Sumpgestions please!

[Patrick G.]

I was just given a 20 gallon tank that I'll use as a sump for my 75g RR. If I do not want to do a refugium, and I want the skimmer in the sump, should I add a baffle or 2 and/or have a hole cut for an external return pump? If so, can you recommend a good design (baffle placement, hole placement, etc.)? Thanks!

 

[Patrick G.]

bump

 

[Anonymous]

I used a 15L for the sump on my 80gal. I have two partitions. The first one goes to the bottom of the sump, and holds the skimmer. My skimmer suggests an 8" water depth, which was easy to do, making the partition 8" tall. The next partition is 3" away and goes 4" below the 8" partition and serves as a bubble trap. My return pump is summerged and sits on the end opposite the skimmer. This configuration has worked very well for me. I do have a 5 gallon acryrlic refugim that sits next to the sump. It was easy to drill and elevate so the overflow goes into the sump. I think the picture shows where the partitions are.

Regards, Eric

 

[jcab2000]

I'm interested in this too. I can't seem to find good advice on building a sump considering it seems that every single sump is different. I'm really, really looking forward to part 2 of the reefkeeping article on sumps. Does anyone know of any other sources to read? Every single person seems to have a differing opinion but I'd like to know the reasons for different designs.

I'm interested in a sump/refugium. I'd like to know where to place baffles, whether to skim before or after the refugium. How the refugium can handle the water flow that the sump is putting through and whether it's a waste of time to have the refugium in the sump or not because of the high water flow? Also, where should the DSB and live rock be in the sump and why?

I've done so much research on starting my tank that my wife thinks I'm insane. But on the sump issue, I haven't had much luck on getting a good idea of what I want.

Sorry I can't help much Patrick. Hope you don't mind me tagging along on this topic.

 

[reefNewbie]

i would say for you two to do a search, this has been talked about alot here on the board and many good ideas have been posted and drawn. goodluck searching!

 

[jcab2000]

I've read dozens of sump threads. Everyone says something different. I have not to this point read something that make me say "oh yeah, that's the way I want to build my sump."

I've had that realization for every other aspect of setting up my tank.

 

[teevee]

i'm at the same stage of my design right now, trying to figure out exactly how to set up the sump. mine is a 50 gal, 48x12x18. i will be running both a calcium reactor and skimmer in it. basically the plan is as follows:

before the water enters the in chamber, it is split off into two lines, one for most of the flow, the other with only a trickle going through. the trickle is fed into the fuge, the larger flow into the first baffle. the fuge overflows at a fairly small rate also into the first baffle compartment. from there all the water goes through the baffles, into the reactor and skimmer compartment and then back up to the display tank. i've seen similar setups and they work very very well.

i'm not exactly sure how many baffles i will be using, i expect 5 not including the piece of glass that seperates the fuge from the baffle section. the glass for the baffles is on order, i'll likely post my design once i get it finalized.

 

[31-2c]

One thing that is necessary is, if you have an in-sump skimmer, you want a section that has a constant water level

 

[jcab2000]

OK, I finally got a decent link on DIY sumps and refugiums. Yay!

http://www.reefheaven.com/index.html