sump with a twist

[aquaman]

I have been playing with the idea of a new (at lease as far as I know) sump design. Let me know what you think, if it is a good idea or should be trashed. Also any improvement you can think of feel free to say so. Don't be afraid to speak your mind, but please do not flame me for the sake of it. Thanks
Aquaman
1st chamber water from tank & DSB with crabs (fiddlers maybe?)
2nd for macro algae, and LR.
3rd skimmer.
4th return pump.
The first chamber could almot be like a beach setting and a diplay tank itself

 

[joker_ca]

you might have a problem with your first chamber, the beach effect you want most likely wont last long with the spray bar the water will make to sand become level

 

[pwnag3!!]

what is your purpose for the beach effect? filtration? a dedicated refugium would be better than that

 

[aquaman]

The main purpose would be filtration with an emphasis on keeping animals they require getting out of the water at times, such as the fiddler crab. I was just toying with the idea of keeping a new environment without dedicating a whole system to it. The though came to me while looking at some picture of sumps and fugues on this sight. Some people have made them very ornate almost like a show tank itself, and others have kept fish or inverts (like a mantis) in the sump as opposed to the main tank. I am just toying with the idea of making the next steep.
As for the beach effect being ruined by the spray bar, that has been an obstacle I have not figured out to fix yet. I am hopeful someone here will come up with a brilliant solution.
BTW thanks for the input already.

 

[pwnag3!!]

you could get a micron sock and place it over the whole beach area in the formation that you want it to stay in...

 

[aquaman]

Sorry it took so long to get back; my phone has been dead since the storm last night.
pwnag3!!
I too thought of using something to hold the sand in place, like fiberglass screen, for a window, but that will keep the crabs out of the sand, and I am trying to recreate there environment, would the sock keep them from the sand or am I thinking about this wrong?
Also, here is a revised idea; I hope I am clear on this one.

 

[thegrog]

I definately like the revised version with the skimmer before the sand as it works better that way.
If you want an environment where crabs can climb out of the water, why not just have some live rock that is taller than the water level? I am not sure of your beach idea and how you can pull it off without washing the sand away.
The only thing I can think of that might work would be a tide/wave effect. If you have a chamber seperate from the sand one that fills to a point, then drains (use a toilet drain with a float) into the chamber, you would have the effect of a wave hitting the beach. If you have a constant outflow to the algae section, you may be able to pull it off. Just an idea.

 

[aquaman]

I did not make this clear, but if you notice the four colors of the sand section, i was thinking of having barriers between each. To sort of give it a stair step effect. So the dark blue would be the deepest, the light blue a little less, the dark yellow the shallowest and the bright yellow above water. I do realize that this may not work at all, but I want to give it a try, if for no other reason, for fun. I have an old 55 gallon I used for a sump at one point, and I am just toying with different designs.

 

[aquaman]

BTW the last pic was a top view

 

[steveoutla]

Everything that I've read recommends having raw water running through the fuge and back to the tank, and then a separate chamber for a sump with a skimmer. Kinda like this:

 

[joker_ca]

THE IDEAL REFUG IS WATER THAT COMES FROM THE TANK STRAIGHT TO THE REFUG WITH NO MECHANICAL FILTRATION, OR NO SKIMMER AND THEN GOES BACK TO THE TANK

 

[edwar050]

You could use properly cured concrete with sand on top for the beach scene, portland type 1 or 2 sement found at home depot 8$ also makes interesting rock if seeded correctly, I have a nice cave.