40g Sump Design

[BigDawg21180]

Finally after life keeping me from finishing setting up my tank I am finally about to hopefully finish setting it up. Gonna be picking up some 1/4” glass Monday morning to start cutting baffles so figured it’s time to button down the design. Are filter socks worth the hassle of having to change out every couple of days or should I just leave those out? The measurements per section are as follows

Skimmer - 14”w x 12”d
Refugium - 10”w x 17.5”d
Bubble trap is UOU with 3/4” spacing between
Return - 8”w x 17.5”d

Is there any flaws to how this is designed or any better ideas to set it up? Any help is definitely appreciated. Thanks in advance...

 

[HCl+NaHO=]

Finally after life keeping me from finishing setting up my tank I am finally about to hopefully finish setting it up. Gonna be picking up some 1/4” glass Monday morning to start cutting baffles so figured it’s time to button down the design. Are filter socks worth the hassle of having to change out every couple of days or should I just leave those out? The measurements per section are as follows

Skimmer - 14”w x 12”d
Refugium - 10”w x 17.5”d
Bubble trap is UOU with 3/4” spacing between
Return - 8”w x 17.5”d

Is there any flaws to how this is designed or any better ideas to set it up? Any help is definitely appreciated. Thanks in advance...

I like the socks and the skimmer to be towards the front of the sump. For easy removal and cleaning.

I prefer a smaller sized return chamber.

I prefer putting the ATO reservoir at one end.

 

[HCl+NaHO=]

Finally after life keeping me from finishing setting up my tank I am finally about to hopefully finish setting it up. Gonna be picking up some 1/4” glass Monday morning to start cutting baffles so figured it’s time to button down the design. Are filter socks worth the hassle of having to change out every couple of days or should I just leave those out? The measurements per section are as follows

Skimmer - 14”w x 12”d
Refugium - 10”w x 17.5”d
Bubble trap is UOU with 3/4” spacing between
Return - 8”w x 17.5”d

Is there any flaws to how this is designed or any better ideas to set it up? Any help is definitely appreciated. Thanks in advance...

Also if you plan on putting bio bricks, cermedia balls, marine pure type stuff, put it in an upflow baffle chamber.

Like make a 1 gallon chamber in that last baffle section. But put some eggcrate at the bottom of the upflow side.

That way water moves up through the media, collects less detritus

 

[BigDawg21180]

I like the socks and the skimmer to be towards the front of the sump. For easy removal and cleaning.

I prefer a smaller sized return chamber.

I prefer putting the ATO reservoir at one end.

I have an old 5g aquarium that will be sitting right next to the sump that I am gonna use for the ATO. So for the filter sock area best to let the inlet area flow over top into sock and flow under into skimmer area? Or would there be a difference if it flows to the skimmer on side and refugium on other end?

 

[HCl+NaHO=]

I have an old 5g aquarium that will be sitting right next to the sump that I am gonna use for the ATO. So for the filter sock area best to let the inlet area flow over top into sock and flow under into skimmer area? Or would there be a difference if it flows to the skimmer on side and refugium on other end?

No

It’s a pain removing the tube every time you need to change the sock

Have a return area, that flows up over and into the socks.

So you can just pull them out easily

Ill draw a sketch

 

[HCl+NaHO=]

No

It’s a pain removing the tube every time you need to change the sock

Have a return area, that flows up over and into the socks.

So you can just pull them out easily

Ill draw a sketch

Rough sketch

 

[BigDawg21180]

Yea that’s what I had in mind. My 2 inlets are gonna be in the top right corner in the pic where the duct tape is. Then they will flow over into the socks area under to the skimmer area. I guess my last question would be can I have the sock area flow under to the refugium as well and having the skimmer flow over into the refugium or should it flow under to it as well?

 

[lapin]

I guess my last question would be can I have the sock area flow under to the refugium as well and having the skimmer flow over into the refugium or should it flow under to it as well?

The skimmer area water level needs to stay at a constant height.
Here is a sump similar to your design
https://www.marinedepot.com/trigger-systems-sapphire-sump-34-inch

 

[BigDawg21180]

The skimmer area water level needs to stay at a constant height.
Here is a sump similar to your design
https://www.marinedepot.com/trigger-systems-sapphire-sump-34-inch

Ah that’s exactly what I needed. Thank u!

 

[HCl+NaHO=]

Ah that’s exactly what I needed. Thank u!

To get silicone in those hard to reach baffle areas

Take some RODI 1/4” tubing and CA glue it to the end of your silicone glue tube.

Then use some 3/8” acrylic rod to form your glue filet.

 

[HCl+NaHO=]

To get silicone in those hard to reach baffle areas

Take some RODI 1/4” tubing and CA glue it to the end of your silicone glue tube.

Then use some 3/8” acrylic rod to form your glue filet.

I also use blue painter tape to mask off where the silicone slop is going to end up

Pull it off before it dries