Sump help

[makana]

I will see if I can get a pick done up but before I do, any suggestions on ideal size for a skimmer compartment? the skimmer I have for it is just a coralife HOB so I would rather include a chamber that would support an in sump skimmer. The tank is a 72g so down the road I would be looking at a decent skimmer rated around 100g probably.

Does the skimmer need to be in its own section?

As for the bowing out, I can't see it bowing with baffles holding the sides. Obviously 1/8" acrylic has its limits but I don't really plan on filling it to the top, it needs empty space so as not to overflow when the return pump shutts off.

[makana]

[IMG][/IMG]

okay so here is more or less what I was thinking. The red circle represents removing or cutting out as much as I can safely remove of the first chamber wall so that I can get in there with a siphon to clean it out.

The red line is removing most or all of that baffle. I was thinking of possibly keeping part of it and using the egg crate as a frag rack, but i could put that anywhere.

The blue lines are the new baffles, the one on the left would be sectioning the return area that would also house the cheato. The one closest to the return pump would be to keep a constant water level for a skimmer section.

My questions are what depth and width should a skimmer section be and since I have never designed or built a sump, does anyone have better suggestions for me or things I have overlooked?

[HaZRaTTy]

To be honest with you man, modding out that sump would be more work then just buying a new/used tank and putting in baffles. I will bet you will switch that sump out in the first 6-12 months of your tank running for a different sump because that will not do anymore.

Skimmer section should be the same as your return for a few reasons. 1. The changing water level with evap unless you plan on using an ato. 2. Micro bubbles that will end up in your display via return pump.

If you're still set on go for it, make your skimmer section as big as the internal skimmer you plan on buying

[makana]

Okay, I have to ask, what won't it do? Why would I switch it out in 6 months? Is there something I'm not seeing or don't know?

As far as evap from the skimmer section, will the skimmer section not always have the same water level and the water level change from evap be in the final section where the return pump is?

Can I not put in baffles for a buble trap to stop the micro bubles? Why would a different tank reduce micro bubles more than this one?

I don't want to go through the work of changing this one if it won't be any good. But I'm also not going to go buy something different without a valid reason. The only reason I can see would be to go bigger, but I don't know how much bigger I could go and still get it in the stand.

[hillegom]

Read through the sump section and you might get some ideas of what you would like to have. Also a lot of good info

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

[HaZRaTTy]

The evap is referring to if the return and skimmer are in the same chamber .


The size is the problem when you want to add more stuff sorry I'll reply better tomorrow

[gregzz4]

If the sump fits your stand, and you generally like it, use it
The only couple things I'd do to mod it are;

1 - I'd make an acrylic filter sock tray and put it where the black media box would sit. Now you have removable socks
I cut my tray with a jigsaw before removing the plastic film and it stopped the saw from gumming up with hot plastic
All I do is lift the socks out and put clean ones in

2 - I'd put a tall baffle before the short one (next to the sponge in the pic)
This will act as not only a bubble trap, but will allow for much more water volume. Then all you have to do is play around with your skimmer by adjusting it's height with a stand of sorts until it's happy

The water spilling over the new baffle will carry air with it once it gets a biofilm buildup. This will hit the bottom of the sump and be stopped by the short baffle and shouldn't make it's way to your return pump
It's not an ideal design, but will save you reconfiguring your sump completely
And I'd recommend you test the new baffle with some silicone. This way you can remove it if you need. Once you like it, cut it out and properly glue it with acrylic glue
And if you want an even better bubble trap, but lose another inch or so of skimmer area, a second baffle will work better. The first baffle is off the bottom by an inch, and the second one is on the bottom and is the same size as the first, so it's now an inch shorter top to bottom

Make sense ?

Of course, you want the added baffle to be shorter than the top of the sump by about a quarter inch or so, and you can have your 'power off' level lower than this - based on how much water flows back to your sump when all pumps are off etc

I played with my sump for weeks before I was happy with it
Re-plumbed/baffled/sock trayed it 3 times before I was happy
So you may want to test your's out for days before you decide it's going to work for you