Critique my sump design

[Bikeboss11]

I am trying to turn a 40 gallon breader into a sump/ refugium for my 120 gallon mixed reef... The tank has dual drains and returns so I was thinking of using 2 return pumps, a mag 18 and a mag 12.... I will T off the mag 18 to run to my chiller and drain into the refugium which will be at the right of the sump... I may also T off the mag 12 to feed my dual reactor. The skimmer section will be situated to the for left and that section will also house the 2 drain lines into 2 filter socks....
My goal in this build is to minimize the chance of micro bubbles which are produced by my overflows and skimmer, reaching into my display tank. I also would like to increase my refugium size by raising to water level to about 2 or 3 inches from the top and having it drain into the first section.....
Here is a quick drawing of my ideas.... Any help will be appreciated...

 

[cmantis]

PM me your number I will text you pictures and measurements of mine.

 

[Bikeboss11]

Thanks man, that was very helpful

 

[Nottick]

For what its worth I'd see if you can have the sump drilled and run the pumps external. Mags produce an enormous amount of heat. May not even need the chiller after. I use a mag 12 in my mixing brute container and after 24 hrs the water is at 90+ degrees. To me that's insane. So look into it

 

[Bikeboss11]

You are 100% right man those mag pumps really do produce an enormous amount of heat. Due to space restraint I don't think I will have enough room in my stand to run them externally but I will continue to play with the design and see if it will work.

 

[Nottick]

I'd try my hardest to do external and maybe look into a different brand of pump. I know a lot of DC pumps are much more efficient.

 

[Bikeboss11]

Any recommendations on a good external pump for a 120 gallon?

 

[Nottick]

I think the diablo 5500 is roughly 1500gph and has sub 100watts of consumption. Seems like a win in my boom however its roughly $200 bit well worth it IMO

 

[trinimaddness]

Do you really need two pumps? Can you donone large pump and make yourself a manifold?

 

[Bikeboss11]

I think the diablo 5500 is roughly 1500gph and has sub 100watts of consumption. Seems like a win in my boom however its roughly $200 bit well worth it IMO

Thats a great price range and wattage consumption.... I am a little concern about the amount of gph but I will look more into it....

 

[Bikeboss11]

Do you really need two pumps? Can you donone large pump and make yourself a manifold?

Hey Trini the main reason for me using 2 pumps is because currently I have a mag 18 on a manifold feeding my chiller, my carbon and gfo reactor and my both return lines and to me the flow back to the tank has been decreasing... So I figured that with 2 pumps, I could decrease the pressure on the pump by distribute the workload and inturn, create a high turnover rate in my tank.

 

[Nottick]

Honestly with the less heat of a mag 12 and 18 you may not need a chiller. A 120 at 10x turnover is 1200 gph but honestly I think if you ask most people they don't turn their tanks over 10x even.

 

[Bikeboss11]

Oh really? So other than a financial benefit, is there any other advantage to running less gph as oppose to more gph?

 

[Nottick]

I don't think there is an advantage to running slower turn over other than noise and cost. My buddy with his 450 reef has an ehiem 1262 with a 6' head and has a successful tank

 

[ChrisB]

Here is my 40 breeder sump, Pump in center so skimmer does not take out the goodness of the refugium that returns to MDT

 

[Bikeboss11]

Hey Chris thanks for the picture it is very helpful, I see where I could run my drain lines into the first and last chamber.... I have a huge problem with micro bubbles. would the filter sock eliminate all micro bubbles coming from my drain line? I also noticed that you split the middle return section. Is that also to prevent micro bubbles or does it serve another purpose

 

[ChrisB]

Yes all for micro bubbles. My only prob is the pump chamber is small so when water evaporates it goes down quick. Autotop off takes care of that tho.

 

[Bikeboss11]

Ok kool.... Another question. What thickness glass did you use and what was the overall cost

 

[ChrisB]

I am not sure what thickness is but its I got sheet of plexi for free . When I het home ill measure it and let you know . The tank I got at the dollar a gallon sale at petco.

 

[Bikeboss11]

Ight kool thx homie