Sump layout?

[Fgtank]

I am doing a120rr tank. I am new to the hobby. I have been researching sumps, I had one made. 75gal.(48/24/24). They set it up different then I have seen.. Has anyone used the following layout? Left side is the refug. Middle has the skimmer and the drains in it, the right side is the water return to tank. Then I teed off the return and ran a small line back to the left(the refug.)put a ball valve on it so the water is slowly spilling into the second chamber(skimmer) . This is how they said to do it, does anyone use this set up? Thanks

 

[thirty6]

Give ya a bump by asking. Who set it up for you?

I don't recall seeing this layout discussed, but that doesn't mean it can't work for you. The slow flow through the fuge is good, and if it is working now leave it be and see how it works out for you. Does your sump take up the entire storage of stand or you going with a 5' tank

 

[jedimaster1138]

Sure you can do it that way. Lots of people have the refugium separate and fed by a T off the return. Some even have completely separate refugium tanks off to the side, not physically the same box as the sump.

You can also T the drain to feed the fuge as well.

Either way, sounds like you have it under the control. Post a pic! Always helps to see things and we like pictures here

 

[Fgtank]

Thanks very much guys! The sump is in the basement directly under the tank. I have plenty of room down there that is why I did a 75gal. Sump. I am going to post pictures of the build, so as I figure out how. Also I did not know I could tee off the drain, I am just waiting for the stand to be delivered, to finish the plumbing and then I'll see which one to tee it off. The guys at aquarium designs did the sump.

 

[AquaBeta.com]

Sounds good...

That is exactly how my sump is set up on my 125 gallon zero edge tank.
Has been working well for me. I also have 3 filter socks set up right before entry into the refugium section.

 

[Fgtank]

Good, glad it works fine this way. Thanks guys.

 

[masterswimmer]

I'm sure it'll work, but IMO it is far from the most efficient way to run it.
As stated, I would sooner feed the fuge with the dirtiest water in your system, therefore 'T'ing' off your overflow is definitely better than using return water.

FYI, if your sump is 48x24x24 as you mentioned, you've got a 120g (actually 119.7g (I'm sure Alfie will call me out on this )) sump, not a 75g.

Russ

 

[thirty5]

I am not a fan of skimming fuge water. You are skimming out pods that are coming out of the fuge.

I have mine set up with skimmer on right, fuge on left, return in middle. Split drain to feed fuge and skimmer which both then overflow into middle chamber for return.

 

[Fgtank]

Good to know thanks, also it is actually 48/18/21.

 

[Imbarrie]

That is a standard 75 gallon.
I built a sump from the same tank and I designed a similar setup.

I like the most dirtiest water going through my skimmer first. It runs 24/7 and is the single most efficient element for nutrient export. Your fuge would have to be huge to have similar efficiency.

 

[masterswimmer]

That is a standard 75 gallon.
I built a sump from the same tank and I designed a similar setup.

I like the most dirtiest water going through my skimmer first. It runs 24/7 and is the single most efficient element for nutrient export. Your fuge would have to be huge to have similar efficiency.

Split overflow with the dirtiest water going through the skimmer AND the fuge.

Russ

 

[Imbarrie]

And when your fuge light goes out for the day you lost half your filtration.

 

[masterswimmer]

Unless you have an overflow fed skimmer, there's no way your skimmer processes 100% of the water anyway.

 

[Imbarrie]

Yes but diverting 50% of your overflow means you are not getting any potential for skimming. And once your fuge light is off you are not doing anything with it at all. You are wasting potential skimming.
Consider a system that has a mag 7 on a 75 gallon tank and running a skimmer with a mag 5 then you are running more than 100% of your overflow through the skimmer and actually reskimming. Given the flow rate of a mag 7 at 3 1/2' and te near optimal performance of a skimmer pump. And that is a common setup in MR. I had that setup.
With your sump half of that is not getting skimmed at all and the other half is getting overskimmed.

 

[masterswimmer]

So you're saying that water that flows through the fuge continually circulates only through the fuge and never gets to the skimmer? Doesn't sound very plausible. Since the water continually mixes, more than enough efficiently is processed through the skimmer.

Russ

 

[Imbarrie]

Your model has a tee where half the water is going through a skimmer and the other half is going through a fuge.
What benefit does the fuge add when the light is off? None.
Your setup reduces the efficiency of the sump by the amount of your fuge flow on a consistent basis. Mine does not. It is as simple as that.
When you plan a fuge, dont forget that a small section of a sump is not an efficient nutrient export. To be efficient a fuge needs to be at least half the size of the DT. A small percentage of reefers have that. I don't. I do have a rocking skimmer and that is what does most of the work in the sump.
A small fuge can grow macro and shelter small animals and will be a benefit to a system, but won't come close to the efficiency of a skimmer.

 

[jaa1456]

I have mine set up as first chamber skimmer, fuge in middle and return to the right. That way all the water flows through the fuge and the skimmer will do as much as possibe. And no pods or other beneficial bacteria gets skimmed out right away. Most efficient sump layout IMO. No need to tee off anything and have extra plumbing, pumps or anything else.

 

[masterswimmer]

Your model has a tee where half the water is going through a skimmer and the other half is going through a fuge.
What benefit does the fuge add when the light is off? None.
Your setup reduces the efficiency of the sump by the amount of your fuge flow on a consistent basis. Mine does not. It is as simple as that.
When you plan a fuge, dont forget that a small section of a sump is not an efficient nutrient export. To be efficient a fuge needs to be at least half the size of the DT. A small percentage of reefers have that. I don't. I do have a rocking skimmer and that is what does most of the work in the sump.
A small fuge can grow macro and shelter small animals and will be a benefit to a system, but won't come close to the efficiency of a skimmer.

This setup works, I've seen it. I'm not saying it doesn't work. No dispute. As a matter of fact, I've seen unbelievably successful setups that don't have any fuge, and some that are world class and don't even run a skimmer (Pratt). However, there are options and many ways to 'do things right' in this hobby. Your way works, I've done it. My way works, I've done it. Is one better than the other? Quite honestly, I can't say I've seen one perform better than the other. What you're suggesting sounds like it is putting one above the other and that's what I'm disputing. I disagree with that philosophy.

Russ

 

[Imbarrie]

I'm looking at efficiency. Many ways work, some work better.

 

[masterswimmer]

I'm looking at efficiency. Many ways work, some work better.

And THAT'S where opinions differ