Sump design need opinions.

[NanoReefer]

Please look past the wonderful MS paint artwork and tell me if you see problems or water flow issues. There are some questions and comments in the pic as well, all opinions welcome good and bad.

Thanks guys/gals

 

[jango]

Where does your drain come in? What size tank is it going on? That is a lot going on in a 20l...

 

[NateHanson]

Looks fine to me. Your baffles are in the right order (always end with an under baffle). I'd move the three baffles between the settling section and the refugium to the other side of the refugium. That way you won't be as likely to get bubbles created on the way out of the refugium. Also the algae in the fuge will take out some bubbles too.

I wouldn't try to skimp on fuge lighting. It's not worth having a fuge IMO with 15W of PC light. Just didn't grow anything IME. So I'd put a 65W LOA fixture over it, and make it as deep as possible while still having enough overflow space in your sump when the power goes out. There will be a little more space for algae to grow, and a little more water volume. Both of which can't hurt.

Nate

 

[jango]

Looks fine to me.

So you don't think the water will have any trouble getting to the skimmer then back to the tank through the same set of baffle's? Also if the return pump is before the skimmer like in the ill. the skimmer will never see water.

 

[NateHanson]

I'm assuming that water is entering the sump at both ends. If I'm wrong in my assumption, then this design has some serious problems
Nate

 

[jango]

I'm assuming that water is entering the sump at both ends.

That is what I thought at first glance..
I see the water entering on the right (settling area) flowing through the fuge then into the return section where I assume the return pump would be which would stop the flow at that section not allowing the skimmer to recieve any water.. if the skimmer and return sections were reversed it could work...

 

[NanoReefer]

Yes, I should have mentioned that. Water will enter both ends with a return in the middle. I have an unusal skimmer that hangs on the tank internally and takes up only about 6"-7" of width (from left to right). I thought this would let me control skimmer and Fuge flow rates a little better. My main reason for a 20L is that I don't have room to work in the sump using a 20H. I only have 4" on clearence between the stand and the tank top. The settling area came from an idea in the "how does if work thread", about not letting solids into the fuge. If I can get the flow right I'm hoping it will work out ok.

Nate, you think I should have 1 more baffle after the fuge into the return, making it and "under"?(or more?) Also I have a 96w 50/50 powerquad (coralife), would that be enough? What would be a good spectrum for.

Jango, I know, it is a busy little sump(and my drawing is not even close to scale)but someday I hope to have a seperate fuge. I am keeping my 20H sump for just that purpose. Ha Ha I'll make 60 gal yet.

 

[NateHanson]

Good spectrum for fuge lighting seems to be 5500K or 6500K.

I'm suggesting that you put only one separater between the settling section and the fuge, and have a set of three baffles between the fuge and the return (actually, four would be better, starting with an over baffle, so that your sand-bed doesn't just fill in the first baffle).