Mr Salty - Question on your sump setup

old salt

Member
I was looking at your sump setup trying to decide how to do my own (getting 90 gal next week). If I understand correctly, you have two separate sumps going on. One in and out for your wet/dry (with bioballs?), and another for your refugium and UV. If that's correct, is there a reason to not chain them all together? My tank is Plexi with 2 built in overflows so I could go either way... What would you suggest? Thanks!
Any other opinions welcome!
 

mr . salty

Active Member
My setup is all linked together. I have a large overflow that has three lines out. Two go to the main sump.The other goes to the algae tank.The algae tank is hooked to the main sump with two one inch syphon hoses.The skimmer is just looped into the main sump.And the UV is between the pump and the tank. Sounds and looks complicated,but it is really simple.Just took a little patience to balance the whole mess out.
 

old salt

Member
Would it work ok if I had the overflow all going into the sump, then connect that to algae refugium, then pump from the refugium back to the tank (maybe through UV)? Or the other direction, first to the refugium and out the sump...????
Thanks for your help! I really want to do this right the first time...
 

mr . salty

Active Member
The trick to getting the most out of an algae tank is SLOOOOW circulation.Maybe you could split the supply line?Have one line going to the sump,and the other to the algae tank.then add a valve to slow the flow to the algae refugium.Then link it to the sump with syphon hoses. Two things about those syphon lines,#1 make sure you have at least twice the syphon capasity as what you have supplying the refugium.#2 put a divider(screen) in the refugium so that the algae can NOT get into the syphon hoses.
 

old salt

Member
By twice the syphon capacity as supply for the refugium, would I have like 1 1" line going in and 2 1" syphon hoses going out? How fast should water be coming into the refugium?
Sorry for so many dumb questions, and thanks for giving me so much help, I really do appreciate it!
 

mr . salty

Active Member
You got the idea on the syphon hoses.That is in case of one loosing syphon.I check them everyday.Just have to look at them.If you use a clear hose you will see if a bubble is forming.If so,just insert a 1/4"air line into the hose till it reaches the bubble(keeping the other end in my mouth with my toung over the end) then qiuckly suck the bubble out.I'm not sure exactly how much flow I have in mine,but I imagine it's less than 100gph...Maybe like 75gph.
[ May 30, 2001: Message edited by: MR . SALTY ]
 

old salt

Member
Thanks for all your help! I would have screwed it ALL up without you. My tank should be in this weekend, so the fun begins soon...
 

old salt

Member
Oh yeah, one more question (I hope I'm not being a pain in the ---). Are you still using bio-balls? I'm not sure if I should use them... I do plan on LS/LR....
 

mr . salty

Active Member
Yes I still have the bio balls in the main sump. But since I switched to live sand my nitrates have been at or below 10ppm. So I'm guessing that the balls are not as bad as rumor has them made out to be. Or I'm just lucky.But then again,My whole system is geared for nitrate reduction(Outragously oversized skimmer,algae tank,lot's of rock,DSB,massive cleanup crew,Pretty much all the tricks.
 

old salt

Member
I intend to follow your lead... My setup wont be exactly like yours, but it will be modeled after it... I just hope I don't screw it all up LOL!
 
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