DIY Sump

[lemonpeel]

And the version 2.0 modular version. This is like @heathd.hd 's version so I can remove the return and refugium for easier cleaning and handling.

 

[heathd.hd]

Also look into this! My girl makes my filter socks for me. I made the holders square cut outs so it works easier.

 

[heathd.hd]

U can still put the bulkheads on one side and add a bubble trap in the return area.

 

[lemonpeel]

I'm not sure I would need a bubble trap with this set up though. I'll have to see how it works once I have it up and running.

 

[heathd.hd]

Yah looks nice!

 

[Thunderfan]

Have a question about these sump designs. I am new and learning so forgive my ignorance.
I am building a sump out of a 30 gallon glass tank. I see many designs that have the drain/skimmer then fu get then return. This make sense to me because water goes through fuge to get to return. I see on these designs and have seen on others where the return and fuge are swapped. Help me understand how you get the benefit of the fuge if the water doesn't go through it before it gets to the return. What am I missing?

 

[heathd.hd]

The benefits with this design is water enters the fuge and skimmer sections. So you can control the amount of flow your getting in your fuge area. If your running a high flow sump you don't necessarily want 1500 gph going into your fuge area.

 

[Thunderfan]

So, the drain comes in, goes through socks, through skimmer area, into return area then it's returned to display. So how does the fuge get fed? In the illustration there looks to be a path between return and fuge which I assume is to spill water fromfuge to return. I was under the understanding that the fuge acts as a filter. How does it filter of the return water is coming from skimmer area?

I promise the light bulb will eventually come on and I will get it. Bear with me.

 

[heathd.hd]

Hahhaha. The return gets a Y in it one side with the majority of flow goes to skimmer. The other with regulated flow goes to refugium. I have a ball valve on my refugium side that controls flow amount.

 

[lemonpeel]

If you like, I can show plumbing on the sump. Maybe even modify it as well.

 

[Thunderfan]

That would be great.

 

[lemonpeel]

Let me hop on illustrator and I'll see what I can do for you.

 

[lemonpeel]

The tank I'll be getting has a center back overflow with 3 1" drains and 2 3/4" returns. Unfortunately, I don't know how far apart they will be inside the tank, no one has given me those measurements yet. I haven't figured out if I want to use internal or external pumps yet for my return.

I have color coded the diagram and the key is in the top right. the water flows into the sump through the 1" drains. then goes through and up the 3/4" return pipes. I'll put ball valves and unions on almost everything so I can get to it for easy maintenance as well as control flow in and out of the tank.

Hopefully the diagram makes sense. I whipped it up and really didn't pay much attention to the design. I've named this plumbing diagram version 1.0 and I plan on modifying and expanding on it as I go.

In other news. We signed papers and plan to close on our new house on the 18th!

 

[Wiz]

this might sound stupid but why do you have to refugium us on the opposite side of the return?

 

[Wiz]

No us* sry ^

 

[lemonpeel]

this might sound stupid but why do you have to refugium us on the opposite side of the return?

The way I see it, if I were to have a drain of the tank go directly into the refugium, not only would I need to run filter socks in 2 places, but I would also have to deal with detritus that could build up in there with minimum flow. I mostly want the refugium for pod and algae culture so i can raise some of the harder to keep fish i.e. Mandrin or Moorish Idol.

 

[gettaReef]

I've seen several setups where the drain or return is split and goes to the skimmer section and the other to fuge. I like this idea bc,like stated before, you can control the flow through the fuge/skimmer sections separately and you don't have to worry about those pods/life from fuge being skimmed. Also I definitely prefer splitting the return compared to the drain as it is much cleaner water. Your on the right track and the sump design looks great!

 

[Wiz]

I see. I use it for the same reasons. But also as a live filter. Mine looks like this.
Drain and sock,skimmer-heater,phosphate sponge covered slotted baffle-fuge- bubble catch,carbon sock- return.
I grow sawblade, chaeto, and grape caulerpa. Havest weekly. Fantastic pod population.especially in the phosphate pad. They love breeding in it. the overall flow of the sump is fairly fast. So the fuge has a decent current. Care for the system is pretty simple. Monthly vacuum and glass scrape where possable.

 

[Wiz]

Here it is. 2 weeks of harvest. Half a bag of chaeto, blade, and caulerpa. Which is some great nitrate removal. And my simple set up. Wish the fuge were bigger but perfect for me otherwise. When I harvest the fuge is packed and light cannot hit rocks. Even during the day I have 7+ amphipods just on the edge of the phosphate pad. Including a breeding pair. Don't know if you can make out flow from pic. Pretty fast though.

 

[chemicaledge]

What are you using to cut the acrylic...edges and circles...? And what kind of bulkhead are you using. I'm going to have to also build mine in sections because my stand has a single door.

Thanks