Minimizing splashing into sump

[gummyworms]

Hello,

So I'm converting from salt to freshwater, and I will be keeping my sump, as I've just gotten too used to the convenience and I like the equipment out of the display tank!

It's a 58 gallon with a 29 gallon sump, and I will be running CO2.

I have been reading many threads about CO2 and sump degassing, and I was considering this:

1. Decreasing the return to display tank to around ~100-200gph to minimize surface agitation.
2. Putting a lid over the top of the sump with holes cut out for tubing, etc. I would rather not do this if possible so that it is more convenient.

The major problem I still have is the return to the sump from the display, there is a lot of splashing and air coming down the return pipe, even at ~150 gph return. I was wondering what the other sump users out there did to minimize this splashing and degassing.

Thanks
Shawn

 

[plantbrain]

Gaffer's tape or duct tape the wet/dry section so no air can exchange and plug any vent holes in the tower section.

It can splash all it wants to then. The degassed CO2 simply has no where to go but back into solution and then back to the tank. O2 is still high because CO2/O2 are independent.

Also, reduce the spill height in the overflow.
That should make the CO2 consumption close to any other filtration method.

I typically feed the CO2 into the return pump's impeller, this atomizes the gas and mixes it for a few ft before being returned to the tank.

I run about 350gph in my 60 gal but also add another 200-300gph of flow with a powerhead.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Luc]

My overflow consists of an overflow- corner of the display tank (50cm high) and besides the display tank a separate old tank, being about 15" deep with 4x 3/4" hoses 'feeding' water from the display tank.
That overflow is divided into two sections, 1 regular water return and the second being an emergency return of the same size in case the first one gets stuck or anything.

In this overflow tank, there is a 1" return to the sump. By having this return very deep compared to the level in the display tank, I can keep it 100% under water without any air being sucked in. The return-line has hardly any 'corners', so little slowdown on the water speeding down into the sump.
In the sump, the outlet is under water so there's no splashing, very little surface movement.

Back up to the tank goes with 2 Resun 740 GPH pumps and 4x 3/4 inch hoses.
All returns to the display are under water and the whole system is very silent except for some soft humming of the two pumps. (will be a matter of sound-isolation against the doors).

Complicated, but have a look at the thread on the tank: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177028&page=1

I have no splashing and gurgling sounds, bringing down CO2-loss to a minimum.