My first diy sump. Help!

[glb]

No need for a three part bubble trap ie. over under over or vise versa imo. Just having an under/over like the ones in the pic of my sump will do the trick. You can see the second weirs are about an inch off the bottom and go almost to the top.

And yes I always use socks. Once you start using em and you see how much stuff they pull out of the water you won't believe you ever went without em.

Thanks! Is your overflow pipe slightly above the opening of the sock? Also, does the gph of my system make a difference in how many microns the sock should be? In other words, would a thicker sock overflow if the water is coming in too fast? Thanks for your help!

 

[glb]

No need for a three part bubble trap ie. over under over or vise versa imo. Just having an under/over like the ones in the pic of my sump will do the trick. You can see the second weirs are about an inch off the bottom and go almost to the top.

And yes I always use socks. Once you start using em and you see how much stuff they pull out of the water you won't believe you ever went without em.

Do you have the over/under design on both sides? I can't see the bottom of the first side because the can is in the way.

 

[KingTriton]

So many options here. If it were me I would skip the 20 long and go with a 15 high (20''x 10 ''x 18'') or 20 high. Petco is currently having their 1$ per gallon sale FYI. This well give you some play room in length for an ATO.

Secondly you really don't need a middle chamber for your reactors. I have my carbon in-between a baffle and my GFO in my return section with the Phosban reactor mounted inside the sump. I perfer carbon in a bag without a reactor as the removal is more consistent and not as dramatic.

This will leave you with your drains and skimmer in the first section - baffle - and return section sharing the GFO reactor. If you have filter socks than you will appreciate this spacious chamber.

I like having an over under baffle. This way I can add bio-media, carbon, or a sponge filter in-between it if I want. Its not really used as a bubble trap as you won't have any issues with bubbles given the distance from the skimmer to the return.

Third use glass not acrylic for your baffles. Acrylic does not bond well to glass. Also acrylic expands quite a bit. Example fit the baffle inside and then bring it outdoor. 10 minutes later the baffle will no longer fit in place inside the sump. Also as surprised as I was glass is just as cheap and easy to find. Make sure you get them to round the bottom corners!

The overflow will drain about 1'' of your displays water into your sump. So thats about 2.5 gallons I believe. So I would probably allow 4 gallons unoccupied in the sump.

Worst thing you can do is limit yourself in the return sections height. I like to keep my return sections baffle height either matching the skimmer sections or 1/2'' less.

I would keep the baffles at 9.5-10'' high. Skimmers like Aquamaxx which I swear by require 9.5''-10'' in height. You wouldn't want to limit yourself.

For the glass baffles. I like cutting some cardboard in order to see how it fits to get my lengths. A measuring tape just doesn't really work. Allow 1/8'' in reduction to the baffle lengths as this will help with greater silicone contact between the baffle and sump. I will go into greater detail on how to silicone the baffles to glass if you need me to. After my 3rd sump build is when I really started to understand a few tricks of the trade.

Ok im exhausted now! lol

 

[KingTriton]

BTW Im designing a 40 breeder and sump as well. Im buying the tank tomorrow :D

 

[n2585722]

As you can see in the photo of mine it is over under over. The second weir is about an inch below the first one. I guess it is a matter of preference wich one you use. It should be after the skimmer as this is where most of the most micro bubbles are generated. The reason I was using the one I did is I was following http://melevsreef.com/articles/constructing-acrylic-sump how to. I kind of copied his f type sump. There are great instructions on his site for building sumps. He has a lot of good how to's on his site.
As for filter socks at this point I do not use them. I will have to build a holder for them if I were to use one. I did get one so I have one to build the holder if I ever want to try one out. I don't think I would use it under both sump returns if I did.

 

[JMLewis]

Do you have the over/under design on both sides? I can't see the bottom of the first side because the can is in the way.

Here's a better pic of mine. KingTriton is correct you don't have to have a center chamber, I'm using one in mine to keep macro algae. But if you don't plan on keeping macros then just set up weirs for the return chamber and save yourself some room.

 

[KingTriton]

You actually don't need to build a holder. I use my tanks rim as a holder on all my tanks. Basically the filter socks lip sits on the inner rims lip. This requires your plumbing to be on the edges corner. Since the rim is only supporting a corner if the sock were to overfill it would simply dump the water out of the side that is unsupported. Water would not go outside of the tank. This is how I have mine setup.

 

[glb]

So many options here. If it were me I would skip the 20 long and go with a 15 high (20''x 10 ''x 18'') or 20 high. Petco is currently having their 1$ per gallon sale FYI. This well give you some play room in length for an ATO.

Secondly you really don't need a middle chamber for your reactors. I have my carbon in-between a baffle and my GFO in my return section with the Phosban reactor mounted inside the sump. I perfer carbon in a bag without a reactor as the removal is more consistent and not as dramatic.

This will leave you with your drains and skimmer in the first section - baffle - and return section sharing the GFO reactor. If you have filter socks than you will appreciate this spacious chamber.

I like having an over under baffle. This way I can add bio-media, carbon, or a sponge filter in-between it if I want. Its not really used as a bubble trap as you won't have any issues with bubbles given the distance from the skimmer to the return.

Third use glass not acrylic for your baffles. Acrylic does not bond well to glass. Also acrylic expands quite a bit. Example fit the baffle inside and then bring it outdoor. 10 minutes later the baffle will no longer fit in place inside the sump. Also as surprised as I was glass is just as cheap and easy to find. Make sure you get them to round the bottom corners!

The overflow will drain about 1'' of your displays water into your sump. So thats about 2.5 gallons I believe. So I would probably allow 4 gallons unoccupied in the sump.

Worst thing you can do is limit yourself in the return sections height. I like to keep my return sections baffle height either matching the skimmer sections or 1/2'' less.

I would keep the baffles at 9.5-10'' high. Skimmers like Aquamaxx which I swear by require 9.5''-10'' in height. You wouldn't want to limit yourself.

For the glass baffles. I like cutting some cardboard in order to see how it fits to get my lengths. A measuring tape just doesn't really work. Allow 1/8'' in reduction to the baffle lengths as this will help with greater silicone contact between the baffle and sump. I will go into greater detail on how to silicone the baffles to glass if you need me to. After my 3rd sump build is when I really started to understand a few tricks of the trade.

Ok im exhausted now! lol

Thanks for such a detailed post! I have a 20g high but I wouldn't be able to get the skimmer out to clean. It would give me more room underneath the stand but I don't think it would be workable. I'll look at the numbers again, because it's a good idea.

Since I have a 6-7" water height skimmer, I think I'll go with 8" for the first baffle, then 7" inches on the return. That gives me a lot of space for overflow.

If I think I might want a refugium down the line, it would be better to make a center section now from what I've heard. I'm not really sure I need one though.

 

[glb]

So how much water needs to be in the return pump chamber in relation to the height of the return pump?

 

[KingTriton]

I would keep it in line with or 1/2'' underneath the skimmers water line so about 8''. I like keeping my water level high in case my ATO fails which would allow me to catch it in time and to prevent bubbles from splashing coming from the previous chamber.

If you only have enough room for 12'' height and want to keep the water level around 8'' then I would look at a 10 gallon for a sump or a regular 15 gallon which are 12'' in height. This is unless you are planning on keeping the ATO outside of the stand. A 10 gallon sump with 8'' baffles will allow you 3.3 gallons of unoccupied space which you will only need about 2.5 gallons in capacity.

 

[glb]

I would keep it in line with or 1/2'' underneath the skimmers water line so about 8''. I like keeping my water level high in case my ATO fails which would allow me to catch it in time and to prevent bubbles from splashing coming from the previous chamber.

If you only have enough room for 12'' height and want to keep the water level around 8'' then I would look at a 10 gallon for a sump or a regular 15 gallon which are 12'' in height. This is unless you are planning on keeping the ATO outside of the stand. A 10 gallon sump with 8'' baffles will allow you 3.3 gallons of unoccupied space which you will only need about 2.5 gallons in capacity.

I see what you're saying. I am going to build a small add on cabinet to each side of the stand, one side for electronics and the other for the ato.

 

[glb]

Ok one more question. Lol. As far as water levels, the first chamber would be set to the height the skimmer needs plus little. In my case 8". So the water goes over an 8" divider and under a divider 1" from the bottom. Then it goes under a 7" divider then under a divider 1" from the bottom. The return pump water will depend on the ato sensor, but only up to 7" because of the prior divider? Or does it not matter? I think I've got it but I want to make sure I'm thinking about it the right way.

 

[Ronnell]

BTW Im designing a 40 breeder and sump as well. Im buying the tank tomorrow :D

How is it going with your sump?

 

[Ronnell]

This is how mine is setup. 20 gallon long

 

[KingTriton]

How is it going with your sump?

Well my stands the real priority at the moment but the glass baffles should be ready today. Glad I kept the return chamber high... I'm using the Fluval sp2 and just realized how huge this sucker really is lol. However for $57 I'm not one to complain :)
http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Sea-Sump-Pump-Aquarium/dp/B009XSGHQ6

 

[louienardi]

My design and numbers

 

[Ronnell]

Well my stands the real priority at the moment but the glass baffles should be ready today. Glad I kept the return chamber high... I'm using the Fluval sp2 and just realized how huge this sucker really is lol. However for $57 I'm not one to complain :)
http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Sea-Sump-Pump-Aquarium/dp/B009XSGHQ6

That is a nice size pump I may change the one that I am looking at.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008F...etailBullets_secondary_view_div_1452524009467

 

[Ronnell]

Do you have the over/under design on both sides? I can't see the bottom of the first side because the can is in the way.

The yellow is flow

 

[louienardi]

The yellow is flow

This is great. Quick question. How are you managing the skimmer compartment so it remains constant during feeding and or water changes.... Keeping the water level consistent

Here's a better pic of mine. KingTriton is correct you don't have to have a center chamber, I'm using one in mine to keep macro algae. But if you don't plan on keeping macros then just set up weirs for the return chamber and save yourself some room.

 

[Ronnell]

This is great. Quick question. How are you managing the skimmer compartment so it remains constant during feeding and or water changes.... Keeping the water level consistent

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002...n+seaclone&dpPl=1&dpID=51bLxo710tL&ref=plSrch

Do not use the (J) and mount to the skimmer. What i am debating on is to do the skimmer return water to the filter socks or back to the drain chamber. (To get better cleaning)[my thinking]