??? sump design!!!! NEW DESIGN ADDED!!

Binare · #1 01-22-2010, 12:45 AM

Your skimmer really should have first crack at the waste water. It removes detritus and other solids (food, fish crap, etc.) before they can enter the refugium, these cannot be processed by cheato or liverock and just end up as waste rotting away and contributing to nitrate problems. Then of course you have the problem of pods and any other lifeforms being destroyed by the skimmer before they can even get to your tank. So I say, let skimmer do its job, removing waste. Then let your refugium do its job, providing a safe (no predators), calm (low flow) place for pods, filter feeders etc to grow.

globaldesigns · #2 01-22-2010, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binare

Your skimmer really should have first crack at the waste water. It removes detritus and other solids (food, fish crap, etc.) before they can enter the refugium, these cannot be processed by cheato or liverock and just end up as waste rotting away and contributing to nitrate problems. Then of course you have the problem of pods and any other lifeforms being destroyed by the skimmer before they can even get to your tank. So I say, let skimmer do its job, removing waste. Then let your refugium do its job, providing a safe (no predators), calm (low flow) place for pods, filter feeders etc to grow.

I take a different approach. Skimmers cannot process large particals of waste, Pods/critters/whatever in my LR and DSB can process/eat the larger pieces of garbage, producing a much smaller form for the skimmer to remove.

Just another point of view.

e46er · #3 01-22-2010, 02:43 AM

I have my sump divided into 3 sections the left section houses the skimmer and carbon and gfo reactors middle section is the return with heaters and the right section is the fuge the fuge gets about 25% of the draining water while the skimmer gets 75%

fishytime · #4 01-22-2010, 04:39 AM

If the tank has dual overflows you could run a three compartment sump like mine.....one drain to the skimmer side.....one drain to the fuge side....and return in the middle....you want both the fuge and the skimmer getting "dirty" water...you could probaly "T" the drain if it isnt dual overflow....just throwing it out there

The Grizz · #5 01-22-2010, 04:45 AM

It does have dual overflow's but for some reason I can't wrap my brain around how yours is set up. Do you have any pic's posted or one's you can send me to get a better idea.

The Grizz · #6 01-22-2010, 04:46 AM

Should also mention I got a monster 30w UV with the tank.

The Grizz · #7 01-22-2010, 03:33 PM

more opinions??? these are great but I want it right the first time.

kien · #8 01-22-2010, 06:51 PM

I'm a fan of the 3 chamber ('fuge - return - skimmer) model as well.

Just like others have described, I have three 1" drains, one of them goes straight to the refugium, while the other two are merged into a 1 1/2" pipe that goes to the skimmer section. So that's 1/3 water goes to 'fuge, 2/3 goes to skimmer. Return is in the middle with a bubble trap between both sides, 'fuge and skimmer.

Again, 'fuge on the left, skimmer on the right, return in the middle.

You can achieve the same with 'T's if you don't have 3 dedicated lines like I do :-)

fishytime · #9 01-24-2010, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Grizz

It does have dual overflow's but for some reason I can't wrap my brain around how yours is set up. Do you have any pic's posted or one's you can send me to get a better idea.

It a simple sump.....and the design has worked well for me.....lots of pics in the first couple pages of my tank journal thread....http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=40669 ....