Building sump in basement!

habsfan

habsfan

Member
I'm not looking forward to going in the basement to clean the screen once a week. I would have to bring the screen back upstairs into the kitchen to clean it. I'm thinking I should do a fuge and get my skimmer back going.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Hah. If I had a sump in the basement, I would spend half my time watching my refugium and the other half watching my display. lol. I wouldn't think that a ONCE A WEEK cleaning is that bad. May even get some light exercise, neh? Besides, you will have to empty your skimmer cup about as often, eh?
Then again, there is more than one way to skin a cat. The main thing is to make the best decisions for the health of your livestock.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Your funny!!!!!! No seriously....I was kidding......I've been building my tank/tanks for a long time......You'll have to read my thread. I've been doing a lot of tossing and turning on the scrubber idea......I have more than enough room in my sump to employ a scrubber, and after a lot of debating and talking I think I'm going to run/build a scrubber for my new setup, but it will work side by side with my skimmer......
I don't know all the magical potions or equations, but I see good possibilities and results both ways, but the thought of relying solely on 1 means is a bit crazy IMO.....I see no reason both can't work together getting the "best" of both worlds.....I'm just a bit "gun shy" that something is a bit amiss on a scrubber only.....Again JMO.......
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Don't let me be the guy to twist your arm or influence you.....I've been more than controversial on this topic as of late.......
 
habsfan

habsfan

Member
Haha no it's not like that. I've had my current scrubber for a while but its too small and not enough light so it isn't effective. I want to build one right since I'll have the room now.
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
I see no reason both can't work together getting the "best" of both worlds.
The more I read up on these I think that Shawn AND Snake are right. Running both can give you the best of both worlds.
Habs you can do a skimmer section, fuge with scrubber, then return section. I think a fuge without macro but with live rock would work real nice. Like Snake said you can dip the screen off in the fuge to release the pods that would then take hold in the live rock you have in there.
Either way you do it I think that this will be a nice setup, and I like that you are taking you time and planning it out well.

BTW, NOW I think that I am going to do a scrubber with live rock in the fuge. LOL Anyone got a good like to some plans?
 
habsfan

habsfan

Member
Thanks for all the input guys. Im gonna do a skimmer, and scrubber over a fuge. If your still offering a design Al I'll take you up on it.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Over on the scrubber site they have an area with plans. I haven't personally looked through the section yet. Just registered the other day there.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by HabsFan http:///t/387564/building-sump-in-basement/60#post_3416684
Thanks for all the input guys. Im gonna do a skimmer, and scrubber over a fuge. If your still offering a design Al I'll take you up on it.
I started to work on it - I assumed you would go with a skimmer and fuge and algae scrubber. What is the woking depth of your skimmer. I have made the baffles 10" high you could always put your skimmer on a stand, it will give you a lot more volume to work on.
Here is what I have so far
 
habsfan

habsfan

Member
I haven't run my skimmer in a long time. I think the working depth is 8". I can use pvc and eggcrate and make a stand. There is a line marked on the sump at 10" and the float is at 10" so tha'ts why I said the sump will be 10" deep. I think that's a good depth.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Good I got lucky on that one the fuge is going to be deeper than the skimmer side - we mine as well utilize the volume of the 90 gallon sump. I will put a few more dimensions on this so you can build it and the others can critique. Basically I have divided the 90 into three almost equal sections. If you can get the dimensions (footprint) of your skimmer. Now I think I saw on a previous picture that the float is on one end of the tank the float should be set up on the return sectionbecause that is where the water will be lost (only).

Edit - sorry I went back and the float is on the one end of the sump. Is there anyway you could move that to the middle? It would take drilling another hole and just sealing the old one.
 
habsfan

habsfan

Member
The float is right above the holes for the return pump and water change pump. I would rather leave it there. I don't want to drill.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
If you have time get the dimensions - footprint of your skimmer, what kind is it again, I have another idea. ALso measure up the baffle that is in there now maybe we might be able to leave it there.
THanks Al
 
habsfan

habsfan

Member
Got some more progress on the table done. Built the shelf for the auto top off and the shelf for the saltwater reservoir.
 
habsfan

habsfan

Member
Here is a pic of the baffle in the sump. It's 19 1/2" from the end of the sump. The smaller baffle is 23 1/2" from the end of the sump. I measured from the end that has the eggcrate. The smaller baffle is
4 3/4" tall. The large one goes right to the top. The gap below the large one is 4 1/4".
 
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