sump design feedback

[vp6799]

I am trying to design a sump to go under my 72 Bow. I'm going with a 20 long tank so I can have room above sump to work if needed.

What do you guys think of this design. I did this after reading melsreef website.

Thanks
Vic

 

[JohnK]

Looks good, but I would strongly suggest considering an auto top off of some sort over building in room for evaporation. If not, you'll be kicking yourself down the road.

(an ATO can be set up as easily as a $15 float valve and a 5 gal bucket sitting on a milk crate somewhere near the tank.)

 

[Ben Wiggins]

looks good to me, +1 on the ATO

 

[Turbosnail]

Looks good to me +2 on the ATO

 

[vp6799]

Thanks for the feedback. I do plan on an ATO in the near future. Just not sure if I wanna stick with the float valve, or go with something more reliable. I don't want to drill a hole to use the float valve just in case I decide to go with something like the JBJ ATO.

 

[Mini4x]

Thanks for the feedback. I do plan on an ATO in the near future. Just not sure if I wanna stick with the float valve, or go with something more reliable. I don't want to drill a hole to use the float valve just in case I decide to go with something like the JBJ ATO.

drill the hole in one of your baffles for the ATO.

 

[beckbrass]

Or go to avast marine and get there ato. There are also other ones but I chose the avast as it uses a pressure switch and not a float. The mechanical floats that don't use electricity as mentioned are also good.

 

[vp6799]

How reliable are the pressure switch type?

 

[pallobi]

i also think it looks good and fully functional... i also feel an ATO is your friend

 

[beckbrass]

the switch I have has worked great with out a problem for over a year. I had heard of people having problems with the float switches so I went with the avast one.

 

[vp6799]

the switch I have has worked great with out a problem for over a year. I had heard of people having problems with the float switches so I went with the avast one.

Gonna look into that one. Thanks for the info.

 

[delta]

I Would put the return in the middle and split the drain to feed the skimmer and fuge with raw tank water making both work at max capacity. then you could add a full size baffle and overflow teeth on the fuge.

Auto top off is not even a question if you are in it for the long haul. More like which one, not if you get one or not.

But that is just my take on sumps

 

[willray]

I agree with delta and as he said use full size baffle w/teeth....or a strip of egg-crate. otherwise...If you stick with the design you have your last baffle is going to have a long drop (according to your red line)and will create micro-bubbles. You could also slope the last baffle and have water slide down instead of falling/crashing.
Do you have a skimmer? Your baffle height is somewhat dependant by it,9" seems high and if its lower that will give you more overflow capacity...4 gal enough for the 72?

 

[Mini4x]

Don't you want "dirty" tank water going into the refugium first? something about nutrient export?

I was always of the opinion sup flow should be fuge > skimmer > return

Or is this just opinion?

 

[Mini4x]

Like so?

Tagging along since I just ordered all the baffles to build this..

 

[vp6799]

Ok, going back to the drawing board. Will post up new design when done.

Thanks for the advice. I wanna make sure it's done right the first time. :.

 

[vp6799]

Ok, back again with a new drawing. There will be an ATO placed in the return chamber.

The tank drain pipe will be split and a valve will be used to control flow to feed fuge.

 

[willray]

Looking good.If you can spare the space from the intake section and increase the return section it will offer you a greater margin for error....I.E. ato runs out,your on vaca...etc you don't want that return pump to run dry. One thing you may consider, the fuge is going to get microbubble as well either incorporate baffles(flow is less so your spacing would be fine at an 1")or make a babble trap within the fuge,which is what I did.

 

[tran]

vic,
check this link for the sample of the sump using a 20g glass tank
hopes that help

 

[vp6799]

Looking good.If you can spare the space from the intake section and increase the return section it will offer you a greater margin for error....I.E. ato runs out,your on vaca...etc you don't want that return pump to run dry. One thing you may consider, the fuge is going to get microbubble as well either incorporate baffles(flow is less so your spacing would be fine at an 1")or make a babble trap within the fuge,which is what I did.

Do you have a pic of what you did?

The skimmer I plan on using has a footprint of 12" x 8" so i'm not to sure if I can safely cut out some space in the intake section and still fit the skimmer. Unless I can maneuver the pump around to fit into a smaller area??

I could also cut out the fuge and go with an external setup above the sump. That will give the sump a bigger return section and I could plumb the fuge return to the intake section of the sump which will take care of micro bubbles from it.