My Sump Idea

[amstar15]

the only issue I am having so far is that the return from the skimmer is 2" so I was going to keep reducing it down to 1" to fit into a bulkhead that is placed in the tank.

 

[SkiFletch]

4 thoughts; Have the skimmer discharge into the left most chamber to keep microbubble issues to a minimum. Secondly, don't use magdrive pumps externally, they get really hot, and are prone to seal failure. They're really best reserved for when you have no space and have to put them inside the sump. Replace them with similarly sized true external pumps. Third, use double unions on the ball valves before the inlets to the pumps (one on either side of the valve). That way whenever you have to break down your tank/sump for whatever reason you don't have big bits of plumbing sticking off the glass that are a pain to remove. And finally, consider using a filtersock at the drain instead of mesh/carbon in the bubble wall. Will eliminate the need for filters on the pump inlets which will make your overall maintenance less of a PITA

 

[amstar15]

okay yes. I should of clarified a few things. The intlets from the main tank will have "socks" to help clean the water. the mesh and carbon will be gone, I am going to turn a phosban reactor into a chamber that holds just carbon.

I liked the idea of the skimmer discharging in the sump over the refigium to give extra flow to the macro algae but you are probably right. the size of the skimmer will probably produce lots of bubbles with the amount of water flow

mag drives are no more. I am thinking a gen x 40 pump or bigger for the skimmer and i already purchased a snapper for my return pump.

double unions are a good idea. I actually bought some just didnt add them to the skimmer design or the return from the tank to the sump. I just have them for the exteranl pump from the sump then one for the plumbing back up to the main tank. I will pick up more.

I am also going to have a 2" and a 1" hole drilled for bulkheads at the end of my sump. I will cap the 1" off and have it just as an emercgency bulkhead in case my snapper craps out. I can move the gen x off the skimmer and over to be my external return pump and connect it to the 1" bulkhead.

 

[SkiFletch]

Good call on the backup pump

 

[amstar15]

okay my dilema.

the gen x pump has a 3/4" inlet and 3/4" outlet. the inlet on the skimmer is 1".


FOR THE SKIMMER INLET FROM THE PUMP :

So do I just use hose tubing and make sure I tighten down on the skimmer (from the pump to the skimmer)

Sump to the gen x pump:

do you make the bulk head a 1" bulkhead and just "condense" the pvc plumbing from 1" to 3/4" to fit on the inlet of the sump

Skimmer back to the sump:

do you make the return to the sump (from the skimmer) a 2" bulkhead or again do you "condense" and make it a 1" bulkhead.

 

[amstar15]

I purchased the tank its a 125 gallon tank. I need to get it drilled this weekend. the refigium will be almost 5 foot long, 18 1/2" wide with a dsb of 6 plus inches

 

[SkiFletch]

Whoa there, slow down, you don't want to start drilling the wrong holes in the wrong places A Snapper pump will put out around 1800gph at a typical under-tank setup which requires a bare minimum 1.75" drain size. Were it me, I'd use dual 2" drains. And since you have a US made tank, your bottom is probably tempered, so you'll have to drill the back side and install what's known as a "Calfo Overflow".

 

[amstar15]

no no no. the 125 gallon tank is for the sump. the main tank is a 150 gallon already dual drilled built in overflows.

I was saying that after I put in all the baffels the refigium should be almost 5 foot long, 18 1/2" wide with a dsb of 6 plus inches

my questions are on how to drill it (the 125 for the sump)

the gen x pump has a 3/4" inlet and 3/4" outlet. the inlet on the skimmer is 1".


FOR THE SKIMMER INLET FROM THE PUMP :

So do I just use hose tubing and make sure I tighten down on the skimmer (from the pump to the skimmer)

Sump to the gen x pump:

do you make the bulk head a 1" bulkhead and just "condense" the pvc plumbing from 1" to 3/4" to fit on the inlet of the sump

Skimmer back to the sump:

do you make the return to the sump (from the skimmer) a 2" bulkhead or again do you "condense" and make it a 1" bulkhead.

 

[amstar15]

I am still debating how I am going to have the sump drilled. I keep drawing on it with marker to try and decide how I am going to set the baffels up. My recent purchase is a dual reactor (for GFO and Carbon) that is run by a maxi jet 1200. I am trying to decide how I am going to plumb that into the sump as well.

so so-far I have the stand built, the 125 underneath it (set it up so it is easy and quick removal in case or trouble), the 150 up top. I have started on the plumbing (built the durso-standpipes now) and have all of the pvc piping ready to go once I decide on where to drill the holes

 

[Colin_T]

I would stick the return pump and protein skimmer (or protein skimmer pump) in the sump so you don't have to put any holes in it. Have the water from the main tank feeding the protein skimmer and the skimmed water going into a compartment to get rid of fine bubbles. You can have a course filter sponge over the outlet of the skimmer and this will help stop fine bubbles going through the sump.

Have a coverglass on the sump to help reduce evaporation.

 

[amstar15]

I would love to have the pump and skimmer in the sump (the pump I would need as well as the size of the skimmer (ITS HUGE) would take up a TON of space. Plus the skimmer is an extrnal skimmer and it needs at least 1100gph pump. but that is an idea I will look into. what I was thinking about doing is where I drill the skimmer return have a ball valve come out of the bulkhead with a quick disconnect on the end of it. that way I could quick disconnect the skimmer return from the sump, connect a line to my drain in the floor (for water to drain out of the sump) after I drain the water then connect my line from my mixed saltwater (32 gallon brute trashcan) to that ball valve and turn on the mag pump from the brute. this would allow a large water change in a short period of time.

a full glass top on the sump will not work out due to the lights I will be using on the sump as well as the mangroves I plan on planting. I will have one piece of glass covering the "first chamber" I am going to drill two holes and have pvc fittings so that my plumbing from the overflows will fit right down in there and so I will have a place to hand my filter socks.

drilling the tank is not a problem for me, just want to make sure I get the holes in the right place the first time.

here is a picture of my skimmer: