Building a sump help

[AussieGaz]

Hi guys and girls,

I am currently waiting on my 4x4x2 to arrive and in the mean time am about to build my sump for it,
measurements for the sump are 5ft x 18 x 20 deep. I will probably only be putting 3 sections in it, section 1 for drains and skimmer. section two will be refugium and heaters, section 3 will be 3 return pumps. Each section will be seperated by 3 baffles. But having never built one before not sure on the lay out of the three baffles, if that makes any sense.

Any one have any good designs they have used for sump? Pictures would go a long way.
Thank you in advance
Gaz

 

[Jimbo662]

Your sump will be a foot longer than your tank?

 

[AussieGaz]

Yup sure will be, Im lucky enough to be able to have the sump in a different room in the house. Its not going under the tank

 

[Jimbo662]

That's great...the more water volume the better. I'd do 4 sections and put the skimmer in a separate section. The skimmer needs to be in a section where the water level stays pretty steady.

 

[AussieGaz]

The way I have it, the first level where the drains come in to, should never change in height even if the returns are turned off for a water change, the only part that would change when I do this is the return pump area will fill up. Thats the plan any ways

 

[Jimbo662]

Most skimmers require 7"-8" of water. That means you'll need a stand to sit it on so it's at the right level or if sitting it on the bottom the rest of your sump will need to be less than 7".

 

[AussieGaz]

Yup already got a stand half built out of black egg crate :) Just trying to work out in what order people put the baffles, whether the water flows "under over under" in to the refugium or "over under over" anyone have the best ideas for this? Does one work better than the other going in to a refugium?

 

[Jimbo662]

Ah...i've never done a refuguim so can't help there.

 

[9r39]

I have it set up over into skimmer section over into refugium then over under over to return pump to eliminate micro bubbles no need to make more complicated water is going to be running in one direction in the sump

 

[Reefer's Paradise]

I also had over under over into fuge and worked perfectly for me. Unfortunately no photos as I sold that tank and sump :/ my other sump went over from drain to fuge and over under to returns and that fuge kicked butt and had perfect water flow throughout. I made custom baffles in that one. My dad has it now and I can snap some photos of that sump tomorrow when I go over there. Always gotta recommend ending with over when coming into a fuge. Also having it as over under gives you the space to have some filter pad to eliminate any macro going into the tank and a last line of filtration before returns IMO

 

[AussieGaz]

Ok cheers for the thoughts guys, appreciate it.

 

[Hethari]

Please anyone how can I post to timeline

 

[Reefer's Paradise]

Ok cheers for the thoughts guys, appreciate it.

Anytime. You're welcome and hope it helps

 

[Hethari]

I don't know how

 

[Hethari]

Didn't find where to write the post

 

[ATB USA]

You only need the 3 baffles before the return pumps to take out bubbles. The rest you just need one baffle to divide the sections.

For the 3 baffles together:
The 2 outside ones should go all the way to the bottom.
The center one needs to be higher then the outside two and 1" off the bottom
1/2" between the baffles is good.

 

[AussieGaz]

Thanks again guys appreciate it

 

[ATB USA]

Anytime. The only way to make it in this hobby is to go slow and ask questions. It sucks doing things twice.
Also, if you use glass, get it polished so you do not slice your wrist open.

 

[AussieGaz]

So I may have changed my mind a little bit, and spent about 30 minutes on ms paint drawing this, its obviously not to scale lol so please ignore that a 20cm section is the same size as the 50cm section haha the filter media will now be something like marine pure blocks instead of a refugium,
.