Thinking about switching to salt...

Evaporation always occurs at the lowest point of a system (return pump area). If the return is baffled off into a small area the evaporation rate may lead to the pump running dry. A reliable ATO and decent sized FW resovoir can combat this. Main issue would be leaving the tank for extended periods. My tank evaporates about a gallon per day in the winter time and that looks to be about what the volume of that cube.

If you extend the return to the water inlet area you would need a "T" off of the reurn line to feed the LR/fuge/skimmer area otherwise that area would not get any water.
 
Here is more of what im thinking. the water in and return pump section will be separated, by the bubble trap. the heights of the baffles are general right now, until i figure out how high i can make them.
Front view
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left side wiew
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Yes that will work if I am seeing that correctly. Essentially one baffle (last pane of bubble trap). Water level will remain stable in drain area and fluctuate in the larger area with the return pump. Only concern is if you include a skimmer you will want an ATO so the water level doesn't fluctuate. Or you could make the drain section larger and put the skimmer there. Another option is to split the sump in 3 sections and put your skimmer in the middle.
 
Yes ato would definitely be good. the diagram seems like you have a lot of surface area so it may evaporate faster than a normal tank.
 
greech said:
Yes that will work if I am seeing that correctly. Essentially one baffle (last pane of bubble trap). Water level will remain stable in drain area and fluctuate in the larger area with the return pump. Only concern is if you include a skimmer you will want an ATO so the water level doesn't fluctuate. Or you could make the drain section larger and put the skimmer there. Another option is to split the sump in 3 sections and put your skimmer in the middle.
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My skimmers a hob lol. Looks like I may leave it on the dt, or have to get a new one.
 
Arakkis said:
Yes ato would definitely be good. the diagram seems like you have a lot of surface area so it may evaporate faster than a normal tank.
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I plan on doing this, it seems like a good idea regardless.
I'm wanting this sump to just look like another tank. I think I'm going to try to get black acrylic to build the sections.
 
Why can't you hang it off the sump? I have never thought to ask but I didn't think HOB skimmers had to have a steady water level?
 
greech said:
Why can't you hang it off the sump? I have never thought to ask but I didn't think HOB skimmers had to have a steady water level?
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Well noise mostly, from what I've seen with mine it matters if you set it up with the outlet out of the water versus in the water. It will skim too much if it's set up with outlet out of water and the outlet gets submerged. I'm sure I can set up something to lessen the noise since I'm sure the water level won't be high enough to submerged it in the return chamber.
 
Do you guys think I could remove the canister and just go with the ac110 and skimmer? I've got plenty of live rock and flow. I think it will be ok, but I'd like some other opinions.
 
No problem. The canister is just one more thing to keep up with and doesn't provide any significant benefit over what you would be running. The HOB can still run media, etc..
 
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