Flower's Sump/Fuge Build

flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Here you go: I'm not sure what you need to see...let me know if you need a better more, if Corey had not asked you what you were working on, I would have missed your post altogether. I ddn't see it ts morning.


 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Excellent pics!!!!!!! Just what I needed.....
The reason I had asked to take a pic at the bottom of the skimmer was for the skimmer stand. The water depth is set at 8" by the baffles. To get the skimmer into the right operating zone the pic gave me a good idea of how to build the stand to raise it up to about 6" for the water height......Running the skimmer in 8" of water would/could probably work, but at least the stand will be there for the install.....I feel that leaving it run in 8" of water depth might take away or hinder the tuning or adjustment of the skimmer......
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/600#post_3321191
Excellent pics!!!!!!! Just what I needed.....
The reason I had asked to take a pic at the bottom of the skimmer was for the skimmer stand. The water depth is set at 8" by the baffles. To get the skimmer into the right operating zone the pic gave me a good idea of how to build the stand to raise it up to about 6" for the water height......Running the skimmer in 8" of water would/could probably work, but at least the stand will be there for the install.....I feel that leaving it run in 8" of water depth might take away or hinder the tuning or adjustment of the skimmer......

LOL...I have no idea what your talking about, but as always, I trust you. I know you said you wanted to make a stand...I would think deeper is better but I really don't understand the whole thing anyway. I thought the skimmer is adjusted by a knob not by how deep in the water it is.
At any rate you must be feeling better....so I'm happy for whatever your working on...I figured you would rest the remainder of the week.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I never really rest.....The skimmer and all skimmers actually do have a water level where they perform their best.....Being that when they are set correctly the skim, and pump performance is at it optimum.....6" is the suggested water level for the skimmer....Running it to deeply submerged would take away some of your adjustment you could make to the skimmer meaning the water level inside the skimmer body; which in return would affect your foam head, and the overall performance of the skimmer. By adjusting the skimmer to the water depth of 6" it leaves you the adjustment you might need, and aren't limited.....You can even tinker, and try the skimmer at 8" water depth and see how it performs. Not every skimmer is going to perform or run the same on every system.....Yours might like 8", maybe not......Better prepared than not!!!!!!!
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Just saying thank you sounds so inadequate, and yet that’s the only words I have. I can hardly wait to get that work of art here and hook it up. LOL....I’m going to have trouble closing the doors to my stand, because I will want to just watch it run. You have turned me into some weird person who enjoys the sump as much as the fish...I might have to install glass doors..
What was it you said?? "I think we've finally converted her to the dark side of sumps and fuges"
Dark side???? Yet I feel so enlightened, I had no idea I had so many friends.
 
keith gray

keith gray

Member
I am getting ready to build a sump with refugium and will of course have a new skimmer. how do you build it so that the water level is correct for the ideal height for the skimmer. The skimmer will be in my return area at the very end of my sump. Do I have to build the last at a certain height or what. The manufacturer says the ideal level for this particular skimmer is 6 1/2", so how do I accomplish this ?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Gray http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/600#post_3321340
I am getting ready to build a sump with refugium and will of course have a new skimmer. how do you build it so that the water level is correct for the ideal height for the skimmer. The skimmer will be in my return area at the very end of my sump. Do I have to build the last at a certain height or what. The manufacturer says the ideal level for this particular skimmer is 6 1/2", so how do I accomplish this ?

Well, I'm no expert but Shawn is building a stand for the skimmer to sit on so it is at the right height. The height of the water depeds on how high you fill the sump and yet leave room for the extra water if power is off. Go and Google a site called Melvesreef it will explain allot for you.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:Originally Posted by Keith Gray http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/600#post_3321340
I am getting ready to build a sump with refugium and will of course have a new skimmer. how do you build it so that the water level is correct for the ideal height for the skimmer. The skimmer will be in my return area at the very end of my sump. Do I have to build the last at a certain height or what. The manufacturer says the ideal level for this particular skimmer is 6 1/2", so how do I accomplish this ?
Baffle height would determine your water height, but being you want to put the skimmer in the return area, it would have to be handled another way. I respectfully disagree with the skimmer being placed in the return area!!! Skimmer are affected greatly by their water level. With that being said your water level will fluctuate in that area; not stable possibly leading to the skimmer not operating at it's peak. Another issue is why would you want to take a chance of the output water from the skimmer containing micro bubbles no matter how little or minute being dumped in the return area by the return pump only to be sucked up by the pump, and blown into the DT???? Honestly not a very good idea or design regardless of reasoning..., feed the skimmer with the rawest water possible and that would be were the water is input into the sump. This also allows any micro bubbles produced by the skimmer to be eliminated through the baffles or what not before entering the return chamber...... JMHO
 
keith gray

keith gray

Member
I have a friend that is helping me with the design. I have a pdf I could show you but can't seem to get it to work, I even tried saving to different fromat, no luck. But basically he has the drain water from the DT coming into chamber 1 on left ouring on over live rock, then going into chamber two where I will have sand and macroalgae, then into the return area where the skimmer is. I can only fit a 30" 29 gallon sump so more than 3 chambers with the skimmer won't work. The design does call for the skimmer to pour water back into the refugium area and sort of double skim if you will.
thoughts ?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Check out melevsreet before you start building. Honestly the skimmer in the return area isn't the route to go as explained. You'll fight bubbles going back to the DT.
 
keith gray

keith gray

Member
One other thing - does anyone have a phosban reactor ? What is really the difference in using this vs. bags of phosban or other media
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Agree!!!! Running media in a reactor is an active mode vs. Passive mode of water just running over the media. Using a reactor I just more efficient. All your media surface is being used vs. Let's just say the top of it.
 
keith gray

keith gray

Member
Just wondered with limited space in a 20" sump that will have a good size skimmer, live rock, refugium ,etc, etc, would there be enough benfit from a phosban reactor over the bags of media to take up the space ? I really don't want a hang on either
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:Originally Posted by Keith Gray http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/600#post_3321370
Just wondered with limited space in a 20" sump that will have a good size skimmer, live rock, refugium ,etc, etc, would there be enough benfit from a phosban reactor over the bags of media to take up the space ? I really don't want a hang on either
To save space why not hang it off of the sump or sit it beside the sump? Has fittings to run tubing to and from unit!!!
 
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