Building sump in basement!

2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by HabsFan http:///t/387564/building-sump-in-basement/100#post_3418867
Gonna be running a scrubber. More than likely won't be any sand in the "fuge" , just some rock for pods.
Oh, gotcha. Sorry, I seen that before but things seem to be changing often over here lol. Another question, are you spliting your drain lines? If so what was the reason for dropping the second bubble tower?
 
habsfan

habsfan

Member
Yes I will be making two bubble towers. That is if I figure out how to make them. Just build the tower on top of egg crate?
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
He has two separate drain from the DT - we talked about not putting a bubble tower in the skimmer section, but it is a ood way to secure the drain line - I guess. It won't hurt.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/387564/building-sump-in-basement/100#post_3418850
Can I ask a crazy question? How come the fuge is before the skimmer? Will the drain water dropping into the fuge kick some sand around? Or is there going to be no sand bed in the fuge?
Well we are trying to utilize the side of the tanked drilled for the ATO float and external pump connections. If you read a little before this you will see the discussion. I guess we could go skimmer into fuge but that would be a much higher flow in the fuge.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/387564/building-sump-in-basement/120#post_3418942
I'm curious as to why 2 towers????? They aren't hard to build.....
My thoughts are that we've all built our sumps with bubble towers in them. And typically my understanding of why some of us haven't used them in the fuge section is the idea that flow going through the fuge would be minimal. But in this case if he's running a scrubber and a skimmer then he would probably want more of an even split between the two sections.
I only ask because otherwise it would seem pointless that some of us have built sumps with bubble towers in the skimmer section, or in my case both sections. And after running my sump for a little bit with a more appropriate sized pump I'm glad I added them both. Just curious as why all of a sudden it doesn't seem necessary?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
The only reason theoretically a bubble tower is added to the sump in on the input side where the water from the DT enters the sump.....That's the typical usage......I was under the impression the 2nd bubble tower was for the output of the skimmer???? If there is that much from the skimmer, then either replace with a better skimmer or the skimmer isn't tuned properly IMHO........
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Ya'll got me confused now. I saw the first sketch which had the two bubble towers for two separate drain lines (which I understood).
Then I saw the second drawing with one bubble tower, fuge draining into the skimmer sections but talk of still splitting the drain line? So I was just thinking if you'r going to add one tower for one drain then why not another for the second?
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
These bubble towers are only for the drain lines from the DT - skimmer is not being plumbed into any bubble tower. I guess that bubble towers are really not necessary in the fuge area but a good way to secure the nline from the DT.
So what do you guys think of fuge into skimmer section? Again only to keep the ATO float where it is drilled for.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Again I go back to my initial response of 2 towers not needed.....I also question the layout regardless of scrubber or fuge in the first section......Again the skimmer should be fed the rawest/dirtiest water possible IMO.......Again nothing is 100% effective on the first pass of filtering....With that said the skimmer will not process all the water that enters the input chamber.......
Having the skimmer in the first compartment I recommend for 2 reasons.....1 My thinking it would be more efficient in that position, and your thought or theory of issues from micro bubbles from the skimmer......With the skimmer being in that position the bubbles would have more than adequate time to pop. I again go back to the assessment that with proper positioning of the skimmer bubbles could be diffused, or a decent skimmer properly tuned won't give off massive micro bubbles......
Corey I'm not really sure or not remembering that you used 2 bubble towers????? I haven't built mine as of yet......But theoretically I was using it for a different purpose somewhat as well. I personally like to run filter socks periodically, which is a convenient place to mount them.....The during periods where I'm not utilizing them the tower will serve it's intended purpose.....I wasn't a fan or real believer until I built Flowers' sump, and I was trying to blow mad....mad.....mad flow through the sump......I was merely using the only pump I had laying around to flow test, and without it, a lot of bubbles, but the simple addition of the tower allowed me to push that sump well beyond what it would normally flow without one.......
In the skimmer compartment again IMO is wasted......Other than a Coralife skimmer I haven't really read about to many skimmers putting of serious bubbles to warrant a tower......
I'm very behind on the scrubber issue; so Corey you'll have to answer this.....How much splashing bubbles does the scrubber actually produce??? Al you can chime in as well, since your scrubber is actually starting to function and build up????? I would think if your getting a lot of splashing or bubbles from the scrubber than maybe a redesign on the scrubber all together???? I would think you don't want any since this would lead to salt spray/creep which is undesirable by anyone in the hobby......
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///t/387564/building-sump-in-basement/120#post_3418963
These bubble towers are only for the drain lines from the DT - skimmer is not being plumbed into any bubble tower. I guess that bubble towers are really not necessary in the fuge area but a good way to secure the nline from the DT.
So what do you guys think of fuge into skimmer section? Again only to keep the ATO float where it is drilled for.
I'd only build 1 bubble tower for the input fuge area where the drain lines from the DT come into the sump......Again you could fit both lines into 1 tower.......It cuts down cost on materials and bottom line space.....2 towers vs building 1 tower possibly a hair bigger.....
I wouldn't build it fuge/scrubber section first and then skimmer......Only reasoning is that IMO the skimmer will operate better when fed the rawest water......Remember going back when people started running fuges, and the add age or thinking was to feed the fuge raw water from the DT???? That was done away with rather quickly do to poor design....That's where I'm drawing my conclusion from....The skimmer will handle and process faster than the scrubber will in this position.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/387564/building-sump-in-basement/120#post_3418962
Ya'll got me confused now. I saw the first sketch which had the two bubble towers for two separate drain lines (which I understood).
Then I saw the second drawing with one bubble tower, fuge draining into the skimmer sections but talk of still splitting the drain line? So I was just thinking if you'r going to add one tower for one drain then why not another for the second?
I hear you.....I wouldn't split the line......Let both drain lines drain into the fuge/scrubber side......
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/387564/building-sump-in-basement/120#post_3418959
The only reason theoretically a bubble tower is added to the sump in on the input side where the water from the DT enters the sump.....That's the typical usage....
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/387564/building-sump-in-basement/120#post_3418966
Again I go back to my initial response of 2 towers not needed.....
Habs has mentioned a few times that he's going with two intakes. Not using one for the output of the skimmer. That's why I was asking.
Yes I did two towers. Originally when the plan for the sump was going to have a traditional fuge with slower flow passing through it so I wasn't planning on a second tower. But then decided to go with the scrubber and have 50/50 flow from my drain lines coming into the sump so I added it in.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Ok.......What is the 2nd feed line for???? Are you guys feeding your scrubbers from the DT drains???? Then what would be the purpose of running a drain line into that compartment if your feeding it with a separate pump?
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
I think I am confused a bit - how are you going to feed your algae scrubber? I guess the skimmer can go first as acrylics said.
 
habsfan

habsfan

Member
I was going to use a pump. From what I've read flow is important. I wasn't sure if using one of the drains would be ok.
 
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