Hey guys please judge my sump setup

[253 FISH]

:loco::croc::|:typing:OK HERE IS MY SUMP SETUP DO YOU THINK ITS OK FOR A 90 GALLON CORAL TANK
PLEASE TELL ME IF I MADE A GOOD DESIGN FOR IT
AND IF YOU GUYS AGREE THEN PLEASE REFER SOME RETURN PUMPS THAT WORK AND LAST A LONG TIME
AND SOME PROTEIN SKIMMER FOR THIS SUMP SETUP THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS





:israel::suspicious:

 

[Holygral]

Looks like a good set up, I would ditch the bio balls, they can turn into a nitrate factory, I have basically the same set up but i have lr, sand and some micro in the center section. Where you have it going one way and then the other to get into the center section, I have mine going under up and over, this gives me a place to use charcoal

 

[Krish]

I agree. Ditch the bio-balls. They aren't needed and would probably cause you more issues than you are prepared to handle. Some people do use a sand bed and liverock in their sump but you will have to understand why. That too can cause problems because the sump (just like the tank) may require weekly maintenance depending on how it is used. Personally, I like to keep any rock or sand out of my sump and if anything, put all I need in the tank. I don't even use sand in my tanks and the liverock alone biologically handles all of the filtration. The liverock is your primary source of biological filtration. I'd weigh out your options before jumping in but the sump design itself looks good! A good return pump you can look into is Eheim. They are highly recommended.


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[mfinn]

I agree with the comments so far.
I would use the center section for a macro algae, like chaeto.
I do like eheims as return pump.

 

[TJL]

Looks good 253 Fish, great advice above ^^^ and sure you could get a start of macro from a number of local reefers in your area. If you were to use sand in the sump I'd stick to a very fine sugar-sand, less of a detritis trap but good place for rooting Caulerpa and housing bristle worms and other good scavengers. Maybe someone will have an extra pump to offer up as well ???

Cheers, Todd

 

[user 2204]

Looks like a nice set up. Like others have mentioned, no bio balls and yes to macro algaes, sandbed and live rock in the refugium area.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[jrgilles]

I have a very similar setup, except I don't have the extra return chamber. Goes from the protein skimmer chamber (fill) then through three baffles to a section full of live rock that also has the return pump.

I really like my eheim return pump. Supposed to be very efficient. I have the 1262, and have heard nothing but good things about it:

Eheim Universal "Hobby" Pump

For a protein skimmer, I have the SWC 160 cone, and it is amazing. Also a great price for the product.

Here is a pic of my sump (with the protein skimmer in it):

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9ZZCYugcZbA9jP0PQHqYMQ?feat=directlink

Here is an album of some construction pictures:

https://picasaweb.google.com/jrgilles/AquariumConstruction

Also, here is a trick you can do if you want to glue in all your baffles at once, instead of one at a time (The bag on top is a bag of rolled pennies, put there for weight):

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Q-LjZ2W9bmGsgUp1owS5cA?feat=directlink

 

[jrgilles]

I have a fuge too, but it is in a tank on the side of my DT and sump. Was just too much to fit into the sump (sump is 50 breeder, tank is 75, fuge is 20 gal.)

I also highly recommend putting in two drains on the DT, and a gate valve on the main drain, so you can run it full syphon. This is called a 'herbie' style drain (google it) and you can run it completely silent.

I actually put two drains in on my fuge too. One is a backup that is never used, but is there for 'flood insurance.'

I also put a '+' shaped splitter on the return line back to the tank that gives me two more outputs, one cycles back to the sump (so I can just have water cycle in the sump without it going to the tank, and the other goes to a hose barb and flexible hose. I use this hose for water changes. Makes it very fast and easy, as I can fill up buckets using my return pump. You can see pics in my construction photos linked above.

 

[jrgilles]

If you are through seattle you are welcome to come check out my tank and chat about ideas if you want. Just drop me a PM

 

[mojoreef]

If it were me I would keep the skimmer where it sits, loose the three baffle set up at this location, then go straight into sand and algae (if thats what you want) I would ditch the LR and bio balls at they both will do the same thing when sitting in very oxygenated water (but the sand will act as a good sink for nutrients and then feed the algae above it). From their put your three baffles and then to the out put.

Mojo

 

[Krish]

If it were me I would keep the skimmer where it sits, loose the three baffle set up at this location, then go straight into sand and algae (if thats what you want) I would ditch the LR and bio balls at they both will do the same thing when sitting in very oxygenated water (but the sand will act as a good sink for nutrients and then feed the algae above it). From their put your three baffles and then to the out put.

Mojo

This layout is how a lot of people do theirs. Bubble trap at the end. I always did mine that way. Here is a link though to Marc's site where he has a bunch of sumps he made that will give you ideas if that is what you are looking for. Go to the "varied sumps" section in the left column mid way down and click a few of them

Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums

 

[Frankie]

If it were me I would keep the skimmer where it sits, loose the three baffle set up at this location, then go straight into sand and algae (if thats what you want) I would ditch the LR and bio balls at they both will do the same thing when sitting in very oxygenated water (but the sand will act as a good sink for nutrients and then feed the algae above it). From their put your three baffles and then to the out put.

Mojo

You mean ditch the first two baffles and go over and into the sand and macro right? Loosing all three will put the skimmer in the same chamber as the return and refugium.

I would do just as Mojo stated except for the third baffle.

I agree with mfinn on the eheims for a return pump. As for size that is another topic. You need to figure out what sump flow rate you want.

Frank