Sump Help

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xpirtdesign

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Nov 18, 2008
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I am starting a 72 gallon tank and im in the process of making a sump and im still looking for a protein skimmer. I have 500 watts of MH lighting.

So far i have a 15 gallon (not tall) that i can use for a sump.

Im curious as to how I should set up my sump tank. I'm trying to keep costs extremely low. The tank is long enough to put in a refugium..maybe?

I dont know what materials to use for the seperators (glass or plexi? silicolne?) I'm not sure what dimensions should be used, ect.

I'm not sure how I should go about this project and I'm leaning towards an HOB skimmer so far.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Some general ideas here http://wwww.melevsreef.com/

As for sump I am using a 20g tall... I believe volume wise you may be a bit shy by 5g for a tank that size. I am not sure ... That is one question I dont have a good answer for cause I dont know the math for it.

I know its based on tank size ...I know when my pumps are off about 5-7g dumps into my sump... so maybe 15 is barely enough to keep the water line mid way and max fill line not too high.

Adding a fuge may be tough to... I cant even do that with my 20g (I think its 20) oceanic one... I have a lot of live rock where it dumps in...then my skimmer which takes up the rest of my space...then the baffles to the return chamber that also has another pump for my Phosban reactor.
 
For the skimmer look at a Vertex IN-100 or the MSX160, they are good affordable skimmers. Use glass as the baffles, you can pick these up at a local glass shop. Just bring the tank in and have an idea on what you want, they will have no problems cutting them for you out of some spare glass laying around, it is also cheap. That should get you started. You can find many sump designs, just keep it simple and you will be alright. For that size tank, I would not keep a refugium. Do a skimmer section, bubble trap, then return section. Good luck
 
For the dividers use glass. Plexy gives of an oily residue and will eventually come loose. Although it will be held in place by the silicon on the glass of the tank.

You may want to look into the super nitrate scrubber thread. I have been have great success with the scrubber, nitrates down to 10 for the first time ever, and feeding like crazy. I was going to go all skimmer refugium and read the super nitrate remover thread. No turning back. Love the thing.
 
Yah Plexi and glass dont mix with baffles ...glass on glass using silicone will stick

If you decide to build a plexi sump fuge with melves link guidance...the glueing is pretty cool more like melting... weldon some chemical that causes plexi to melt together...like welding metal =)
 
Reefscape said:
I would certainly incorporate a refugium for the tank, in the sump...
Click to expand...


yep, same here.

If your only option is a 15g, I'd get an external skimmer and use the maximum space in the 15 for a fuge.

If you decide to go with a fuge, let me know the exact dimensions of the inside of your tank and I'll work out a simple fuge design with a bubble trap...


have you decided on a return pump yet ?
 
cheech said:
yep, same here.

If your only option is a 15g, I'd get an external skimmer and use the maximum space in the 15 for a fuge.

If you decide to go with a fuge, let me know the exact dimensions of the inside of your tank and I'll work out a simple fuge design with a bubble trap...


have you decided on a return pump yet ?
Click to expand...
thanks! the tank is 24" x 12" x 12"
 
No prob..

See what you think of this...

The baffles I used in the drawing are 3/16" thick.

I left 5 1/2" for your return chamber. I'd have liked to make it a little wider, but I thoguht it would be best to maximize the fuge area. having a small area in the return chamber means you can't forget to fill that area with water, cause that's the only area that will be missing water due to evaporation.


Good luck, keep us updated!


c

xpirtd sump.jpg
 
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