canarygirl
New Member
Hi! I could use help in designing/sizing my sump/refugium system.I've been reading some archived plumbing threads, and I see that design decisions should be based on many factors such as overall goal of the sump system, size of main tank, intended inhabitants of the main tank (which determines desired flow through the sump and back into tank), etc. etc.
I wonder if someone could help me identify any unanswered questions and put all of these in a logical order to be answered so that I don't get caught in an 'endless loop...' I am piecing this thing together and kind of feeling my way along in the dark.
I have a new 40 gallon acrylic tank, not drilled. Filled with seawater & 40 lbs of LR. Dimensions of tank are 36" long x 15" deep x ?? " high
The stand is a low dresser top (drawers but no cabinet underneath). The refugium setup has to go behind the display tank on the dresser. I have ~13" of space between main tank and the wall.
I bought a used skimmer & pump off ----:
ETSS Evolution 500 Downdraft Protein Skimmer
Skimmer footprint 7" x 7" x 22"
Supreme Mag-Drive 9.5 Water Pump
Flow Rate: 950 GPH Maximum Flow with a 14` Shut-Off
Power Consumption: 93 Watts
Pump Size (L x W x H): 5.0" x 3.0" x 5.5"
Then I bought a refugium kit, it can be assembled a variety of ways.
· 30"L x 12"W x 14"H
· two standard pvc 1" bulkheads
· can be used with internal or external pump
· 400 - 500 GPH recommended water flow rate
· rated for up to 250 gallon system
Last I bought an E-sump overflow boxm'
U-tube style
6"x3.25"x10" and rated to 75 gallon tank size. That's all I know about it.
My goal for the main tank is to have a "marginal reef" if I understand that term correctly--I want mostly corals & inverts of the hardier type, plus some fish.
My goal for the refugium is 1) to create food for the corals, and 2) to reduce nitrites and nuisance algae in the main tank. I want to store my skimmer & pump in there as well.
I'm thinking I want to have un-skimmed water flow into the refugium compartment. Is it a good idea and is it possible to direct the output of the refugium flow into the return chamber from one side, and the skimmer output to this same return chamber from the opposite side, so that the good stuff from the refugium doesn't get pre or post skimmed? Any issues or special considerations with this design?
Besides this question above, my other questions are:
1. What is the correct strength of return pump to buy (should I get the same gph rating as the skimmer pump? --or one rated to 500 gph per sump specifics?). If I want 20x total flow for my main tank, is 500 gph enough through-put for the type of inhabitants I've described and the tank size?
2. Did I buy a big enough overflow box?
3. Are there any other parts I've neglected to buy that I need? (I don't know if I want to propagate anything at this time...)
4. Do you see any major problems with the parts I have purchased?
5. The skimmer comes with bio-balls; if I replace those with LR rubble will the skimmer still work as well? Or should I stick with the bio-balls?
6. How would/could I make the return flow into the main tank the "chaotic" type flow direction? (I have two other powerheads in the tank that are uni-directional, flowing in a circle. One placed med-high, the other low. I'm fine with leaving these in the main tank.)
7. How much wattage do I need on the light for the refugium? Any special spectrum needed for growing algae and 'pods?
Thanks VERY MUCH for your comments...
I wonder if someone could help me identify any unanswered questions and put all of these in a logical order to be answered so that I don't get caught in an 'endless loop...' I am piecing this thing together and kind of feeling my way along in the dark.
I have a new 40 gallon acrylic tank, not drilled. Filled with seawater & 40 lbs of LR. Dimensions of tank are 36" long x 15" deep x ?? " high
The stand is a low dresser top (drawers but no cabinet underneath). The refugium setup has to go behind the display tank on the dresser. I have ~13" of space between main tank and the wall.
I bought a used skimmer & pump off ----:
ETSS Evolution 500 Downdraft Protein Skimmer
Skimmer footprint 7" x 7" x 22"
Supreme Mag-Drive 9.5 Water Pump
Flow Rate: 950 GPH Maximum Flow with a 14` Shut-Off
Power Consumption: 93 Watts
Pump Size (L x W x H): 5.0" x 3.0" x 5.5"
Then I bought a refugium kit, it can be assembled a variety of ways.
· 30"L x 12"W x 14"H
· two standard pvc 1" bulkheads
· can be used with internal or external pump
· 400 - 500 GPH recommended water flow rate
· rated for up to 250 gallon system
Last I bought an E-sump overflow boxm'
U-tube style
6"x3.25"x10" and rated to 75 gallon tank size. That's all I know about it.
My goal for the main tank is to have a "marginal reef" if I understand that term correctly--I want mostly corals & inverts of the hardier type, plus some fish.
My goal for the refugium is 1) to create food for the corals, and 2) to reduce nitrites and nuisance algae in the main tank. I want to store my skimmer & pump in there as well.
I'm thinking I want to have un-skimmed water flow into the refugium compartment. Is it a good idea and is it possible to direct the output of the refugium flow into the return chamber from one side, and the skimmer output to this same return chamber from the opposite side, so that the good stuff from the refugium doesn't get pre or post skimmed? Any issues or special considerations with this design?
Besides this question above, my other questions are:
1. What is the correct strength of return pump to buy (should I get the same gph rating as the skimmer pump? --or one rated to 500 gph per sump specifics?). If I want 20x total flow for my main tank, is 500 gph enough through-put for the type of inhabitants I've described and the tank size?
2. Did I buy a big enough overflow box?
3. Are there any other parts I've neglected to buy that I need? (I don't know if I want to propagate anything at this time...)
4. Do you see any major problems with the parts I have purchased?
5. The skimmer comes with bio-balls; if I replace those with LR rubble will the skimmer still work as well? Or should I stick with the bio-balls?
6. How would/could I make the return flow into the main tank the "chaotic" type flow direction? (I have two other powerheads in the tank that are uni-directional, flowing in a circle. One placed med-high, the other low. I'm fine with leaving these in the main tank.)
7. How much wattage do I need on the light for the refugium? Any special spectrum needed for growing algae and 'pods?
Thanks VERY MUCH for your comments...