Help with sump tank setup

[clee123]

One question just popped into my mind.

The 1st sump compartment after main tank's overflow is typically a pre-filter box containing filter wool & tray.

So why do I need a pre-filter compartment if I intend to use filter sock?

Can't I just hang the filter sock in the skimmer compartment?

It's all up to you how you want to design your sump...one good thing about filter sock is that it saves space and reduce the bubbles...

For me, the pre-filter box allows me to include Live Rocks (in addition to filter wool/cotton) as part of the filter media as I believe this is a very important factor in the whole filtering processing... I even sack up LRs in the baskets of the skimmers/FR section few months later to enhance the filtered water.

Some mistakes I learnt from my current sump design :

1) Water level of sump (in particular the filter box compartment)was too high which may cause waterflow if the wool are filled... so make there is engough gap/buffer between the max water level and the sump height.

2) Consider give enough gap for full sump height and the max water level can contain when the return pump is off...otherwise, you will end up clearning the whole flour when there is a power surge...

3) Give engouth space for the Skimmer/FR to cater for future upgrade of equipmements (e.g. to bigger skimmer or additional FRs)..

[tunicate]

Thanks Clee for the 3 points, especially point (1). I guess it's also for filter sock to be clogged & overflow too. So I'd be sure to position the sock below the brim.

[tunicate]

Below is a revised plan without pre-filter compartment(i.e. combining filter sock into skimmer compartment). baffles are added to eliminate bubbles from return chamber.

Skimmer baffle (orange colour) maintain compartment water depth at 10".

Refugium baffle (blue colour) maintain compartment water depth at 14".

The design looks simpler compared to previous ones.

[DUCADOS]

I cannot own such sump! Will faint... Lol.

My sump need to be very tidy... Haha

[tunicate]

[CFOh]

To switch between refugium & skimmer compartment, below is plan C.

One little advantage I can see in this design is that the refugium being located at the front of the sump will allow me to observe the chaeto growth or any LS I place in this compartment.

Question:

Can anyone advise where I can buy overflow comb? I need some for my overflow box in main display tank, as well as some on the refugium baffle.

Overflow comb, can try RD, I got mine there...

Or you can try Pvc cable Trunking with comb from Hardware shop, also I saw some reefer using Book shelf partition with comb design from Daisu...

Cheers and Happy reefing....

[tunicate]

Thanks for the tips.

[tunicate]

So far, the flow rate from the skimmer/Fr section to the refugium/frag are ok... it's also depend on mainly on the flow rate of the return pumps you are using... for me, it's a 7500L/H flow..

Hi Clee,

Two qustions:

(1) 7500L/H is return pump specs or actual actual flow rate exiting into display tank?

(2) I see that you have a baffle from refugium/frag directing water downwards into the return chamber. How wide apart are the baffles?

I need to figure out if my baffles are correctly sized.

[clee123]

Hi Clee,

Two qustions:

(1) 7500L/H is return pump specs or actual actual flow rate exiting into display tank?

(2) I see that you have a baffle from refugium/frag directing water downwards into the return chamber. How wide apart are the baffles?

I need to figure out if my baffles are correctly sized.

My answer:

1) 7500L/H is the pump specs NOT the actual flow rate ... the actul flow rate should be slower with the baffles and bubble trap amoung the compartments..the general rule for getting a return pump is 10-12 x the net volume of the tank (e.g. if your tank volume is 750L you should get the pump with 10x750L/H = 7500L/H)

2) If you are referring to the bubbles trap from the frag compartment to the return compartment, the grap is about 4-5cm between the two baffles..

[clee123]

Below is a revised plan without pre-filter compartment(i.e. combining filter sock into skimmer compartment). baffles are added to eliminate bubbles from return chamber.

Skimmer baffle (orange colour) maintain compartment water depth at 10".

Refugium baffle (blue colour) maintain compartment water depth at 14".

The design looks simpler compared to previous ones.

If the skimmer compartment water dept is at 10" and Refugium compartment water depth is at 14", how are you drawing the water into the refugium compartment from?

[tunicate]

I plan to feed the refugium from my skimmer return.

Some minor changes to plan E after receiving some advises from seniors:

(1) Baffles from skimmer compartment go under-over-under to reach return compartment.

(2) Baffles from refugium compartment go over-under to reach return compartment.

Below is a simple model I made to help myself visualise as well as help to show the tank maker what I wanted.

Pic 1 : sump tank plan E modified

Pic 2 : Baffles (Top right is fuge. Bottom right is skimmer. Left is return)

Pic 3: Skimmer section showing 1st baffle with 1" gap below.

Thanks all.

[DUCADOS]

Power la bro!

Thumbs up for u man...

Can tell u damn free... Lol.

C u tomorrow!

[tunicate]

boss on leave today

cya

[tunicate]

...C u tomorrow!

Too bad not able to meet up last week. How's your car?

[DUCADOS]

Too bad not able to meet up last week. How's your car?

ya... Got it fix...

How's your sump?

Collected???

[tunicate]

Boss said not ready yet. Delayed till Tuesday.

I'm telling myself "...Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....Go zen. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...."

[DUCADOS]

Ic... Wats zen??? Lol

[tunicate]

Ic... Wats zen??? Lol

LOL...you very funny bro.

You said "ic" before asking "wat's zen?"

zen is

In this instance, I'll telling myself to let go. Let nature takes its course. When the sump is ready, it'll be ready for collection. Better to have a properly made sump tank than have a leaky one yah?

[DUCADOS]

Wats the meanng for that word?

Ic is refering to u saying boss delay wahaha

[tunicate]

Wats the meanng for that word?

Ic is refering to u saying boss delay wahaha

Ha ha...ok

I'm not a zen practitioner nor am I good at explaining. So this is the next best thing I can do to answer your question.

Below is the Wiki link on "Zen".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen

As I've said earlier, in this instance, I'm telling myself to let go. Let nature takes its course. When the sump is ready, it'll be ready for collection. Better to have a properly made sump tank than have a leaky one yah?

[DUCADOS]

Haha... Okok.

[DUCADOS]

Just collected my 42'' sump tank from kelantan lane yesterday(Saturday)

Shop boss super friendly lo. Price charge very reasonable (cheap)

I got my customized sump for $100 with glass thickness of 6mm n 3 compartment!