sump design look ok to you?

[MLVA123]

Here's my first cut at a sump design. My concerns are effectiveness, and noise (since the sump is going to be in the stand in the living room!)
How can I keep sand out of the pump? Also, I think I would like to have the two overflows from the tank joined into the skimmer, but with a valve-controlled branch down to the DSB/Refug...

- ML

 

[Anonymous]

See the folloring thread. Some of the comments are relevant to your design, and will be helpful to you.

In a nutshell, the straight pipe into the DSB will kcik up quite a bit of sand, but I am sure you are aware of it since you wnat to joint the two overflows. For the noise issue, it is more tricky. Depends on where the noise come from, you can address it then.

 

[ChrisRD]

Looks like a good start.

I would add a partition/baffle on the lefthand side to create a small compartment where the water can discharge into your fuge without disturbing the sand.

Are you planning on feeding the skimmer directly with the drain pipes from the main tank? What kind of skimmer are you going to use?

 

[MLVA123]

Chris & David, Thanks both for the reply! I appreciate it.
Yeah, baffling the drain into the DSB/Refug is a good idea. Maybe one of those micro socks or something or a bio pad stack in a narrow compartment.

As far as the skimmer, I'm not real sure yet. I only have about 24" height to work with under the stand, so that's the biggest limitation. I saw a slightly damaged euroreef cs8-1 on sale... :twisted: if I can glue that one back together, maybe I'll get that!!

I was going to go with a glass 40 gal long as the sump but it looks more and more like an old used scratched up acrylic is the way to go so I can drill it, glue it, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

The only thing I noticed is that only one of the overflows is going through a bubble trap.

What about the bubbles from the other

Also, you could put in a horizontal divider Over the sandbed so that the drain would not disturb the sand. Don't actually know how that would work out. I have one over my Live Rock in the sump sort of on an 45 degree angle to redirect bubbles. That seems to be working fine.

HTH Bryan

 

[MLVA123]

Here's an updated drawing. Better?

 

[Anonymous]

I think it is, except for the flow valves in the drain lines

You only have gravity pushing water through those, it really is not a good idea to put anything in there to restrict them, plus what happens if a snail gets stuck in there? FLOOD

HTH

Bryan

 

[MLVA123]

OK, so how then do I control the gravity flow so that I get a smaller % coming down to the DSB? I want the majority of water flowing to the skimmer, with a smaller velocity coming to the DSB. Perhaps just a smaller diameter pipe for the branch that comes to the DSB?

 

[Anonymous]

Control it at the top

If you are using an overflow I think raising it up will let less water down it. Also, using smaller pipe will work



I wouldn't have a problem with a valve in the drain line to the refuge side, if and only if the line to the skimmer could handle all the flow that the return pipe sends up.

See the point? As long as the one clear line can handle all of the flow, I don't have a problem with partially blocking the emergency flow line.

HTH

Bryan

 

[MLVA123]

I am going to put in a closed loop for the extra circulation and remove the need for powerheads in the main tank. So I am guessing that I want to move about 700-900 GPH through the sump. Without having to do calculus, do you happen to know how big the skimmer pipes (both feed and return) will have to be?

Thanks for all your help!
-Mike

 

[ChrisRD]

I would go with a 1.5" drain on the skimmer side - you can go less on the fuge side (as mentioned above). You're not planning on plumbing the tank drain right to the skimmer are you (that's how your sketch looks)?

 

[ChrisRD]

To clarify, a 1.5" drain should handle ALL the flow in the event that the fuge-side drain gets plugged.

 

[Anonymous]

I have 2 1" drains in mine with 750 GPH running through them. I would go with 1.5", as mine are running too close to the limit for comfort

Bryan

 

[Anonymous]

Okay, I am not sure about running the 1.5" directly in to the skimmer, you need some one else to comment about that.

My situation with the 2, 1" drains with 750 GPH is I have to stick 3/8" tube down each one to quiet it. Its a homemade design and is totally crappy IMO

I just checked and if I remove that tubing, one of my 1" drains will almost handle the flow. Not quite though.

So, you should be fine with the 1.5" IMO

Bryan

 

[MLVA123]

Thanks Chris. Here's the latest. I'll just go back and delete all previous drawings to save disk space on the board.
I deleted the valves in the drain lines. Also, modified the right side drain into a padded compartment like the left side which will then empty into the compartment with the skimmer.

 

[Anonymous]

Don't delete them, it actually shows the design process quite well

Bryan

BTW looks good

 

[MLVA123]

DOH! Too late
Oh well, at least I think I have a decent design now.
Thanks to all you great RDO plumbing fluid dynamic engineers!

Wish me luck, I'm gonna order all the hardware tomorrow.

-Mike

 

[ChrisRD]

Mike,

It looks OK to me.

Also, not sure what you had in mind for the "padding". I'd use those chambers to periodically run poly filter or a micron bag full of carbon (or both) as needed. You don't really need something in those chambers continuously, IMO.

Nice job and good luck with it.