Dividing up a sump

[atnixon]

I have a 36" long tank now for my sump..Can some-one give me some pointers on how is best to divide up in inlet, fuge and return. I dont need a great lot of room for the inlet part as my skimmer is a hang on the back type..Just not sure how big to make the 3 sections for this..

Thanks in advance for any advice

Niko

 

[mr_X]

the return will be the area that loses level from evaporation, so don't make that too small. and the fuge..i think you would want as big as possible. if you click on my build thread below, you'll find pictures of my sump/fuge, which is a 40 gallon tank i divided. it too, is 36", and i am ready to break down my 75 gallon tank to use THAT as my sump.
my main display is a topless 125. and the sump/fuge is also topless, and i am losing 3-4 gallons of water a day. i don't have an auto top-off yet, so i barely get by with my configuration. also, my fuge, is so cramped.
what size display do you have?

 

[atnixon]

Hey X...Thanks for the reply..

My display tank is about 85 US Gals...Will have a look through your build thread as you suggested to look at your sump..I should be able to get away with having a small inlet due to my skimmer so it leaves a good bit of room for fuge and return..

Will post back any questions about your sump...Thanks buddy

Niko

 

[mr_X]

also view this...http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=93422

it's how it came about.

 

[atnixon]

Cheers buddy...I think the only thing i may do different is to have "over, under, over" baffles as water leaves the fuge into the return part...However, i know from what i read that yours worked really well, even no bubbles into the tank, which i think is kinda great...

Thanks

Niko

 

[mr_X]

yes..2 or 3 baffles at the end would have been better i guess, but the bubbles were never a problem. it was the space that was the problem.
good luck!

 

[atnixon]

Cheers X..

I have decided to split up my 36 long sump as thus...

Area 1 - Inlet - 8"
Area 2 - Fuge - 14"
Area 3 - Return - 14"

How do you work out the height needed of the baffles in the sump? Any ideas mate?

Niko

 

[mr_X]

sounds good!

 

[atnixon]

Ok, just a little update really...

Just thought i would post the finished design of my sump in the hope that somebody may just find it usefull to either copy or adapt to their own fish tank..

Any feedback on final drawing would be most appreciated indeed.

I just want to say thanks to everybody who has given their input and suggestions / critism..

P.S sorry if the image comes out massive, but i did it on A3

Niko

 

[atnixon]

Bump?

 

[trido]

Sorry about the neglect. The forum has been slow lately. The width looks good for division but it looks a little tall to me. You need to consider how much water will back flow from the overflow and piping during a power outage or maintanance. For example. My 120 has dual overflows and a remote fuge. When my power goes out the sump goes from just over half full to the very rim. I actually had a 1 gallon spill the other night when the power was out for a few hours. Ive since lowered the level in the pump return chamber to avoid future mopping. Also. I would just make the three dividers the same size. The middle one being a little bit taller will isure the water wont spill over the top. Then I would give them 1 1/4" space to help reduce velocity in between them. . It will give the bubbles just a bit more linger time. Looking good though.

 

[atnixon]

hey Trido, thanks alot for the reply..Would you suggest dropping all the deviders by another inch? With that in mind, reducing centre beaffles of the three to 9" with 1 1/4" gap..

There should not be a vast ammount of flow back down to the fuge as it will only really be what is in the pipework..Not much should be able to flow back from the overflow box..

Thanks in advance

Niko

 

[trido]

Sounds good. What size of return pump are you going to use? If it were me. I would probably use 10"or 11"for the first one then 8X9X8 for the next three. Ive mopped alot of floods lately.

 

[atnixon]

ha ha ha...i bet you have mate..

Am going to using a 1700 litres an hour pump with 1" piping through-out..

Dont get what you mean by 8x9x8 ???

Niko

 

[mr_X]

i think he meant 8 inches..9 inches...8 inches..the three baffles

 

[atnixon]

yes, i got you now...cheers for the clarification X....

Well, am good to go then now..Will be getting the glass ordered tomorrow morning and then that will be done and put to one side..Going to be ordering the timber this week getting ready to start building my new stand for the new setup...

Niko

 

[trido]

Yep, By saying 8x9x9 I meant. From the bottom of the sump. I would still keep them all the same size. At nine inches it gives you six inches of forgiveness for water issues and future additions of equipment that could cause more back flow.

 

[atnixon]

Thank you Trido for just clarifying that mate, just did not quite get what you meant...I understand now...

Am good to go with this now..

Just want to say thanks to everybody who has helped, guided, given constructive critism..You peeps have been great..

Niko

 

[xrock06x]

where are you going to put skimmer in that drawing?

 

[atnixon]

Wow...forgot about this thread....

Well...in a nut shell....The reef and system all worked brilliant...No issues what so ever...

However, the entire reef system has been sold as i shall be moving from England to the USA in the next coming months...

To answer your question xrock06x, the skimmer went into the inlet section..

Thanks

Niko