Sump! (My first DIY)
- Thread starter kacey
- Start date
gill again68
Active Member
Looks pretty good. I have the same design for my 40 gal breeder. I wonder if the refugium divider is to tall? Only reason I say it is you may get some splash or bubbles from that if your flow is fast coming out of that side. You can test it when you do your leak test. Again good job.
florida joe
Well-Known Member
do all of your dividers go to the bottom of the tank ? if so IMO you have a major problem i would have made my return area smaller (just large enough for the pump)
florida joe
Well-Known Member
i still see a big problem if his dividers go all the way to the bottom
nikesb
Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3256085
i still see a big problem if his dividers go all the way to the bottom
yeh then its not really a bubble trap
http:///forum/post/3256085
i still see a big problem if his dividers go all the way to the bottom
yeh then its not really a bubble trap
florida joe
Well-Known Member
actually then its a big time overflow problem
kacey
Member
Thanks, everyone, for the comments!
The middle divider in the bubble trap is 1.5 inches above the bottom (that's why it's taller than the other two). The baffle for the refugium may be too tall. I'll find out when I leak test.
The plumbing will have an return pump pipe with an offshoot pipe with a gate valve so that some of the return water (25% or so) will fall into the 'fuge and the rest will be sent back to the DT.
I made the return section larger because I used melev's design and he recommends a return section with enough water to keep the tank running for at least two days unattended, juuust in case.
The middle divider in the bubble trap is 1.5 inches above the bottom (that's why it's taller than the other two). The baffle for the refugium may be too tall. I'll find out when I leak test.
The plumbing will have an return pump pipe with an offshoot pipe with a gate valve so that some of the return water (25% or so) will fall into the 'fuge and the rest will be sent back to the DT.
I made the return section larger because I used melev's design and he recommends a return section with enough water to keep the tank running for at least two days unattended, juuust in case.
handbanana
Member
Originally Posted by Kacey
http:///forum/post/3256212
I made the return section larger because I used melev's design and he recommends a return section with enough water to keep the tank running for at least two days unattended, juuust in case.
I dont get what you mean by this.Please explain
http:///forum/post/3256212
I made the return section larger because I used melev's design and he recommends a return section with enough water to keep the tank running for at least two days unattended, juuust in case.
I dont get what you mean by this.Please explain
z06 vette
New Member
Originally Posted by Kacey
http:///forum/post/3255797
Well, it's not pretty, but I think it'll do the job. It's a 30 gallon long. Based on one of melev's designs, the left side's for the skimmer, the right side's the refugium and the center is the return chamber. Leak testing will be tomorrow or Friday.
Are you going to have two overflows (one comming into the skimmer chamber and the other comming into the refugium)? If not, than you might have a problem with the return chamber. If you are ging to have to overflows than it should be fine, just make sure that the retun pump will have enough water volume so it would not run dry.
http:///forum/post/3255797
Well, it's not pretty, but I think it'll do the job. It's a 30 gallon long. Based on one of melev's designs, the left side's for the skimmer, the right side's the refugium and the center is the return chamber. Leak testing will be tomorrow or Friday.
Are you going to have two overflows (one comming into the skimmer chamber and the other comming into the refugium)? If not, than you might have a problem with the return chamber. If you are ging to have to overflows than it should be fine, just make sure that the retun pump will have enough water volume so it would not run dry.
kacey
Member
Originally Posted by Handbanana
http:///forum/post/3256543
I dont get what you mean by this.Please explain
In case the ATO malfunctions or, for some reason, the sump doesn't get topped off for a day or two, your return section won't evaporate so low that your pump is damaged.
http:///forum/post/3256543
I dont get what you mean by this.Please explain
In case the ATO malfunctions or, for some reason, the sump doesn't get topped off for a day or two, your return section won't evaporate so low that your pump is damaged.
spanko
Active Member
Why would you "t" the return pipe to supply the fuge with water? That water will have already been skimmed of potential nutrients to supply the fuge with. I would think that the "T" should be on the drain pipe coming from the tank then you could supply the skimmer and the fuge with the "dirty" water.
Don't have and never have had a fuge myself so excuse me if this is and ignorant post.
Don't have and never have had a fuge myself so excuse me if this is and ignorant post.
florida joe
Well-Known Member
never have had a fuge myself
Come now Henry
Come now Henry
handbanana
Member
Originally Posted by Kacey
http:///forum/post/3260654
In case the ATO malfunctions or, for some reason, the sump doesn't get topped off for a day or two, your return section won't evaporate so low that your pump is damaged.
Oh. I see... Kinda
http:///forum/post/3260654
In case the ATO malfunctions or, for some reason, the sump doesn't get topped off for a day or two, your return section won't evaporate so low that your pump is damaged.
Oh. I see... Kinda
2quills
Well-Known Member
Looks pretty good, I've been thinking about going with a version of this design, myself. I agree with spanko though and think it would be better to "T" the drain line from the tank to the skimmer and fuge instead of the return line. If I do go with this design I'll probably opt to make the fuge chamber just a little bigger and hope that the ATO doesn't fail or that I am around to catch it in time. I'll be using a 55G for my sump so hopefull it wont be that much of an issue. If not then I guess I'll be purchasing a new pump.
Just my .02 cents
Quills
Just my .02 cents
Quills
gill again68
Active Member
They are right! <----they love it when you say that! 
The T needs to come from the drain before the skimmer. I to have the return section of my sump on the large side. I think your ok in this design as long as you dont get the refuge so small that it cant help at all. I think most are right that unless you really go big on a fuge then your really not going to be exporting a lot of nutrients. It will still give you a great breeding area for pods.
The T needs to come from the drain before the skimmer. I to have the return section of my sump on the large side. I think your ok in this design as long as you dont get the refuge so small that it cant help at all. I think most are right that unless you really go big on a fuge then your really not going to be exporting a lot of nutrients. It will still give you a great breeding area for pods.