New Sump Build - Original Plan

[Dom]

So... I purchased a 40 gal long for the purpose of building a sump which include a refugium. I like the idea of having everything included in the sump, as it will reduce clutter under the display.

Below is the first drawing of the plan. I did this using Visio; I don't understand why the graph lines indicating the outside edges of the sump are missing.

There is one thing I would like clarification on: The glass sides for the refugium; I notice some are clear glass and in other designs, the glass is black. I would think black is better as it will help keep light contained in the refugium. If it were clear, light would spread to other chambers and cause algae growth in other areas.

I welcome feedback as I am sure revisions are necessary.

Thanks

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So... I purchased a 40 gal long for the purpose of building a sump which include a refugium. I like the idea of having everything included in the sump, as it will reduce clutter under the display.

Below is the first drawing of the plan. I did this using Visio; I don't understand why the graph lines indicating the outside edges of the sump are missing.

There is one thing I would like clarification on: The glass sides for the refugium; I notice some are clear glass and in other designs, the glass is black. I would think black is better as it will help keep light contained in the refugium. If it were clear, light would spread to other chambers and cause algae growth in other areas.

I welcome feedback as I am sure revisions are necessary.

Thanks

looks right. Is there a baffle in the first chamber(LR/sock)?

 

[Dom]

looks right. Is there a baffle in the first chamber(LR/sock)?

The light blue area labeled "filter media" is where I put media like polishing felt and other media of varying densities to particles. It will rest on a piece of plastic grating as will all the live rock.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The light blue area labeled "filter media" is where I put media like polishing felt and other media of varying densities to particles. It will rest on a piece of plastic grating as will all the live rock.

Does it stay submerged was what I was missing.
It seemed like it was heard toward a wet dry set up without it.

 

[Dom]

Does it stay submerged was what I was missing.
It seemed like it was heard toward a wet dry set up without it.

No; it is not submerged. Water comes from the display tank via PVC. It then travels through the filter media and drips on to the live rock. Passing through the live rock, water passes under the partition between the LR and the skimmer.

 

[Dom]

And yes; it is wet/dry in it's design. I've substituted LR for bio balls.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

And yes; it is wet/dry in it's design. I've substituted LR for bio balls.

THats would be my concern. I don't know(forgot??) the technical/biological reason for abandoning wet dry. Myself personally would leave the first chamber submerged.

Was there a specific goal or experiment in going wet/dry?

 

[Dom]

THats would be my concern. I don't know(forgot??) the technical/biological reason for abandoning wet dry. Myself personally would leave the first chamber submerged.

Was there a specific goal or experiment in going wet/dry?

None. Wet/Dry is the type of filtration I've always used, and I'd say now, in my existing sump, about 2/3 of the live rock is submerged.

I guess that I could extend the height of the baffle on the right side of the refugium, which would raise the level in the skimmer partition and the live rock partition.

The skimmer's optimal water level is a submersion of 8 inches, so I would have to build a base for the skimmer and raise it up to keep it at its optimal level while fully submerging the live rock.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

None. Wet/Dry is the type of filtration I've always used, and I'd say now, in my existing sump, about 2/3 of the live rock is submerged.

I guess that I could extend the height of the baffle on the right side of the refugium, which would raise the level in the skimmer partition and the live rock partition.

The skimmer's optimal water level is a submersion of 8 inches, so I would have to build a base for the skimmer and raise it up to keep it at its optimal level while fully submerging the live rock.

hmm. cool. Always good food for thought.