EBay sump kit question

[Miller Aquatic]

So I got this 135 gallon display tank I’m setting up and was gonna setup a sump with my 60 gallon breeder tank I have laying around. I was wondering which depth I should choose? Also it has 3 4” filter socks but I’m only gonna have 1 1.5 inch drain so I didn’t know if that would be a problem?

 

[Crabs McJones]

The depth is going to be how high the baffles are, so it's asking how deep you want your water to be. If you're doing a refugium I'd do the 10" or 12" the one drain will empty into the 3 filter socks

 

[Miller Aquatic]

The depth is going to be how high the baffles are, so it's asking how deep you want your water to be. If you're doing a refugium I'd do the 10" or 12" the one drain will empty into the 3 filter socks

Yeah I’m going to do a refugium. I didn’t know if I needed 3 different pipes to use three different socks

 

[Formulator]

Taller=higher running water level and less room for overflow when the pump shuts off, but you also get more system water volume which makes stability easier. Personally I’d go for the short ones or the middle.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Yeah I’m going to do a refugium. I didn’t know if I needed 3 different pipes to use three different socks

Nope, one pipe will dump water into a chamber that will overflow to the top of the filter socks, down through the filter socks and then into your refugium :)

 

[Miller Aquatic]

Nope, one pipe will dump water into a chamber that will overflow to the top of the filter socks, down through the filter socks and then into your refugium :)

do you think drain back or whatever would be an issue at 7.5-12 inches when the tank is 16” tall

 

[Crabs McJones]

do you think drain back or whatever would be an issue at 7.5-12 inches when the tank is 16” tall

If they use an antidrainback valve, and depended on how big their overflow is, Only way to know for sure is to test it

 

[Formulator]

If they use an antidrainback valve, and depended on how big their overflow is, Only way to know for sure is to test it

I never trust a check valve to protect my home. I think its best practice to ensure the sump can hold the entire volume of water that could drain back in a worst case scenario. You can get a rough estimate using the geometry of the tank and distance from the top of the drain pipe or returns to the full running water level of the display tank. Then use the geometry of the sump to tell you how many inches of water you need to account for.

 

[Miller Aquatic]

I never trust a check valve to protect my home. I think its best practice to ensure the sump can hold the entire volume of water that could drain back in a worst case scenario. You can get a rough estimate using the geometry of the tank and distance from the top of the drain pipe or returns to the full running water level of the display tank. Then use the geometry of the sump to tell you how many inches of water you need to account for.

would I technically be ok with my return nozzle at the very top of my water?

 

[Miller Aquatic]

I would have about 15 gallons of space in my sump with the 12 inch baffle

 

[sixty_reefer]

Water dept in sump usually is more in relation to the optimum performance of the protein skimmer, if you choose one I’d start by reading the recommended water dept to aid your decision

 

[Miller Aquatic]

Water dept in sump usually is more in relation to the optimum performance of the protein skimmer, if you choose one I’d start by reading the recommended whaler dept to aid your decision

I have an octo 202s classic skimmer I believe it is 10” or so. I could just put a egg crate stand to counter this?

 

[Miller Aquatic]

Is the skimmer baffle the largest one normally?

 

[sixty_reefer]

Is the skimmer baffle the largest one normally?

You can choose really, some say skimmer before refugium some say after, the important aspect is that you only have one baffle regulating the hight of the water in the sump you posted, meaning that the water will all be at the same level until it reaches the return pump

Edit: looking at the design of the sump it seems that the refugium is just before the section for the return pump