Thoughts on Sump/Refugium Plans

[bush]

Hello all!
I am attempting to set up my first saltwater tank. It is a 33 gallon (36x12.5x18) tank. My tank is not drilled so I am planning on using some type of hang on the back overflow box. I have been reading several of the threads on this forum and have put together some plans for a sump/refugium. Below is an illustration. I calculate the following gallons for each section:
Skimmer - 5.4g
Baffle - 1.2g
Return - 4.2g
Refugium - 13.3g
Extra - >6.5g
Please let me know what you think.
I have no idea what type of flows I need to try to achieve through each section. I hope to set up my main tank with 800 to 1000 gph but this will include some type of supplemental flow. Please help me set this up.
Thanks in advance.

 

[bush]

Bump.
Anyone???

 

[turningtim]

Why so much flow? What are you planning on keeping. If you keep the flow around 20x that should be more than enough for a first tank. So that leads to 660 gph. Also you need to consider if your sump will be able to keep up with that much flow w/o returning micro bubbles to the main tank.
the design looks good but I would add another baffle to the skimmer side for a total of 3.
Did you calc backwash area for power out issues? Is this what the "extra" is for?
So if you got an OF that will do 600 gph and a pump to match (mag 7 or a bit bigger) that will give you about 500 gph through the sump. Then acouple of small PH's will give plenty in a 30 gal tank.
Flow through the sump should be mostly to the skimmer. The fuge side should be kept about 10x the fuge side give or take.
HTH
Tim

 

[bush]

TurningTim,
Thanks for your response!
I was thinking 800 to 1000 gph because I did not want to be limited in what type or corals I can get in the future. I’m open to any suggestions regarding what might grow well in my size tank. I have a 175W metal halide fixture for the main tank.
What does the third baffle do? I understand the first two are for catching bubbles but I wasn’t sure about the third. I was planning on putting some egg crate between the baffles for carbon. Is that a good place to put it? Should it go towards the top or the bottom?
Yes, the “extra” is for backwash. I had figured I would have between 3 to 4 gallons of backwash during power failures.
I was considering the Lifereef 700 gph overflow. Do you know if it is a good one? If my pump is only providing around 500 gph will that match okay with the overflow?
As far as supplemental flow goes, I was thinking of trying to add a SCWD if I could to give me some random flow. Is it possible to have an over the top type of closed loop design?
I saw on another post of yours that you recommended around 1.5x skimmer pump size for sump flow and, as you noted above, 10x for the fuge. This matches the 500 gph you suggested above. My G1 is rated at 250 gph so that would give around 375 gph for the sump and my fuge is around 13 g so that would be another 130 gph.
I’m concerned that the Mag 7 will not be enough flow to supply 500 gph. I have a vertical distance of around 4 feet from the bottom of my sump to the top of my main tank. Just taking the distance into consideration reduces the 700 gph to 480 gph. How much additional loss will there be for elbows and other fittings? If the Mag 7 is not big enough and the Mag 9.5 is too big, what are other good pumps in this size range?
Thanks again for the help!

 

[turningtim]

Well you've done research very NICE! Here's what I think. I understand what you are saying about flow but you really don't want/ need all that coming from your sump. Starting out with softies and LPS may not like all that flow. When you get to a point of wanting SPS then you can suppliment the flow that is needed for these types of critters.
Yes there are a couple of plans for an OTT CL system. Yes you can put a SCWD on this to have random flow.
The thrid baffle is just as backup for the bubbles. You are going to be pushing a bunch of water through the sump and it MAY lead to bubbles getting to the pump. Better safe then sorry and having to add after it is set up. Although you do have quite a large sump this may or may not be an issue. Your CALL!
Are you using the -- calculator for your numbers? Look at the Dolphin DP800. I like the Dolphin pumps. I have used the 800 and now I use the DP 900 for my 55.
What size pipe are you thinking of using?
Is the OF a CPR style or U-tube. I prefer the U-tube. CPR's can break siphon and if the air lifter fails you're in a flood. Lots of folks have luck with the CPR's I just don't trust them. I've had my U-tube running for 3 years (700+gph with 2 1" drains) and never had a problem.
No worries

Tim