like the bio balls and other filter type things that would be great. Your pictures give me a good idea, do you have pictures of it with all of your filtration in it so I can grasp a better idea of where the actual filtration stuff goes? I'm at hoover86@hotmail.com for any additional info. you can send me. AWESOME!! thanks!
 
S

sonicboom1

Guest
My skimmer can go in sump some say I just have to try that..
well off to get my stand then I can measure!
UHG! 1 more day wait, they were closed on a Wednesday!!!!
My mom is getting it tomorrow for me, sorry for the wait.
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
Not to rain on anybodies parade. Winstew that looks like a fine job. But JMO the design should be a little different. It makes much more sense to have the skimmer compartment and the fuge at each end and then have them meet in the middle for the returns.
This way you are not suppling skimmer wth fuge water or fuge with skimmed water they both get raw tank water to each and you can control flow to the fuge. Again JMO.
Also anybody calcing backwash room?
BTW all that have their emails up should edit them out after they have received their mail. Their may be spammers around.
Tim
 
tangman99

tangman99

Active Member
Originally Posted by TurningTim
Not to rain on anybodies parade. Winstew that looks like a fine job. But JMO the design should be a little different. It makes much more sense to have the skimmer compartment and the fuge at each end and then have them meet in the middle for the returns.
This way you are not suppling skimmer wth fuge water or fuge with skimmed water they both get raw tank water to each and you can control flow to the fuge. Again JMO.
Also anybody calcing backwash room?
BTW all that have their emails up should edit them out after they have received their mail. Their may be spammers around.
Tim
Ok, I'm interested in hearing input on this statement. I am planning a fuge also and most of the plans I see (including the expensive ones you buy) have the protein skimmer on one end overflowing into the fuge and then overflowing into the other end to be returned to the tank.
Also, do you have to make sure your return area is big enough to handle evaporation? If it only holds a gallon and you evaporate a gallon a day, wouldn't the chamber become empty or low enough for your pump to suck air? I may have this all wrong.
 
dogstar

dogstar

Active Member
Originally Posted by TangMan99
Ok, I'm interested in hearing input on this statement. I am planning a fuge also and most of the plans I see (including the expensive ones you buy) have the protein skimmer on one end overflowing into the fuge and then overflowing into the other end to be returned to the tank.
.
Thats basically how mine is. I dont think its a big deal where the skimmer drains to just that you have one.
Ive seen many designs come across this board. Many good, most bad. Not saying mine is the best but sure works great. Winstew's may work just fine for him as well.
Just depends on indvidual circumstances, amount of flow, cabinet room, equipment, whats in it, ect. Just some thoughts.
 
W

winstew

Guest
O yea i agree. there are many ways to skin a cat... its all situation based. I can make one that works perfect and someone can make a totally different one that works just as well. The return chamber should be enough to cover evaporation because yes thats where it will show up. I put my skimmer in the middle because the output allows the perfect amount of flow for the fuge part. The simple waterfall was not enough circulation. My intent was to supply some guys with ideas and plans not to sell my idea exclusively.
 
tangman99

tangman99

Active Member
Originally Posted by Winstew
O yea i agree. there are many ways to skin a cat... its all situation based. I can make one that works perfect and someone can make a totally different one that works just as well. The return chamber should be enough to cover evaporation because yes thats where it will show up. I put my skimmer in the middle because the output allows the perfect amount of flow for the fuge part. The simple waterfall was not enough circulation. My intent was to supply some guys with ideas and plans not to sell my idea exclusively.
Hey Winstew,
Would you email the plans also? tangman99me@NOSPAMYahoo.com. Remove the NOSPAM.
Thanks.
 
hurt

hurt

Active Member
TurningTim, could you please explain your logic. This is the one thing that makes no sense to me, maybe I am missing something-I could very well be? First, it's not as if all the water going through the first chamber will even be skimmed. At best I would say 1/2 the water is actually skimmed. Unless you feeding 100% of the overflow water to a dircect fed, recirculating skimmer, then directly to the fuge, there is little if any difference. Furthmore, a fuge and a skimmer perform two completely different tasks. They don't compete with one another. A skimmer takes out DOC's before they have a chance to enter into the ammonia cycle and thus degrade water quality. A skimmer does not take out nitrates. Where a fuge mainly serves as the final process of the ammonia cycle-to process nitrates. Through a sand bed to process NO3 into N2 or macros which absorb NO3. Fuges do not take out DOC's.
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
This is not my design. This is something I learned from squidd. He has had several threads explaining the whys and whats. I'm setting up a new system very similar to that on the "plumbing 101" thread that over a year old.
It is my understanding that it is better to supply RAW tank water to each (skimmer/fuge). Also you have control of flow through the fuge, the rest goes to the skimmer chamber and then they meet in the middle to be returned to the tank.
It just makes sense to me. I think its more about controlling where the water is going and how much. As with anything in this hobby there are many,many different ways to get to the same place. I have just picked out on Squidd designs b/c it just makes sense to me.
I have attached a couple drawings from others that have used this design. Both are from the "plumbing 101" thread. I'm sure theres more out there if you search.
Maybe Squidd will come along and bail me out a little.
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
oops here they are! One is from "steveoutla", the other "low8x2"
I need to resize may cad stuff, I'll try and post later.

 
hoover86

hoover86

Member
DOGSTAR, do you have pland and or pictures of yours in action? I'm doing as much research I can to make some decisions on my own about what I think would work best for me. I'm trying to get everyones input on what works for them and decide based upon that. Thanks.
 
dogstar

dogstar

Active Member
Caulerpa mexicana ( feather ), Caulerpa racemosa ( grape ), I think Derbesia ( green Ogo ), Not sure what the red stuff is called.
The red stuff and the grape sprouted after H. Wilma nearly killed the other fuge.
I use one 65 watt, 65K pc fixture from Home Depot $40.
 
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