help sump/fuge measurments

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cmaxwell39

Guest
I am getting ready to set up a 75 with a built in overflow that I got used. I have a 30 gal long that I will be using for the sump/fuge. I am going to be putting the skimmer and a submersible return pump in the sump. Would like some help with the dimensions.
I have read over the diy plumbing 101 thread in this forum and like the center return design. I would post drawings of what I was thinking, but I cannot figure out how to post attatchments and besides that I am terrible at doing anything in paint.
Here are the dimensions of the pieces that are going in the sump. Any help on layout would be greatly appreciated. This is my first sump, so I can use all the help that I can get.
Skimmer-- Coralife Super Skimmer 125 5"x7.25"x24.5"
Return pump-- Mag 9.5 5.5"x3.4"x5"
30 gal dimensions-- 36"x12"x16"
Figured necessary back wash room in sump to be about 4" for back wash from 75 (48"x18")
I was thinking of splitting the drain between the sump and the fuge and having them both drain into the return pump chamber.
I guess my questions are:
How big should I make my OF/skimmer chamber and return pump chamber to leave the maximum amount of room for my Fuge (I was thinking I could squeeze these into 16" leaving 20"for the fuge?)
How many baffles and where should I put them to divide chambers and allow for bubbles to be removed before getting to the return pump chamber?
I am sure there are more, but that will get me started. Thanks for any help.
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
I was thinking I could squeeze these into 16" leaving 20"for the fuge?)
Sounds "doable" Iwas thinking 7 for skimmer, 2 and 2 for baffles and 6 for return leaving 19"...
How many baffles and where should I put them
Skimmer chamber, baffle, baffle, return, baffle, fuge...
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
Thanks for answering squidd,
How much room should I put between the two baffles betwwen the skimmer/of chamber and the return chamber. Also, how tall should I make each baffle. The skimmer just came in today, so I can check to see how much water it is supposed to run in. I will post that info later. I have seen you help many people with sump design and I appreciate any help that you can give and any input that you have.
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
For the most part...
I like 2" (or more) on baffles as narrower tends to "rush" the water thru negating effect...
If you keep skimmer chamber within an inch of mfg footprint, it will have a more effective pick up and less "blow by" of unskimmed water..
Pump chamber needs to be big enough to keep water slow (keep from sucking errant bubbles) and maintain a reasonable "top off time" unless you go ATO...
Fuge should be as big as possible...
Baffle height set by optimal skimmer depth of opperation (can be on "shelf") and reserveing room for backwash.
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
I just took the skimmer out of the box and now it says that I need 10"x12" to put it in the sump so I was thinking about hanging it on the side of the sump instead. That would allow me to shrink my of/s chamber down to about 5" and if I left everything else the same would leave me 21" of fuge.
What are your recommendations on skimmer in the sump vs hanging on the side of the sump?
Also, would you go deeper with your fuge and shallower with the skimmer return pump chambers, or should I try to keep it even all the way across?
Thanks again
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
At 10"x 12" you should HOB the skimmer or consider a larger sump tank...If you HOB, the 21" looks good...
Do the "backwash calcs" and keep the fuge as deep as possible on one side , then set skimmer height other side then return lowest...
 
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cmaxwell39

Guest
Backwash on 75 (48x18x1.5)/231=6 gal. approx (5.6 gal actual)
sump size (36x18xy)/231=6 Y=2.13"
Leave safety factor at 3"
So if I set my fuge height at 14 inches and skimmer and return chambers were lower I should be fine correct?
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
As I calcualte it, I will need to set my skimmer chamber at 11-12" and my return chamber at 9-10 inches to leave enough room for backwash, does that sound about right?
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
Thanks squidd,
I think that answers my questions for now, I am sure that I will have some more later as I get into actually laying out the plumbing. I am hoping to set this tank up next week while I am on vacation.
Oh one more thing, baffles between of/s and return chambers. Should I do over/under/over? If so, first baffle at skimmer chamber level, second full height of tank one inch off bottom, third skimmer chamber level? Thanks again.
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
Originally Posted by beeryc
sorry to ask this here, but how do I start a new thread, i have a fish question

Go to the forum you want to post the new thread in and click on the button in the top left corner of the page that says "New thread"
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
If I do not need the third baffle, could we add two more inches of Fuge space or should I just increase the size of the return pump chamber by that 2 inches making it 8 inches istead of six?
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
I got you at 7" then 2" then 6" then 21" for total of 36...
How much room do you need for skimmer pump ?
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
Only need 4" for skimmer pump. Skimmer also has a microbubble diverter that if I used would need 5". Both of those measurements give me a little room to play with. 7" would be more than enough
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
Originally thought footprint of skimmer was 5" x 7.5". If we do skimmer as HOB we can shrink of/s chamber down to 5" instead of 7. If third baffle will help I will put it in, but if it isn't going to do much that space would probably be better used as extra fuge space wouldn't it? I am new to sumps so I am not real sure, just from what I have read you should try to make the fuge as big as possible.
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Gotcha...
at 21x12x14 you would have about 15 gallon of fuge volume...On a 75 I think thats a little light for malnutrient removal thru the exporting of Macros, but OK if your just growing Pods...
Extra 2" would help, but it's still not a huge jump (Ideal would be 30-40 gallons of "Algal Scrubber" fuge space)
What is the "Goal" for your fuge....what are you expecting it to do...?
 
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cmaxwell39

Guest
I know that that is a little light for the fuge. Maybe someday i will have a custom sump built to to try to increase fuge volume, but for now 30L is the biggest tank that will fit under my stand, so trying to work with what I have. Hoping to help control nitrates/grow pods. I know that 15 gal of fuge is not going to completely control the trates, but it will at least do a little.
 
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