Sump/Refugium

[Keith92]

I picked up a new sump on Craigslist. 48x13x12
I'm looking for ideas on the best layout.  It is seperated into two sides. I would like to have an area with slow flow for chaeto and pods. I have an external pump.

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[delta1190]

that is a cool shut off float in the middle novel idea

[Gary]

Keith,
I like the design. The separate flow areas are a great idea! What kind/size of sand are you going to use? Have you ever tried live sand or mud? What are you going to use for lighting the refugium?
Thanks,
Gary

[lazylivin]

Before i comment do you have another tank for top off, heaters, dosing, probes, reactor in/out etc or are you wanting that to hold all?

[Keith92]

Keith,
I like the design. The separate flow areas are a great idea! What kind/size of sand are you going to use? Have you ever tried live sand or mud? What are you going to use for lighting the refugium?
Thanks,
Gary

Very fine sand and plan on using a 165w led black box for chaeto

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[Keith92]

Before i comment do you have another tank for top off, heaters, dosing, probes, reactor in/out etc or are you wanting that to hold all?

I have two options I could use. I have a 20 gallon tank that I could use or a Aqeon proflex 3 sump that could be used.  It had s 2 filter socks and 3 chambers.  It is what I an currently using.  It is drilled for external pump. My original thoughts were to hane the water run through the proflex first to utilize the filter socks as well as are for heaters.  I have a seperate container that I will be using for auto top off.  I can use it with gravity and float switch or  I can continue using my Tunze ato

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[muttley000]

You will have to have your ATO be very tightly controlled to keep your skimmer in with the return pump like you have shownI have never seen flow directed like that from a siphon overflow, I am struggling with how you will get it directed down that slow flow pipe.  I personally would pump it over there to completely control the amount of flow, but if you can make it work for free, even better!  Hoping to learn something here.  It is a very nice sump!

[Keith92]

You will have to have your ATO be very tightly controlled to keep your skimmer in with the return pump like you have shownI have never seen flow directed like that from a siphon overflow, I am struggling with how you will get it directed down that slow flow pipe.  I personally would pump it over there to completely control the amount of flow, but if you can make it work for free, even better!  Hoping to learn something here.  It is a very nice sump!

I hadn't thought of the water height issue for the skimmer . This is the proflex sump that I am currently using.  I could have the water come through this first and then the long sump or  visa versa.  Thank you

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[Keith92]

Thanks for the suggestions about the skimmer. I have changed the layout. It has the low flow for the refugium coming off of the return pump through a gate valve so I can control the flow and then it gravity feeds back to the sump. This will keep pods from going into the socks or through the skimmer. Again, please feel free to give suggestions.

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[lazylivin]

It looks like a good design to me. The only change I would consider is feeding first sump from display and gravity feed to second one. No need to feed it from ext pump (loop). Lastly is remove rock from the first chamber. It will catch your dosing chemicals and precipitate. Having nothing in chamber with good flow from display should mix it well. (Can add Koralia if you find you need it)

[Keith92]

If I am understanding correctly,  I should have all of the flow from the display go through the longer  refugium first and then gravity to where the socks are and then to the pump? Will that be to much flow for the refugium?

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[lazylivin]

I like it. One other option for you is to dose in last chamber where heaters are in pic. You could put koralia in there as well. Then you can have rock back in that first chamber. Dosing in last chamber is good because probes are up stream. It alows the salts to mix well before getting the reading on probe. Same for temp probe by measuring water temp as it returns.

[Gary]

Heaters in the final pump chamber have a possibility of running dry. I would be apprehensive putting them there.

[lazylivin]

Good point on the heaters 

[thepipbull]

Looks good but I would only do 1 chamber of chaeto and the other with different types of macro algae

[Keith92]

Great idea Chris

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[thepipbull]

Yeah Its easy to neglect the Sump but if you have some nice macro algae growing out it gives you a reason to take better care