~+=the Great Sump Thread=+~

[Wind]

Hey guys and gals....:P

I am wondering how your guy's sumps look like. I was just looking for ideas. I tried searching the forums, but didn't really find a thread where there was a collection of sump designs and what not.

Underneath my stand will be about 4 Feet of spacing... And I was hoping to see how you guys place baffles in a sump and what not. I am using an Iwaki 30rxlt for the return...

Thanks for listening.. I have a crazy idea for my sump, I gonna post it later on.. But for now, was wondering if you guys could show some pics of your guy's sumps and what not...

Thanks.. :o Hehe

[kevinpo]

Here are a couple of great articles you may find useful

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.htm
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/gt/index.htm

Regards,
Kevin

[Wind]

bump....:smokin:

[iCam]

Totally off topic, but is that you in your avatar?

[Toutouche]

Nihonjin and Wind... sitting in a tree...K..I..S..S..I..N..G..:love2: :love1: :D
Seriously though,
Here's a pic of my sump setup. They're in the basement and my tank is on the first floor. I don't think you'd be able to do something like this in your stand ( DUH!!!) but I posted it anyways.
Sooo... what's the wild idea you have... tell me!! ...tell me???!!!!!

[iCam]

:p

[Wind]

AHA HAHAHA\..... NO it's not me.. :D

Why?? INTERESTED :P hahha j/k.. I am gonna try sketch it out on paintbrush or somethings.... cuz scanner no work.. :|

Well keep it comings... ;)

[Wind]

Just a general idea.. or sketch...
like right now.. here's what i got... here are some questions I am wondering if they are alright and what not..

THe partition is a piece of acrylic which will suppossedly cut off all water, and use the iwaki inside the tank.

The 55 is 4 feet long, and decided to partion 3/4 for water, and 1/4 for the external pump.. Was wondering if this is possible.. I've seen everybody's tank drill and put it outside the tank. I don't want to use a submerging pump, but I bought this one anyway..
Well here's some other questions I was hoping to find out..

-Should the drain pipes be submerged under the water?
-DOes the water line affect skimmer?

Thanks...

[JB NY]

sump setup in the basement.

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/images/misc/DSCN2457.jpg

[crescent1]

here's my idea come to life.

[Ewan]

Very nice!

Can you get your hands in there?

[crescent1]

i could get my hands in there, but i like to keep them out of there.lol:D

[Toutouche]

Wind,
On some skimmer models, the waterlevel affects it a lot.
The drainline can exit underwater. I have it set up that way, and it stops the noise of the exiting water hitting the waterline. Also, when it hits the water, you can get a churning/skimming effect which kinda makes lots of foam floating on top of the water.
Is that pump going to be underwater in that last section, or is it going to be a dry section ( seeing from the diagram that it has a tube going through the baffle which is all the way to the top)? Either way, I would make that last compartment smaller, so that you can benefit from having more space with water in it and if it indeed is going to be a dry section, test fit the baffle first and place it so that you have just the room you need to manipulate the pump in there. Are you going to be making a refugium in any sections? If so, a couple things to consider is that the skimmer should be pulling in water from the first section where the water is still unfiltered, and you should run a tube from it's exit to the very last section where the pump is pulling for the return. Don't have the skimmed water enter into the refuge section. The tube that the water exits the skimmer HAS to be above the waterline, otherwise you'd have backpressure which will cause the skimmer to not function properly.
The refuge should also be pulling dirty water from the first section and exiting also just before the return pump( or at least after the skimmer input).

[Fishiness?]

Don't have the skimmed water enter into the refuge section.
Just curious, why is this? I thought that you didn't want it the other way around (refuge water going into skimmer... killing pods,etc.), but what is the problem with having skimmed water flow over (like the set up with skimmer on the left side, refuge in the middle, pump or bulkhead on the right side) your refuge section?

[geshields]

The refugium should have regular tank water going to it. The water exiting the protein skimmer should be clean and be no benefit to the macroalgae in the refugium.

Greg

[Toutouche]

Fishiness?,
Exactly as geshields said.
You'd be trying to clean water that is already clean. As for the skimmer exit, in my sump it is basically setup how you described, except my exit tubes from my skimmer run over the other sections and enter the water only at the last section. My refuge is also a seperate tank run in parallel and the pump that feeds it, pulls from where themain tank overflow drainline is exiting.

[Wind]

Hey.. First of all thanks.. for stinking and helping me outs.. :)

Well the last partition is gonna be dry...

I was thinking about installing the 1st chamber to be a refugium.. the 2nd being the skimmer chamber...

I have a question also regarding the skimmer and water lline for it..

Hmm I was wondering which skimmer you guys would recommend... Should I order a skimmer to see how things fit?

I was thinking about the EuroReef ES5-3... What are your guy's thoughts?

[Wind]

up... up and away....

[MrSandman]

Here is mine.

http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsandman4/images/sump/sumpflow.jpg

As you can see, the water exiting the refuge and skimmer chambers do not comingle w/ each other on its way back to the tank. The transition between the fuge/skimmer chambers and the heater/probe chambers are via bulkheads. I chose this way so that it was much easier to adjust the water levels in the skimmer/fuge chambers. If i need it to go higher, all i do is add an elbow on the out side of the bulkhead and maybe a length of PVC to whatever height i want. The height of the PVC dictates the water levels in the fuge/skimmer chambers. This is especially important when your skimmer needs to operate at a constant level. The bulkheads weren't installed at the time of the photo. HTH.

[Toutouche]

Wind,

If the 1st chamber is going to be a refuge, and the 2nd for the skimmer, how is the water from the refuge gonna bypass the skimmer? Also, if I were you, I wouldn't let the drain empty directly onto the macros in the refuge, as it would also stir up the bed of whatever you put in there. I would add another baffle, or something to seperate the drainline from the refuge area.

[melev]

Hi Wind,

I can't believe no one sent you to my site. Oh well, maybe in time, they'll learn. :D ;) :lol:

Here are a series of pages, with pictures and descriptions and advice. Sorry to overload you, but peruse at your own pleasure:

http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/sump.html
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/55sump.html
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/sump_patrick.html
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/sump_chris.html
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/sump_model_d.html
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/sump_model_e.html
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/design.html
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/overflow.html

and finally my site:

http://www.melevsreef.com

Skimmer chamber is first, refugium second, and return last. Don't skim the output from your refugium, and don't put the skimmer in the return zone or you'll end up with microbubbles in your display.

HTH

[Stormbringer22]

Here's my latest project, it was going to be a sump...but I installed it as an up stream refuge thing!....

[Wind]

woah... i didn't know i had so much flaws..
ai ya.. im a bit .. cuckoo now hehe...


=so refugium is suppose to slowly drip into the return chamber.. and return to the main tank??

=how does a refugium work, in terms of a setup?

thanks.. sorry. to hassle hehe..

[Stormbringer22]

My set up is still in the "going to modify" catagory, I wanted to get my protien skimmer off of my display tank, then I wanted to make a DSB, for nitrate reduction, so, the "sump" (not a sump anymore!) evolved into that pictured above. Water is taken from the display into the refuge, with a Maxi-jet 1200 (295 gph) then goes thru the refuge & back into the display. I'll probably make another model with the skimmer placed last in line to the display, so that the refuge gets un-skimmed water first. I really don't know exactly what I'm doing, the display tank looks nice & thrives all the same! Melev, have you ever used/heard of using Xenia corals as a nutrient scrubber in a fishless refuge? By the way, thats exellent workmanship posted in the links above!

[Rockfish]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JB NY
[B]sump setup in the basement.


Holy S@#T JB, that is cool. Let me guess wife never goes in the basement. I wish I could have my stuff spread out like that remotely and then pump into the main tank. Alas in Florida no basement, everthing goes under the tank, and wife unit must deem aesthetically pleasing if it's going to show. Thats the problem of living with an Interior designer and this hobby!!:D

Steve

[Vert20]

Here is a link to the sump/refugium for my 155 Bowfront.

It still is not yet installed, but running for leak tests. so far it has handled all the flow I can throw at it ...

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=199277

[melev]

Originally posted by Wind
woah... i didn't know i had so much flaws..
ai ya.. im a bit .. cuckoo now hehe...


=so refugium is suppose to slowly drip into the return chamber.. and return to the main tank??

=how does a refugium work, in terms of a setup?

thanks.. sorry. to hassle hehe..

Wind, you don't have many flaws. And if you set it up the way you'd planned, it wouldn't be as efficient and you're system wouldn't get all the benefits you're hoping to achieve.

(note to self: Get that sump page done!)

You want to keep bubbles out of your tank, right? So your skimmer goes in the first zone, because the first zone already has bubbles from the draining water coming from the display. The skimmer's output will have bubbles as well.

Not all the water draining will be skimmed, as some bypasses the unit to continue to the next area.

Skimmers have a high water mark, and depending on the one you get, it will dictate how much water it can stand in. I like to have skimmer zones about 9" deep, merely for volume of water. It allows the bubbles to dissipate more quickly than shallow water will.

If the skimmer needs to sit in 4" of water, build a 5" stand to lift it up. Of course, you must also take into consideration how much height you have under your display tank. Will you have enough room to service the skimmer as needed - every few days? Can you still lift the cup off?

Refugiums are zones that will allow you to grow macro algae and have a Predator-Free zone for pods, worms and more to grow unimpeded. These 'bugs' provide food for your tank, and you don't want to skim them out. The macro algae growing in your refugium will absorb excess nutrients from your water, and help decrease the growth of micro algae (like green hair algae, for example). It provides oxygen to your water, absorbs CO2 and nitrates. Usually refugiums need to be 10 to 12" tall, so you have room for a layer of sand and room for the plants to grow upward.

Because the refugium is taller than the skimmer section, water can't pass from one to the other. So people use a Tee to split the drain line from the tank. Most of the water goes to the skimmer/sump, and some goes to the refugium. It is not a drip, but it <b>is</b> low flow. Example: Water flows through your sump at 300gph, but your refugium may run around 10 or 20 gph, controlled with a ball valve (which controls how much water enters the refugium). A refugium does not have to be huge. I've found 5 gals is sufficient for a 55g tank.

You want a bubble trap before your return zone, which is 3 baffles glued closely together (about 1" apart), with the middle one being the high piece (1" off the floor of the sump). This will give you clear water going back up to the display tank. The water coming from your refugium will be draining slowly into the return area as well, so you have very little chance of getting any bubbles.

One thing I do encourage is that the return area is of a decent size. Heres a valuable formula. All measurements are in <b>inches</b>: L x W x H / 231 = Total Gallons. Use this formula to determine how much water is in each section. You want at least 4 gallons or more in your return area, so the pump won't suck air as the water level drops due to evaporation. A simple $15 automatic top-off switch comes in really handy in this situation, if you have room for a container of fresh water to be nearby.

Don't let this stuff freak you out, it is all part of the <b>hobby</b> and puzzling it together is part of the fun. :D

[cuttingtom]

tagging along

[Wind]

Hey melev,

Thanks for explaining to me.. I have a better, understanding now.... Your sumps and all are fascinating..hehe :o


Well, IF all I had was to reuse teh 55 gallon tank and partition it. The 55 has the glass brace on top of it..

I was wondering how I could install a refugium which would make it more effective... Hmmm :confused:

I was thinking about the euroreef es5-3 Is that a good skimmer for its price??? Efficiency?? How high should the water level be for that skimmer?...... I heard it does matter for the efficiency.. of skimming... hmmm I glued in 1 partition already, creating the 1st chamber.. I dunno if that water line will be too high or not ... :|


Like sump/refugium design I try to incorporate all in teh 55 gallon sump tank.... But i'm not so sure about acrylic like how strong it can hold and what not... :confused:

well.. thanks very much for the patience.. I'm grateful for those helping me out..

Oh well, back to teh search button :o

[Stormbringer22]

I'll try asking & commenting, AGAIN...Melev, have you ever used/heard of using Xenia corals as a nutrient scrubber in a fishless refuge? By the way, thats exellent workmanship posted in the links above!

[melev]

Stormbringer: I have heard that some people grow and harvest Xenia just to remove nitrates. So the answer is a resounding yes. I've never done it. I find that Xenia are the perfect "Reef Barometer" for me. If they are looking healthy, the tank is in good shape. If they start to decline, there is something wrong with the water. And I test everything! :rolleyes:

Wind, I'd look up that model on some of the online vendor sites, to find out the proper depth. You might check with Euroreef themselves.

You need to have enough room in that zone for the skimmer <b>and</b> the pump that runs it. That is called the <i>footprint</i>, and knowing those dimensions helps you ascertain where that baffle needs to go. EuroReef are the best skimmers around, so you'll be very pleased with their output. :thumbsup:

You can put your refugium at the opposite end, and have your return zone in the center under the brace. This is a good example of the basic layout:

http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/sumps/sump_model_e1.jpg

This has the skimmer zone on the left, and was made small to hold an Aqua C Urchin, the bubble trap was next, and the return zone is in the center. THe refugium is that large section on the right.

[coralite]

Hey JB NY, Are you using one pump to drive multiple applications? If so what kind is it, how do you like it and what all are you flowing with it?

[Wind]

I was wondering if I could drill my tank..it says tempered glas on the bottom, but wonering about hte other sides..

if not i gonna have to do acrylic.. customize??

tahnks so much for replying... im gonna think some more.. now..

:D :o

[melev]

As far as I know, tempered can't be drilled. Glass has everything done to it (cutting, polishing, drilling) before it is actually "tempered", and then it is done. Drilling the back can be done, and people are always seeking a local glass shop to do this for them. If you have a local reef club in your area, they may know someone that can drill the tank for you.

[Stormbringer22]

Melev: Thanks for your response! I certainly apprieciate it!

[Wind]

hmm. im not so sure bout mines.. how can i check?? its made by aquarium masters.. yah i was thinking of driling the back for the inline return for the iwaki...

[melev]

Typically, a tank has a very predominant label glued to the Tempered surface. So I'd check the base of the tank for that kind of information.

Since you know the maker, you can contact them as well to ask them which piece(s) is/are tempered.

Neither of my tanks are drilled, I've just made what I have work. ;)

[Wind]

All measurements are in inches: L x W x H / 231 = Total Gallons


Umm.. i was wondeirng... where to get the lxwxh from.. Is it from the sump? or the main tank? Sorry it seems a silly question..

Like the main thing it so have sufficient water for the return chamber right?...

Another question is, is it okay to put bubble trap after the skimmer and before the return chamber?


I cam up with an idea... I will post it tonight and hope to receive some input if not 'critiques' :o ... hehe...


Before I forget, I just want to say a 'thank you' for helping me out and guiding me.... Thanks a lot...

I think I'm gonna try order the 'euroreef' skimmer.. I go post my refined idea soon.. Thanks... again.. :)

[John M.]

Hey, Marc, the overflow device was way cool. Thanks for the link.

[Toutouche]

Wind,
It's o.k. to put a bubble trap after the skimmer, but if you have a refugium, you should never have a trap after that. It'll just also catch the beneficial buggies it produces.
The L x W x H/231 is for measuring the total capacity of any container in gallons. In this case however,Melev wanted you to measure each section in the sump and make sure there was at least a 4 gallon volume for each section using this formula.

[sea-horsea]

hey marc, I am debating over a 36x18x20-24 or a 75 gal .48x18x20 with a sump/refugium inside the stand....
since you are so good at it..can you actually charge me and custom one for me lol lol lol


you have the best sump/refugium I've seen from before, til' now..and maybe in the near future no one will beat you!!!


the king of sump/fuge is you.....:smokin:

[sea-horsea]

mrsandman: put more pictures and detail of your sump then you can go for the king spot too!!!!! :P

yours are really really cool....since you are in southbay mind if I bring the dimension of the inside of my stand and my setup so you can help me build one?? :)

awsome.....bad news to see this...I took off my 17" rims for upgrading my 30 gal. tank...now I have to sell more stuff for more upgrades. :)

[melev]

Originally posted by John M.
Hey, Marc, the overflow device was way cool. Thanks for the link.

Glad it was helpful. :thumbsup:

<b>Wind</b>, Toutouche explained it well. To figure out how much water any area can hold, use that formula. That includes the total surface area of your sump as well! You see, when your return pump is turned off, water will drain down from the main tank via your return line AND your drain line AND a little from the surface of your display tank. So it is nice to know how much water each inch can hold, to ascertain your sump will be tall enough to avoid a flood. :( I've never had a flood from either tank, because this was included in the design, before it became application. :D I look forward to your next plan(s).

<b>Seahorsea</b>, I'll be happy to help you get it figured out. Will either size fit your current stand? Visit my site to see more sumps by clicking on the little red house over this post.

[Wind]

... Here goes the picture....

The middle part where the stands hold up the refugium will be glued to the refugium (acrylic) box.. Water will pass from underneath, or through the sides.. Can I use pvc instead to glue the refugium to the glass bottom (tank)..??

skimmer would be the euroreef es5-3.. i was wondering if I could add somethign to hoist my euroreef higher incase of the water line..
I stupidly glued the 1st baffle in (skimmer chamber)..months ago.. Its about 12 inch high.. I guess water level will be kind of high??.. Well i go see first.... im sure i can add things to increase skimmer height incase too high water level right?...


Also for the refugium, I'm not sure if what I did is okay.. I not sure which side to drill the hole and if its okay to have 2.. Probably 1 is enough..


Well i'll let you guys .. comment :o (gulps).. hehe

Thank you all very much for helping me.... Thanks. ... :o

[Wind]

oop sorry.. :o

[MrSandman]

Originally posted by sea-horsea
mrsandman: put more pictures and detail of your sump then you can go for the king spot too!!!!! :P

yours are really really cool....since you are in southbay mind if I bring the dimension of the inside of my stand and my setup so you can help me build one?? :)

awsome.....bad news to see this...I took off my 17" rims for upgrading my 30 gal. tank...now I have to sell more stuff for more upgrades. :)

hehe. Thanks! I'm very happy w/ the outcome of my sump. It does everything i had planned it to do. My only wish is that it was larger, but....i don't have a basement like most of the spoiled east coasters do. :D

The idea when combining a skimmer and refugium into one sump is to NOT have the water from each chamber go through each other.

I think its pointless to have the water from your skimmer go through your refugium since any nutrients in the water are skimmed and the refugium critters/macros won't have the food they could have. Its also pointless to have the water from the fuge go through your skimmer as well. This is because any critters leaving your fuge will probably get skimmed and never make it to the main display. You best bet is to have them in separate chambers overflowing into one common "mixing" chamber where the heaters, probes, top-off, calcium reactor effluent, carbon, etc. all reside.

I also like the idea of PVC/bulkhead transitions. It gives you flexibility. This allows you to fine tune the water height in each respective chamber. For example, if i choose to go w/ a different skimmer later on which operates at a different water level, i can get a longer piece of PVC or a shorter one and adjust the height in the skimmer chamber. Or....if i ever wanted to grow mangroves, or something else in my fuge and i wanted to raise or lower the water levels, i would get a longer or shorter piece of PVC pipe. With the traditional overflow transition, you're stuck w/ the water levels at which they are built up to.

Again, this is JMO. I'm not an expert, nor am i claiming to be one...but i figured i'd throw out the same thought processes i went through when designing mine.

BTW, sea-horsea...i wish i could help you build one but i don't have the proper blades for cutting acrylic. I went over to a friends house and built it there. :(

[Wind]

oh.. the refugium box is enclosed... like a box within a sump idea.. :o

[melev]

Originally posted by Wind
The middle part where the stands hold up the refugium will be glued to the refugium (acrylic) box.. Water will pass from underneath, or through the sides.. Can I use pvc instead to glue the refugium to the glass bottom (tank)..??

skimmer would be the euroreef es5-3.. i was wondering if I could add somethign to hoist my euroreef higher incase of the water line..
I stupidly glued the 1st baffle in (skimmer chamber)..months ago.. Its about 12 inch high.. I guess water level will be kind of high??.. Well i go see first.... im sure i can add things to increase skimmer height incase too high water level right?...


Also for the refugium, I'm not sure if what I did is okay.. I not sure which side to drill the hole and if its okay to have 2.. Probably 1 is enough..



If the refugium is a box within a box, you don't need to glue it at all. However, your box looks too small to be beneficial. You need about 10 to 12" tall for your refugium to have enough room for 2" of sand and give your plants space to grow upward. You plant them and they get taller. Pruning them back, they regrow. Too shallow, and they have nowhere to grow and burn under your light.

If you have enough room under tank for your skimmer to sit on a stand, yes, you can put the skimmer up higher. Height is often an issue. You can make a small stand out of acrylic, or buy a small 'crate' from a dollar store. I've even seen guys use bricks!

Your drawing has two bubble traps. Imho, you only need one, after your skimmer. What is that tall baffle on the right? It looks like your Iwaki is <i>in</i> the tank?! That can't be.

I see no benefit in running water under your refugium, if you plan on running water next to it. Running water next to it will allow your water to go right on back up to the tank. It will give you a spot to put your heater as well.

Your refugium would drain on the right, into your return zone. One pipe or two, that is up to you. The inside of your refugium needs a screen on it to keep macros and snails from clogging the line.

[sea-horsea]

mrsandman do you have the dimension of your sump? what is your setup again? i remember is a 65 gal?? not sure...more pictures and details??

man I hate this hobby..bank is going dry before I wet the new tank!

[Wind]

i was thinking of patitioning the last part of my 55, the iwaki section will be dry... its not really a baffle.. its like the cut off the water... seems a wierd idea huh?....cuz i want to reuse my 55 tank, and incorporate it.. but no space underneath...

i guess i can make the refugium taller... and deeper...

the thing is i already bought the iwaki... :\ :uncertain:

unless. i make everything out of acrylic.. and drill a hole.. but cost wise and what not.. :( .. i not sure...


... :( :(

[sea-horsea]

marc what dimension is your 55 gal? do you built your own stand?

mrsandman do you built your stand as well??


wind: so you didn't answer the question, who is the chick? your crush in school? lol

[Wind]

hahah i wish she was my crush :(

just a 'celeb' :p

i wish was mines though hahaha ;)

darn.. ..i still usnure bout sump.. refugium.. the return part..

i dont think i wanna return the iwaki.... :(

thanks alot though.. for helping me .. :)

[sea-horsea]

keep it...no matter what kind of pump you use...when you have the perfect sump/fuge like marc and sandman you will be fine with the rest

[MrSandman]

Sea-horsea,

Click the little red house above my name. :) My sump dimensions are approximately 38 x 18 x 16. The heater chamber is approximately 38" x 4". The skimmer chamber is approximately 16" x 14". The Refugium chamber is approximately 22" x 14". I also built the stand as well.


Wind,

Another problem w/ raising your refugium is that detreitus (crap) will get trapped under there. It will not be easy to clean. Its also wasted space that you could be utilizing for other equipment (heaters, probes, etc.) as melev stated. Also, look around in the paper and ask at your LFS for any old used beat up/scratched but non-leaking acrylic tanks. They are everywhere and can be found cheap. This would be an ideal sump since you can drill it and customize it any way you want.

[sea-horsea]

so your tank is 150? i thought it was 65 or something..

I lived in Torrance for 7 years and moved away after highschool!!! wow!!!

[MrSandman]

I used to have a 60G. (http://members.cox.net/mrsandman/index.htm).

I upgraded to a 150G about 7 months ago when i moved out of my parents house and bought my own.

BTW, i now live in Torrance. :D What HS did you go to?

[sea-horsea]

mrsandman: WHS !!!!


man where you located mind if I drop by some day to check out the setup? where is your 60 now?? do you like acrylic over glass??

how do you cut the 4x4s to fit the corner and side on top and bottom frame?? you konw what i am trying to say?? so neat!

[melev]

Originally posted by sea-horsea
marc what dimension is your 55 gal? do you built your own stand?



Standard size 55g, 48x12x18 with a standard <b>narrow</b>stand (internal space was 10.5" at the center), which is why I made my U-shaped sump.

I'd bought the tank, stand, canopy and more from a local family that was done trying to care for saltwater. They gave me so much stuff it was insane. But I took it. :D

[sea-horsea]

marc sounds like the narrow depth/width will be a problem in the stand...do you have a harder time doing your "rockscaping" ??

[MrSandman]

Originally posted by sea-horsea
mrsandman: WHS !!!!


man where you located mind if I drop by some day to check out the setup? where is your 60 now?? do you like acrylic over glass??

how do you cut the 4x4s to fit the corner and side on top and bottom frame?? you konw what i am trying to say?? so neat!

hehe. BMHS here. I now live about 2 blocks north of WHS. We'll work something out. My 60 was sold to a fellow RC member The contents were transferred to my 150G. So far, I prefer glass over acrylic. The 4x4's were notched. For info on my stand, check out my website. I have some detailed pics of the construction while in progress.

[Toutouche]

Wind, if I were you, I'd just make the whole middle section the refuge, and you'd only need 1 baffle splitting the first skimmer section and the refuge. Making it deeper for a DSB and space for macros to grow is needed. I'd make the refuge overflow into the last compartment where the return pump pulls from, and I'd also run a tube from the skimmer to drain into that last section where it'd mix with the refuge water. Only before the return pump is where the baffles are needed.

[sea-horsea]

wind: you ever think about making the sump smaller so you can have a fuge next to the sump on the other side of the skimmer just a bit higher than the sump so all you have to do is get a small pump and pump water into the fuge and water comes out of it by gravity...

[melev]

Originally posted by sea-horsea
marc sounds like the narrow depth/width will be a problem in the stand...do you have a harder time doing your "rockscaping" ??

Nah, I have a pretty nice layout right now. I'll try to get a new picture of the tank posted pretty soon. I've been hemming and hawing over a few digital cameras for a while now, and it's about time I take action already. ;)

[Wind]

Hey.. well.. i was thinking now to build an acrylic sump...

Just like melev's ideas... I was thinking to have the middle of this sump to be the return...

I will try go w/ the basic idea ...

thanks.. i will post and ask for help about how to construct one...

hehe :o

[melev]

Originally posted by Wind
Hey.. well.. i was thinking now to build an acrylic sump...

Just like melev's ideas... I was thinking to have the middle of this sump to be the return...

I will try go w/ the basic idea ...

thanks.. i will post and ask for help about how to construct one...

hehe :o

Use the <img src="http://reefcentral.com/forums/images/top_search.gif" border="0" alt=""> option, with the words " building acrylic" in the "DIY forum." Tons of discussions have occured there.

And my site has a page about building a simple sump as well, which I did link above. Matter of fact, the DIY library here on RC has the link to it as well.

[Wind]

hey quick questions.. i was wondering if an elbow on the intake of the iwaki external would be better or will and elbow on the output would be better?


just wondering.. because the pump will be in the middle... of the sump/refug. not left to right as w/ the inline..style

=I

[Toutouche]

As a rule, it's not recommended to restrict the intake of any pump. It would be bette to place it on the output if at all possible.

[Wind]

Hey.. Umm.. i have a few more questions, they may seem silly and all though =I..


Well, I was wondering how the water level in the sump will be controlled and what not. I guess my question is, how to determine where the water line will be.

Like, I see some pics and that the water line is above the bubble trap partitions a bit.

So I going to need to tinker w/ flow control valves right? to get the water line I want?:o :confused:

sorry so much questions and all..

Thanks.. :)

[Toutouche]

The water level is usually determined by the height of the baffles you glue in.
You COULD "tinker' with flow valves, but it's not usually a good idea to restrict what's coming from the overflow of your tank. If ever the overflow should start to get clogged and such, it could easily cause a flood from the tank all over your floor.