mr. limpid
Active Member
Looking good. I don't know about your wife, but if I started build refum on my wife's coffee table she would kill me.
Setting up a New Coral QT
- Thread starter sweatervest13
- Start date
sweatervest13
Active Member
This is the first sump I have made, and it is a fun and easy project.
The skimmer chamber is 9" X 12" X 9" giving me about 4.2g.
The return pump chamber is 6" x 12" x 6" for a total of 1.9g
The refugium chamber will vary depending on the height of the water line I choose to run it at but the base will be 15" X 12" X 6" for a total of 4.7g
Like I mentioned, I will probably run the fuge and return pump chamber at 7.5" instead of the 6" that the last baffle is at. I will use the gutter guard to keep macro algae away from the pump. This will give me a total volume for the fuge/return pump chamber of 8.2g. That added to the volume of the skimmer chamber will give me a total sump volume of 12.4g. This is just under half the total 29g of the tank. The frag tank is about 23g, I feel very safe and comfortable with the room left in the sump for the back siphon. No floods are going to happen here (I hope!!).
Here are some pics of the sump build.
I taped the baffles in place then taped the tank to try to get a little cleaner silicone lines. It work out just okay. I would have liked to have some cleaner silicone lines, but there is limited space to get the tube in and apply the silicone.
Next up will be the planning of the plumbing. I hope to get a few things done with plumbing this weekend. I am thinking about using a combo of PVC and Spa Flex PVC. I want to use a true union ball valve from the overflow (it will be just a simple stand pipe) to the media box.
I appreciate any comments or questions.
The skimmer chamber is 9" X 12" X 9" giving me about 4.2g.
The return pump chamber is 6" x 12" x 6" for a total of 1.9g
The refugium chamber will vary depending on the height of the water line I choose to run it at but the base will be 15" X 12" X 6" for a total of 4.7g
Like I mentioned, I will probably run the fuge and return pump chamber at 7.5" instead of the 6" that the last baffle is at. I will use the gutter guard to keep macro algae away from the pump. This will give me a total volume for the fuge/return pump chamber of 8.2g. That added to the volume of the skimmer chamber will give me a total sump volume of 12.4g. This is just under half the total 29g of the tank. The frag tank is about 23g, I feel very safe and comfortable with the room left in the sump for the back siphon. No floods are going to happen here (I hope!!).
Here are some pics of the sump build.
I taped the baffles in place then taped the tank to try to get a little cleaner silicone lines. It work out just okay. I would have liked to have some cleaner silicone lines, but there is limited space to get the tube in and apply the silicone.
Next up will be the planning of the plumbing. I hope to get a few things done with plumbing this weekend. I am thinking about using a combo of PVC and Spa Flex PVC. I want to use a true union ball valve from the overflow (it will be just a simple stand pipe) to the media box.
I appreciate any comments or questions.
sweatervest13
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid http:///t/392802/setting-up-a-new-coral-qt/40#post_3506532
Looking good. I don't know about your wife, but if I started build refum on my wife's coffee table she would kill me.
LOL. Thanks Mr. Limpid. It is just a basement coffee table. I was careful with the silicone, so no drips.
Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid http:///t/392802/setting-up-a-new-coral-qt/40#post_3506532
Looking good. I don't know about your wife, but if I started build refum on my wife's coffee table she would kill me.
LOL. Thanks Mr. Limpid. It is just a basement coffee table. I was careful with the silicone, so no drips.
mr. limpid
Active Member
Just my .02 cents. You may want add a second piece of glass B4 the last chamber. Or you are creating a waterfall which will bring bubbles into your DT. A over and under design.
sweatervest13
Active Member
I appreciate the advice. I do not use a triple or double baffle design. I see no need for it. The last baffle is more for separating the return pump from the fuge on the bottom, above the 6" baffle will be 8" of gutter guard to keep the macro's away from the pump intake. Zero bubbles in DT. I have the same design form my big sump on the 125g.
I used to keep the water level (controlled by a ATO) so it was just falling over the bottom seam of the gutter guard. But I recently added a few gallons to the fuge and return pump chamber (it is now about the water level of the top pic where there is no equipment in the sump). The chamber on the right of the sump stays level and the only place the water needs to get past a baffle is from the skimmer chamber to the fuge/return pump chamber.
The concept is very similar to a sump with no baffles (I think Reefkprz has one of those) but the skimmer chamber has one baffle for water to cascade over. The top sump is 48" long and the skimmer chamber takes about 12" of that. This gives me just under 36" before the return pump intake for any micro bubbles to rise to the surface and pop.
I am always surprised when folks take so much time and effort to make a three baffle design for their sumps. If you do it right you don't need any.
I used to keep the water level (controlled by a ATO) so it was just falling over the bottom seam of the gutter guard. But I recently added a few gallons to the fuge and return pump chamber (it is now about the water level of the top pic where there is no equipment in the sump). The chamber on the right of the sump stays level and the only place the water needs to get past a baffle is from the skimmer chamber to the fuge/return pump chamber.
The concept is very similar to a sump with no baffles (I think Reefkprz has one of those) but the skimmer chamber has one baffle for water to cascade over. The top sump is 48" long and the skimmer chamber takes about 12" of that. This gives me just under 36" before the return pump intake for any micro bubbles to rise to the surface and pop.
I am always surprised when folks take so much time and effort to make a three baffle design for their sumps. If you do it right you don't need any.
mr. limpid
Active Member
Good, I say if works that all that matters. What is the short piece of glass in the middle for? How is the gutter guard attached?
sweatervest13
Active Member
The short piece in the middle was for miracle mud. I bought this sump from Great Lakes Aquariums (local tank maker). I had originally bought a lot smaller one but decided to do a fish room and had a lot more room. I returned the small sump and he gave me a deal for this one. He had already made it for someone who changed their mind.
The gutter guard attaches to the 1/4" glass baffle. There is a grove on the underside that just slips over and it stays in place perfectly.
The gutter guard attaches to the 1/4" glass baffle. There is a grove on the underside that just slips over and it stays in place perfectly.