Flower's Sump/Fuge Build

acrylic51

Active Member
Ok guys & gals.....Were going to try to pull all of our talents and resources together to do a project for 1 of our own fellow reefer here on the board...I guess by now you've figured out it's Flower....I think we've finally converted her to the dark side of sumps and fuges
. We've all followed some of the topics or issues she's had, and were going to try to simplify things and set her up with a sump/fuge that will fit her needs and space constraints. What we really need is for everyone to join in and give some input, critique and make suggestions. I'm looking forward to getting all the masterminds on the board here to join in.....No bystanders!!!!!!! We all have strengths and weaknesses, and we need to join up for a common goal and make this build a success for 1 of our own....Don't make me call you masterminds out of the woodwork. I expect to hear lots from Corey, Henry, Spreg, Meowzer,SCSInet, Bang, Nycbob, FloridaJoe, and there's a slew more of you out there that I always call on, but even the people I haven't met; would really be a treat to get everyone involved.
 
So....Flower and I have been talking the past 2 days about her system....A big issue is space!!!! Currently she's running 2 canister setups. We are going to try to eliminate them all together with this build, but again space will be an obstacle. Another obstacle is the tank isn't drilled, but with all you masterminds out there we know how to tackle that issue as well. We want this build to be a learning experience for people just starting into this realm. For some it will job our memories of stuff we have forgotten about over the years, for others it will be an actual learning experience; that hopefully you can walk away with something that might enable you to tackle your own DIY project. Maybe from good, lively conversation and debate I will learn something
. We want everyone to get involved meaning lots of questions, suggestions, and sources if you have them to pull this off......
 
 
Our first big issue with the build is the space constraints we have to work with inside the stand.....We want this to be as compact, but useful and beneficial to her system. We want to eliminate any wet floors as she has suffered in the past. There are going to be several areas we will address and look at. We do have a budget as well for the project, so no wild suggestions for BubbleKing or ATB cone skimmers guys!!!!! I'll probably be the one to make the crazy suggestion like that
. Through conversation with Flower she has filled me in on some things about the system. Again space, keep it as neat as possible and inside the stand, and make it WORK......(just kidding Flower)!!!!! Seriously it does need to be all of the things mentioned, but importantly we will try to make the installation of the new sump/fuge as easy as possible. We all know and dread of the thought of moving a tank or tearing a tank down to install a new piece of equipment. We want to try to eliminate any of that during this build/renovation work here.
 
Issues:
1. Space constraints inside the cabinet(stand) Flower tells me the stand has a center support in the middle of the stand....For most of us hard core DIY not an issue, but this is obstacle number 1. The space we have to get the equipment in is 15 1/2" W x 21"H. The actually length inside the stand is roughly 45"-46". The actually height inside the stand is 26" so we do have a little room inside to work with. Flower correct me anywhere I'm wrong.....
 
2. Flower isn't pleased with her current skimmer the Coralife skimmer.....She says it's 25" tall and is a pain inside the stand to work with, and she has had water leakage from the skimmer, but Flower will give more details on her skimmer issue, but it has caused her wet floors quite a few times..... I am currently suggesting an ASM skimmer. Good skimmer, will perform, and reasonably priced. Open to all ideas.
 
3. Another issue is we know of her ongoing battle from her other thread....She loves her goby, and I was thinking we can/will incorporate a separate fuge DSB elsewhere; where her little goby friend won't interfere with the benefits of having a sand bed and the goby going to town on it. Hopefully as well in this process we can get some really good info out there about the proper up keep and maintenance on a DSB and even the benefits of running a RDSB (remote deep sand bed).
 
4. We will need to look at an address plumbing. Again we want this to be a simple/painless install. Lets try to keep the plumbing as easy an straight forward as possible.
 
5. We will need to look at overflows....How to get the water from the tank down to the sump/fuge.....Meowzer....I turned you on to some good sources can you get us the low down?????
 
6. Return pump.....Again due to space constraints we will be looking at submersible pumps for this build. Again keeping in mind plumbing ease as well.....
 
7. The setup must incorporate an utilize Flowers ATO....she already has it an is available asset to her, and we will need to incorporate a ATO top off chamber in this build as well.
 
I have been tossing around ideas with Flower and utilized a very good resource for what she is after. Here is a pic of what the proposed sump/fuge will look like when complete.
 
The spacing of the compartments will be altered to accommodate Flowers equipment. Again remember we must also incorporate a chamber for her ATO as well.
 
Al right guys.....I've laid out the basics here, and we are ready for some input, pics, advice, whatever you can bring to the table bring it, and lets get this built for Flower....I have already advised Flower that I will take care of the build process, just need hers and everyone else's input, and resources as well.
 

acrylic51

Active Member

 
Sorry!!!!! For whatever reason the link above didn't work, so I posted the pic of the proposed sump/fuge here!!!!!!
 

aquaknight

Active Member
Yea, I think we should first figure out a sump layout (that dual system I like obviously). Then we need to figure out would she be buying custom made acrylic sumps like Melev's pictured (correct?), or buying off the shelf glass tanks, in common sizes. The former is likely to cut into that budget cap.
 

al&burke

Active Member
Hi, I am pretty new to all of this, my only asset I think is drawing things on autocad, if there is anyway I can help with this let me know. I would like to help Flower out if I can. So please let me know if there is anyway I can help.
 
Al
 

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build#post_3311819
Yea, I think we should first figure out a sump layout (that dual system I like obviously). Then we need to figure out would she be buying custom made acrylic sumps like Melev's pictured (correct?), or buying off the shelf glass tanks, in common sizes. The former is likely to cut into that budget cap.
The actual build of the sump would be done by me, at no expense to Flower. I always have extra material laying around.
 
 

flower

Well-Known Member

 
 

A gushing Thank You!!! Isn't that picture the prettiest thing you ever saw in a sump tank? I assure you, it is to me. To answer Aquaknight, Acrylic51 is building it for me, off the shelf tanks is why I couldn't do a sump..Nothing bigger than a 10g tank would fit. I have a 90g tank and a 10g sump is not going to help much. The one Acrylic51 is building can be taller than the 10g...but not much longer.

The only input I can offer is that I can put a skinny ATO tank behind my DT and not under the stand, that tank has to be no wider than 5 inches but it can be up to 3.5 feet tall..Like Acrylic51 already said, I have the ATO unit and sensors. I mention using the back of the tank so I can keep as much room as possible for the sump and refugium for the RDSB

My current skimmer is a Coralife, its 5 inches around and 25 inches tall. It can be used as sump or HOB. I don't have a sump so I use it as HOB. It shoots microbubbles everywhere and when it isn't doing that it has a tendency to leak. It is too tall to fit under my stand which is 26 inches tall, so that would leave no room to get the cup off to clean if I put it in the new sump...so I need another SHORTER skimmer..
 
 

2quills

Well-Known Member
Sweet...welcome to the dark side. Flower! I'll have to check this out in detail when I get home this afternoon but it sounds like it should be a fun project.
 

meowzer

Moderator
For the moment...the only thing I can add has to do with the overflow....IF I were buying a new one, I would go with the cpr over flow box
 
They are a little more costly then the tube ones, BUT......Also a little smaller, and with the aqualifter, you don;t have to worry about the siphon tube.
 
As far as skimmers, check this out
Reef Octopus Extreme
SX 160 Protein Skimmer
by CoralVue $294
 


 

acrylic51

Active Member
I knew I could count on you meowzer!!!! Keep scanning and I know you have other resources....
Corey thanks for coming on board and look forward to pushing the extreme on this build as usual.
Al&Burke... We really appreciate your offer and will gladly be tapping you to do some amzing sketchup work on the project.
AquaKnight....,roll up your sleeves and get ready to start twisting and bending what we throw up here!!!!
Again thanks guys!!!
 

flower

Well-Known Member

 
 
 
Okay before things get too technical...I can't do plumbing at all. Flexible tubing attached to a pump is about the best I can do. That octopus skimmer looks fantastic but I can already see it needs PVC pipes. So space isn't the only challenge...you are have to remember you are working with a mathematical cripple that is not handy…I can’t hardly use a screw driver.
I have to be able to assemble this at my house by myself.
 

flower

Well-Known Member

 
I have a 90 gallon mixed reef, so my filtration has to work for this size tank.
 
The inside of my stand is 42" L X 18" W X 26" T
 
The problem is the front and back of my stand has a big center piece that is 5.5" wide right in the middle, I can't remove it.
 
The door openings are 15.5" W X 21" T...so whatever we build it has to fit through these doors.

 
I have 8 inches between the wall and the tank (to accomodate my giant leaky skimmer) I do have a 22" space right next to the tank that could have something there, but I would prefer not since right now my water cooler is there and the tank is right in my living room.
 
EDIT:
 
Floor to the top of tthe tank is 4.5 feet
Tank size is: 48" L X 18" W X 25" T
 
A picture speaks a thousand words...the tank inside the stand is a 10g
 

 
Showing the brace front and back of the stand:
 
 

al&burke

Active Member
Great Flower, Is the height dimension 26" from the bottom of the floor in the stand to the bottom of the tank or the highest inside height of the stand. These dimensions are the maximum inside dimensions.
 

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build#post_3311858

 
 
 
Okay before things get too technical...I can't do plumbing at all. Flexible tubing attached to a pump is about the best I can do. That octopus skimmer looks fantastic but I can already see it needs PVC pipes. So space isn't the only challenge...you are have to remember you are working with a mathematical cripple that is not handy…I can’t hardly use a screw driver.
I have to be able to assemble this at my house by myself.
WELL.....unlike HOB skimmers, you may have to add a return line to a sump skimmer......I think you can do this

 
OR YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO....remember this is IN THE SUMP.....so the water coming out...will be landing IN THE SUMP
 
BUT....if you wanted to.....I think you can add an elbow so the water will flow down....know what I mean......
 
P.S. TECHNICAL ADVISORS....PLEASE HELP LOL
 

meowzer

Moderator
FLOWER....I just saw the pics.....when I added my monstrous Hurricone Skimmer, I had to remove my cascade...BUT....as small as they are I moved it right outside of the cabinet, between the tank and the wall....I have it setting under a small snack table (HAHA on the snack table are my 3 ballasts
) I know you have room issues, and you hate clutter, BUT I bet you can do something like that and put one of your lace covers over it......
 
The only difference is your hoses will go to the left ( or right) instead of straight up....and you will still be able to keep your flow bars.....THAT was very important to me
 

meowzer

Moderator
Here is another GREAT skimmer....runs around $280.............stick it in the sump and plug it in LOL. See water will go in where the pump is, and go out at the grey pipe...right into sump
 
I like the other one too, and I don't know 100% cause I can not find a pic, BUT I bet it comes with elbows for the outflow......BTW...what is your skimmer budget

 
Octopus XP1000sss
 

 
-Super Reef Octopus® 6” Space Saver Cone Skimmer
-Dimensions: 9.5”x7.5”x20.5”
-Rated up to 125gal.
-Features the new Bubble Blaster HY1000S
-High quality machine welded cast acrylic construction
-High performance design
-3 year warranty on Bubble Blaster pump. 1 year warranty on skimmer. Lifetime warranty on support.
Description:
Coralvue is proud to introduce you to their Super Reef Octopus® product line. The use of their Bubble Blaster/Water Blaster pumps include a 3 year warranty. They offer 3 different skimmer designs to meet any design want or space limitations you may have.
The SSS stands for Super Sump Saver. This model incorporates all the same benefits of the XP design but has the pump built into the bottom of the skimmer which allows for a much smaller footprint inside the sump. The XP cone design puts very little back pressure on the pump because there is little resistance from the base of the skimmer all the way up to the collection cup. Less resistance means more skimming ability for the pump to work at its maximum output. When space is limited look to their SSS models.
 

al&burke

Active Member
It seems that the drawing is not showing up - it is a PDF - worked before for me - let me try something else.
Al
 

al&burke

Active Member
Here you go JPEG's work better on this forum, Let me know if you can read dimension SHawn & Flower. Gotta go pick up my son now, back in a few hours
Is the extra 22inch space on the left or right Flower.
 
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