Basement Sump/fuge/frag tank Plumbing

[AnthonyP]

I am planning to do a basement sump/fuge and frag tank to return up to the first floor 90 gallon DT. I also have a bunch of extra live rock and wondering if that could be incorporated before the skimmer. My idea is like this from the DT

1. 85% drain down 1.5" drain through live rock
2. 15% T'd to go through fuge (algae only and some live rock - no sand)
2. 85% gets passed through live rock and skimmed then goes through some carbon
3. then to the return
4. The Fuge also dumps into the return
5. The return is T'd to allow 85% back to the display tank and 15% to the frag tank
6. The frag tank drains back to the skimmer
7. Then to the return to complete the loop

Everything is drilled and I would like the majority to be gravity fed with a strong return pump. Any thoughts or other reccomendations?

-Anthony

 

[delta]

Best if the skimmer is first in line, you want raw tank water hitting the skimmer for best efficiency of the skimmer.

The only other recommendation is to make sure you choose your pump wisely in regards to electrical usage. You may be a able to save quite a bit of money
by raising the sump off the basement floor depending on the height you are going to have to pump back up to the tank

 

[AnthonyP]

Right now I am running the skimmer on the influent returning in the same section and going into a fuge and then the return.

I want to add more live rock to the entire system on this upgrade so you are saying from the DT drain into the skimmer but what about the live rock tank?
Regarding the pump I am very unsure about. This small fish room will be almost under the DT. The basement ceiling is only 8' tall and then add another 4.5' to the top of the tank with a 4 to 5 foot 45* elbow so I am thinking 10 to 12' head with about 16' of return line...Mag 18?

 

[delta]

Stay a way from Mag pumps and go to a more efficient pressure rated pump. Submersibles are not the best for high head pressure setups.
Reeflo, Blueline or Panworld will all perform well, An 850gal/hr pressure rated model will most likely do well for your tank at that head. You
will probably want to split the return with lockline in tank if you only have one return

you can do what you want with the LR just make sure the skimmer/skimmer intake is in the chamber the water from the display tank enters