sump design

[oakes]

I'm going to be starting a 75gallon SW tank within the next month or two but want to go ahead and get my sump built. I plan on having a predator type tank with an eel or two and maybe a fish or two, not 100% sure on stocking yet. But this is what I have come up with so far for a sump, it will be made out of a 55gallon tank, not sure on the size of the sections yet as I have yet to find a skimmer. Since I have the 55gallon at my house figured I would get this knocked out of the way to give me more motivation to pick up my 75gallon from my brothers house!

** not drawn to scale **

1. Filter socks where water drains from tank
2. Skimmer
3. bio media, scrubbies if they can be used for SW
4. Return pump back to tank, Quietone 3000

Any and all comments and suggestions are needed! Still not sure on the height of the baffles either.

Are refugiums usually used on reef tanks? Couldn't find much info on what type of tank these are used mostly on.

Just a very basic design.

 

[TheCanuck]

I would recommend increasing the bio area, and putting the skimmer in the back. Even though you gain other benefits from having the skimmer before the bio, your losing so much bio area.

Can you see my picture?

 

[Venom SS]

You could also use live rock rubble in the bio area rather than scrubbies or bio balls. Might be a better option if you can manage it?

 

[mos90]

i would definately make it into a refuge. put the skimmer either first or last. im having a small refuge made for me. i only have 19"x15x14 to work with, but its only for a 30gal tank. the design is kinda nice. lifereef is making is for me. the working water height is 10" in the intake and fuge section and 8" in the return area. this is a link to the same system but mine is just smaller. it has a separate section in the intake to help eliminate bubbles and for media or equipment.

lifereef.com

 

[oakes]

I would recommend increasing the bio area, and putting the skimmer in the back. Even though you gain other benefits from having the skimmer before the bio, your losing so much bio area.

Can you see my picture?

The bio area will be bigger. I should try and draw my design to some scale as I know the skimmer area would not be as big as it appears to be in the image, while the bio area will be larger as well. But your design would save me on build time and cost of glass, which I like. I was just trying to get the skimmer first since that's how you first recommended it but if it's not a huge deal I can always move it, haha.

 

[oakes]

You could also use live rock rubble in the bio area rather than scrubbies or bio balls. Might be a better option if you can manage it?

Is rubble rock that much better? As I already have tons and tons of scrubbies, but I will look further into that!

 

[oakes]

i would definately make it into a refuge. put the skimmer either first or last. im having a small refuge made for me. i only have 19"x15x14 to work with, but its only for a 30gal tank. the design is kinda nice. lifereef is making is for me. the working water height is 10" in the intake and fuge section and 8" in the return area. this is a link to the same system but mine is just smaller. it has a separate section in the intake to help eliminate bubbles and for media or equipment.

lifereef.com

Can you give any more info on why a refuge would be better than a sump, I've had a hard time finding any other than people saying they're good for reef tanks which I don't plan on having. But thanks for the info, I'll look more into, maybe incorporate one in my sump.

 

[oakes]

I would recommend increasing the bio area, and putting the skimmer in the back. Even though you gain other benefits from having the skimmer before the bio, your losing so much bio area.

Can you see my picture?

Seems like I'll use a design like this because I can't figure out how the water level would be right if I try and get the skimmer before bio area. But I figure the water will enter the sump through 2 filter socks in a 6" area then go tot he bio area which will be about 23.5" x 17.5" but not sure how tall yet, then from here it will go to the return section which will be around 15". All of this is going in a 75gallon. Just need to figure out how tall to make all the walls in the sump, I'll try and get a sketch drawn of what I want to use and see what people think.

 

[TheCanuck]

Scrubbies or bio balls are not good bio material when underwater, they are best in wet/dry applications. Refuges are great cause they eat nitrates and recycle your water, thus less water changes. Rubble rock or ceramic media would be best for bio.

Sump or Refuge you can't really go wrong.


Sump=bigger bio load
Refuge=less bio load, but less water changes


I have both.

 

[oakes]

Here's a quick draw up, I'm assuming I could just add rubble rock in the center chamber for bio media or create a refuge in it or both? I assume a refuge would be good for either pred tank or reef system? I'm sure once I understand all the saltwater stuff it won't hurt my head so much! haha