Need Help/ Critique on Fuge Design.. first timer

[haguc]

Attached is a fast paint version of the sump fuge idea I was going to use. I have a 75 gallon tank that has a built in corner flow sump drop zone.
The bottom tank I have for my sump is a 20 gallon. I have a protein skimmer and biological filter that I wanted to mount on one side of the sump area and the reason for the high partitioned area and the sloped partition it to try to reduce sump area noise. Currently the sump is very noise because I don't have an enclosed stand. The biggest noise was coming from the protein skimmer and filter returns dumping back out and the water having to drop down to the lower level of the tank. I left the other area lower in case the pump stops working it should still leave about 5-7 gallons of overflow which is plenty if the pump stops working. Anything I need to change would be great!
I am going to start working on this soon so any help would be appreciated.

 

[acrylic51]

Design is ok.....

 

[sign guy]

looks good I would raise your baffel a little more and add a baffel on the skimmer side to hold the sand back

 

[sign guy]

like this

 

[haguc]

Well, I changed my design a little bit from where I started. My filter will sit on top of the partition area, so I just made sure the intake area was on one side and then it will dump back into both sides. The sump area I made a little bit bigger so that I wouldn't have to add water as often with that sump area being so small.
What exactly is the purpose of the extra baffles everyone adds to their sump areas?
As for a "deep sand bed", what exactly do those do? Do I need to have one? Could I fill the bottom half of my chaeto area with sand to get a deep sand bed effect?
Thanks for your help!

 

[sign guy]

what is that baffel that is at an angel?yes fill your chato area with about 3 to 6 inches of live sand

 

[haguc]

That angle is an exageration, but my goal was to have it slightly angled so that the water would "run" down the side of the baffel instead of falling and splashing down the other side. The only reason for the slight angle is noise reduction? Is there a reason this angle would be bad?

 

[sign guy]

only that detris could get traped on the other side of it
what matirials are going to use?

 

[sign guy]

the extra baffels are to help you create the right flow. without the corect flow a fuge is useless

 

[haguc]

I was going to use some Lexan that I had gotten. It is new, but is scrap. I have some aquarium silicone glue to attach it.
The debris collection in that corner is fine, I can clean it out easily enough and with the slight angle it shouldn't be too bad I wouldn't think
Would I need to add the blue baffle to get the flow right in the fuge area, or will the overflow from the first sectoin be enough? The water will be coming out of the bottom of the tube shown, so it will flow from bottom of first area to top of second area (then maybe down??? from force of filter water incoming?) and then out into the third area to return to the tank. I can add that other baffle to force the water to go down into the fuge section more if needed. What do you think?

 

[jakebtc]

imo post # 3 is pretty much how it should look but the blue baffle on the most right side should come much lower in the tank but the top of it looks pretty close to correct

 

[sign guy]

Originally Posted by jakebtc
imo post # 3 is pretty much how it should look but the blue baffle on the most right side should come much lower in the tank but the top of it looks pretty close to correct
I took his pic and added to it but for some reson his baffel did not show up

 

[sign guy]

Originally Posted by haguc
I was going to use some Lexan that I had gotten. It is new, but is scrap. I have some aquarium silicone glue to attach it. siliocone will not work you will have to use the same matireals that the sump is made out of
The debris collection in that corner is fine, I can clean it out easily enough and with the slight angle it shouldn't be too bad I wouldn't think
Would I need to add the blue baffle to get the flow right in the fuge area, or will the overflow from the first sectoin be enough? The water will be coming out of the bottom of the tube shown, so it will flow from bottom of first area to top of second area (then maybe down??? from force of filter water incoming?) and then out into the third area to return to the tank. I can add that other baffle to force the water to go down into the fuge section more if needed. What do you think?
you should get rid of that blue baffel in your pic and lower the first baffel to the fuge cuz water will be flowing across the fuge and not through the chato

 

[haguc]

Sounds good guys. I think I have a good enough idea now of what I want to do to try something. I can always make some changes to the design in the future, it isn't too much work. Also, what I have to make it is "aquarium sealant" so that should work right? Thanks again for all your help!

 

[reefkprz]

Aquarium sealant is just 100% silicone you can buy the same stuff at your hardware store for less. just read the pacage and make sure it doesnt say not for aquarium use. The "Aquarium sealant" is just a way to sell the same thing for more money. 100% silicone is the same no matter how it gets packaged its still 100% silicone. Good luck with your sump let us know how it turns out,.
BTW in my sump i used silicon to glue lexan to glass and it worked just fine I did scuff the glass with sand paper to make it adhere better though.