180 Gallon

[amstar15]

if i turned a 55 gallon tank into a refigium, that held my protein skimmer, mud and macro alage would that be a big enough sump?

 

[SkiFletch]

If designed properly, yes

 

[amstar15]

such as what? I was going to have an area where the water comes in and goes over some live rock rubble. Then spill over into the mud/macro algae area, then spill over again to where my protein skimmer is then to the last chamber where my pump will be to return the water.

any suggestions?

 

[AK77]

Try having a look at the link below. Some fantasitc sump designs there and very well explained.

http/www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

HTH,

AK

 

[SkiFletch]

IMO, as the display tank gets larger, more attention needs to be paid to evaporation headroom. One of the things melevsreef.com will teach you is that when evaporation occurs in a system with a sump, the water level only decreases in the same chamber the sump pump is in. So you have to make sure it is big enough to accomidate daily water loss. Just keep that in mind when designing.

 

[amstar15]

okay so i have the design down for the 55 gallon to turn it into a refigium. now for the pump. so i go for one that does 1150 gph at 3ft, then use power-heads in the tank to create more flow. or would it be wise to get a pump that does 15000 gph at 3-ft ft of tubing. I am going to use power-heads on a wavemaker in the main tank as well.

1500 seems like alot for just my return pump.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, from an energy conservation and cost of operation standpoint, going with the smaller return pump along with powerheads would be the best option by far. Those larger return pumps are not the most electrically efficient things known to man although they do move a LOT of water. The drawback to the powerhead method is that you have to position them and run all the extra power chords. That is of course an oppinion related problem but a problem nonetheless.

Remember to size your overflow drain to drain at least as much water as the pump pushes up