New Sump
- Thread starter Rudy
- Start date
Based on the feed back I received I have made changes to my design.
Any final thoughts?
Thank you to everyone who contributed.:headbang2:
Any final thoughts?
Thank you to everyone who contributed.:headbang2:
Please note these are JMO and what I would do if I was designing your sump..
I personally would put the heater in your return area. That is just a personal choice. You should have the room to do so based on the size. Also I would put the bubble trap after the skimmer and a single wall with egg crate or teeth to catch any free floating chaeto/macro before going to the return pump. A bubble trap won't stop algae from floating through there. Then with the bubble trap I would reverse how you have it.. The outside baffles I would put low and the inside baffle I would put high.
I personally would put the heater in your return area. That is just a personal choice. You should have the room to do so based on the size. Also I would put the bubble trap after the skimmer and a single wall with egg crate or teeth to catch any free floating chaeto/macro before going to the return pump. A bubble trap won't stop algae from floating through there. Then with the bubble trap I would reverse how you have it.. The outside baffles I would put low and the inside baffle I would put high.
NP -that is precisely why I post here. :grinyes:
I had it that way and was advised to move it in the event my return area were to run dry while I was performing a water change. The heater would be less likely to burn out. I had never thought of that because as an extra safety precaution I normally cut all power, via circuit breaker, to the entire system when I perform a water change or any other major tank maintenance.
All Good Ideas. Thanks
Standby for version 2.2 :wall: :lol:
let me clarify that egg crate part as well.. Not the whole wall as egg crate, only the top part where the water will spill over into your return area.. Like the top 2" or so.. I can see that thought process on the heaters but I had thought you were doing an ATO on your system which would negate that necessity for this area. And when doing water changes I shut my sump down completely heaters included. Or you can invest in Visitherm Stealth heaters which have an auto shut off feature when not in water. The other thing is that they are not a glass heater and have less of a chance of cracking etc.
I understand, re: not the entire area, but I was wanted the opening toward the bottom of the fuge so there is more likely of a chance for beneficial micro critters to enter the main tank?
I have an ATO to encorporate into this new system, but how does having an ATO effect my need for, at least, semi-regular water changes?
Ditto
Cool, I bet they are significantly more expensive?
I understand, re: not the entire area, but I was wanted the opening toward the bottom of the fuge so there is more likely of a chance for beneficial micro critters to enter the main tank?
I have an ATO to encorporate into this new system, but how does having an ATO effect my need for, at least, semi-regular water changes?
Ditto
Cool, I bet they are significantly more expensive?
The ATO won't but your return won't run dry.. And if you turn off everything during changes then again the heaters will be off. Also I don't know about you but I don't drain that area completely and I make sure it is up to temp before I turn the return pump back on as well.
When I do my water changes I take 50% of my water from the return and 50% from the skimmer area. I never drain either section completely.
As far as the opening towards the bottom of the fuge I don't think that is going to matter because my pods kind of go with the flow so to speak when they are in the column. So they will spill over the edge just as easily as going under. But again this is JMO
As for the stealths.. Dr F&S is having a sale on them right now.. A 250w is less than 20 bucks.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3743+12060&pcatid=12060
Glass heaters are a couple of bucks less.. But I don't mind the extra just because they aren't glass.
Do you prefer Clown or lover? Clown-lover is just to long for me to type. 
erv:
Valid points. I think I'll put it back to where I originally planned it. Plus, this will allow me to have some LS in the refugium.
Thanks agin for taking the time to provide me with your opinions and comments.
erv: Valid points. I think I'll put it back to where I originally planned it. Plus, this will allow me to have some LS in the refugium.
Funny - that was what I though as well until someone adviced me differently.
Oh - yeah that is nominal for extra safety.
Thanks agin for taking the time to provide me with your opinions and comments.
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Do you prefer Clown or lover? Clown-lover is just to long for me to type.
Thanks agin for taking the time to provide me with your opinions and comments.
Whatever.. Grins even calls me CL so yeah
No problem. As far as my opinions go they are really based off of what I see as others designs. But if you plan on putting a DSB in your refugium (which quite a few people do) the sand will plug up that underflow area.
