Sump Design Diagram
- Thread starter soulFish
- Start date
There are some “fundamental differences” between fresh & salt water sumps… but there are plenty of details that translate over as well… I’ve just started to learn about the salt water side of filtration, so take my critique with a grain of salt 
What size is the overall sump you are using? What are the dimensions?
1200 gph sounds really high compared to the salt sumps/refugiums I’m familiar with… If you have already selected your pump, what is the anticipated flow rate at the head pressure you’ll be using?
So the water passes through a sponge (prefilter)… then the coral – live rock (bio)…then in the chamber with the protein skimmer (I think that’s what this is
)(further bio, doesn’t work in freshwater)… past a bubble trap (is this a real fine sponge like polishing media)… to the pump and back to the tank… But what makes water move into the refugium? It seems like it’s a dead chamber on the end…
That all makes perfect sense to me, except for the “dead chamber” as a refugium… If it is as I’m seeing it there are a couple simple solutions… the easiest I can think of is put a T on the pipe/hose just above the pump and run one side into the refugium. This way you have total control over how much current goes into the refugium (I hear you want slow flow rates there)… this would also be a nice place to add a UV light if you ever decide to do so…
Am I on the right track understanding your approach?
What size is the overall sump you are using? What are the dimensions?
1200 gph sounds really high compared to the salt sumps/refugiums I’m familiar with… If you have already selected your pump, what is the anticipated flow rate at the head pressure you’ll be using?
So the water passes through a sponge (prefilter)… then the coral – live rock (bio)…then in the chamber with the protein skimmer (I think that’s what this is
)(further bio, doesn’t work in freshwater)… past a bubble trap (is this a real fine sponge like polishing media)… to the pump and back to the tank… But what makes water move into the refugium? It seems like it’s a dead chamber on the end…That all makes perfect sense to me, except for the “dead chamber” as a refugium… If it is as I’m seeing it there are a couple simple solutions… the easiest I can think of is put a T on the pipe/hose just above the pump and run one side into the refugium. This way you have total control over how much current goes into the refugium (I hear you want slow flow rates there)… this would also be a nice place to add a UV light if you ever decide to do so…
Am I on the right track understanding your approach?
Use overflows to prevent syphoning during power outages.
Put heater in skimmer section.
And what nc_nutcase said.
Now moving to S/W section for further help.
Dr Joe
.
Put heater in skimmer section.
And what nc_nutcase said.
Now moving to S/W section for further help.
Dr Joe
.
The sump return pump needs to match the overflows you use. If you use an overflow box, these are rated in GPH, so, you return needs to be just a touch under that ammount. If your using bulkheads, a standard 1inch bulkhead is rated at 600gph..
You need to "T" off the sump inlet and direct flow to the refugium, else its not doing anything without flow...
You need to "T" off the sump inlet and direct flow to the refugium, else its not doing anything without flow...
soulFish;2265397; said:Made a few more modifications.
Yup the shimmer has a pump with it. Just didn't draw that out. I'll need to put it on something so it doesnt vibrate.
200% better....a nice sump config there....