sump design
 

I designed a sump and would like to build it but I was wondering if one of you experienced sump-ers could have a look at it and see if I am making a mistake with anything.

I can only email the scanned picture and cannot post it. Plus my artwork leaves something to be desired and I'd rather not embarrass myself to the whole site :lol:

Can anyone give me a hand?:wink: PM me your email and I will send it to you.

I am not a sump guru, and cannot comment on your design, but if you need other ideas have a look at this site:

http://www.melevsreef.com/links.html

Thank-you!

That site was a big help in designing this sump. There's actually quite a few great designs on the web but for some reason most of them incorporate the skimmer after the refuge and I don't understand the point of that.

I'd like to eventually get a copperband and will need to raise food for him. I don't see the point of sending the copepods through a skimmer on their way out of the sump if I don't have to.

The theory behind putting the skimmer behind the refugium is to have the most nutrient rich water go through there first before hitting the skimmer to promote macro growth.

Here is your design cleaned up in Google Sketchup:

http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/x...oposedSump.jpg

That is so cool! Thanks!! A few of the measurements on the baffles are different, is that your suggestion?

This is basically my sump.


I double baffled all chambers and force the water to go under the first baffle then back to the top and over. Here's a shot from early set up.

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...b/c433528c.jpg

Easy design for maintenance also.

You won't regret a simple sump.

Check out http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume...bafflesart.htm For sump baffles that are movable for more flexability when you get a bigger skimmer, want more space, or anything really. I'm for sure doing this next sump. I forget who linked this originally on canreef, but ty :D/

this is how i designed the sump for my 50g and will most likely do it again but on a larger scale for my upgrade of my 90g.. where the water comes in a have a chamber for filter floss to reduce the amount of crud before skimmer. then skimmer then return area. my goal was to have as large of a return area as possible so i dont have to top up as often since auto top off is not an option on either tank the only change will be adding a carbon section. i can go 3 days tho without adding water.

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_6507.jpg
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/DSCN1858.jpg

That's a great design, i like the floss on the tank return. I wish i made room for adding filter socks, i have them stuffed arounf the skimmer, it works, but a pain. More reason for movable baffles :P

Fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing. I wonder if anyone has ever pressure tested those things...

See I really like that, it looks absolutely awesome, but I want to do a minimalist approach and get rid of the extra pump for the refuge. Plus do you find that there' a bit of a dead zone underneath the refugium because of lack of flow?

Removing floss is a nightmare. I'm anti foam of any sort.

Movable baffles is something i forgot about.

I love it! What's the reason that you double baffled each chamber?

thats a wicked sump! I love how you made use of other wise useless space by putting the refugium up there

most likely to reduce micro bubbles

Yes but for each and every chamber? Extra insurance?

you dont necessarily have to but someppl are very anti micro bubble basically if the sump works fro you runwith it it is only limited by imagination i googled sumps on google and sifted through tons of pics untilli decided how i wanted to build my sump. the changed it slightly to suit me.....main reasons for a sump

-hide equiptment..skimmers heaters uvsterilizers and media reactors
-add overall water volume to your system to help stability
-help add oxygen to the water with the flowing of the water
-place to add live rock to aid in natural filtration

anything else you do with a sump is just just an added bonus if you have the room to do so the sump allows your tank to keep its water level and you see the evaporation in the sump instead of the display tank.

there is most likelly more reaasons or better reasonsn for a sump thisis just how i see it

Always make sure you leave enough room in your sump to accomodate the backflow from your display tank when the return pump gets shut off.

Not trying to hijack here, but I have been following this too as I will be taking the sump plunge soon! I am getting a 40 gallon tank, for my display, and a 20 gallon sump, however after measuring and doodling plans I decided its too small for a refugium, so I am going to use my old 15 gallon once transferred over for a refugium, so 20 gallon sump 15 gallon refugium. Is this a plausible Idea?