Critique My sump Design

[Macbeth417]

I have a 29gal acrylic Tank I am trying to use as a sump for my 110gal tank (yes, I know could be larger).

Here is a link to my design for the sump incorprating a variable flow refugium. Let me know what you all think.

My skimmer footprint (inlcluding pump) is 10.5X11.5, the overflows are 1.5 standpipes and the return pump will be a Velocity T3 rated at 800GPH @ 3' of head pressure.

http://students.washington.edu/eanders/Macbeth%20sump%201.1.jpg
-Erik 8)

[blackangler]

looks good, just make the refungium section larger, you will want to later anyways.

good luck,

william tysonj

[Zack]

Hey
looks good! Just think the fuge could be a bit bigger, but do understand your space problems. Any reason you are choosing the 29?

[paulsreef]

Nice, looks good. Just a couple thoughts...

- Why seclude the refugium off to one side? You could actually put it between the skimmer area and the return reservoir. If you're worried about micro-bubbles, don't be because macro algae (along with a few baffles) does wonders at dispersing them.

- I would personally make the refugium as large as possible. If you put a DSB in there, then you'll double its effectiveness.

- Can you mount your skimmer, in-line but outside of the sump? That would free up a ton of space in there.

Paul

[Macbeth417]

I agree that it would be nice to have the refugium section larger however everything in that design is calculated so as to accomodate 2" inches of back flow in case of a power outage (The siphons should break at 1" but I added another to be safe).

ANSWER for one and all-

Paulsreef:
" Why seclude the refugium off to one side?"

By secluding the refugium off to one side I can have the water level in it MUCH higher and control the flow through that section with gate valve and split flow(enabling me to have a adjustable speed slow flow refugium). There will be 600gph moving through the skimmer section and only 200gph through refugium.

"- Can you mount your skimmer, in-line but outside of the sump?"

I may be able to with some extraneous effort; however, I do not wont to restrict flow at all by adding more plumbing. My skimmer is an in-sump ER6-2+ and it would be troublesome to make the Sedra5000 pump intake connect to some sort of plumbing.


ZACK:

"-Any reason you are choosing the 29?"
Yup, I had free acrylic 29gal in my work room.

Blackangler:
"- ... just make the refugium section larger, you will want to later anyways. "

Would love to but I dont want to me pump reservoir smaller than the pump (Velocity T3 pushing 800GPH @ 3' feet of head) needs.
I could raise the wall 2" but that will only give me an increase of .6 gallon while raise the height the water will fall back into the return. The return is only holding 3 gallon as it is and with the pump pulling 13GPM I would be worried about water height fluctuation.



MY TURN to ask questions. Where should I put my float valve for auto top-off??? Pump resevoir???

-Erik

WOW :eek2: We Now Know Who Does There Homework

[blackangler]

well i guess that answers all of our questions, :hmm2:

[Zack]

MY TURN to ask questions. Where should I put my float valve for auto top-off??? Pump resevoir???


Yes that will be the best place in my thoughts is the pump area. Thats where i drip my kalk and add top off as needed. :)

[Paidbychrist0825]

do you mind if i steal you design? i wont like sell it ar anyhting, i will just use it for my setup.

[Macbeth417]

Zack:
"Yes that will be the best place in my thoughts is the pump area. That?s where I drip my kalk and add top off as needed."

You said this, the pump return reservoir, is where you add top-off. Do you mean simply pouring it in or a float-valve that automatically tops off sump, because that is what I am planning on and I need to know what section will have a water level that will only be affected by evaporation. I think that the return reservoir will be the correct place.

Paidbychrist0825:
"do you mind if i steal you design? "

Ha! Well I must say I am flattered after all this work that someone appreciates the time I put into it. However, I would recommend you wait until I make the sump and I'll let you know how it works. If you need help designing one though I would be glad to help you when I'm done with this one. Should get it finish by this weekend.

-Erik

[Zack]

Right now i drip kalk in there, but kalk reactor comes tommor, then i will use a float valve.

[Paidbychrist0825]

it will be a while, so lets just see how this one works out.

[Macbeth417]

Here is the final design:

http://students.washington.edu/eanders/Macbeth%20sump%201.3.jpg
One quick question, anyone know what size most probe holder holes are?