Alot of stock tank sump plumbing questions

[drbdc]

I'm setting up my sump in a 110 gallon stock tank. I'm splitting my main tanks overflow and will be using a union ball valve to cut the volume dumping into the main sump. That will serve as the refugium (contents still being studied ie mangroves, etc.) The main overflow from the tank is going to dump into another rubbermaid rough tote that will have something in it to ensure enough weight to keep it to the bottom and somthing to create an overflow before the skimmer. also, another container will be placed and weighted (live rock whatever) for the with a natural overflow or possibly a bulkhead in it for overflow return from the main tank.

Question 1- If an external skimmer is made, do you pump the return right back into the area it came from? Wouldn't some water get skimmed multiple times. If I would return it to the main sump/refugium area, would that work? And if so would I plumb an overflow with bulkheads to the return pump container or could it go right out to the refugium. Essentially all water to the tank would have passed through the refugium at least briefly and how long makes another question.

Question 2 Would I want the two containers close or seperated. The more seperate the less bubbles would travel.

Question 3- since the size of this sump is so large, wouldn't flow speed be reduced in relation to size anyway? Then a split/ball valve wouldn't be needed in the first place.

Question 4- even though a refugium is supposed to be relatively calm, does this size require any weak power heads just to not get too stagnant?


This is going on a tank that is only 70 gallon and may be too big but I don't feel too much natural filtration and water volume could be a negative and is a luxury due to I have a large furnace/extra refridgerator/storage room right behind where I've placed my tank.

I hope someone understands my line of reasoning here.

 

[Len]

1) I'd return the water back into the refugium area. Yes, returning the water to the skimmer input compartment will result in skimming skimmed water. It's not a terrible thing, mind you, but it'll be more efficient to return it elsewhere.

2) If I'm understanding your set up correctly, it doens't matter how far apart the two containers are since they are physically divided by compartmentalized walls. All things equal, once bubbles into the plumbing that connects the two containers, it's going to be the same amount of bubbles regardless of how far this plumbing spans (just a greater distance for the bubbles to travel).

3) Not sure what aspect you're referring to. Specifically, what is your concern about flow speed?

4) A refugium doesn't need to be calm. It needs sufficient flow-rate, so make sure the water isn't stagnant. A refugium needs to be free of predation and its livestock is less picky about quality of light, but aside from that, I'd regard it the same as the main tank.

If you're bored, draw up a diagram It'll help us visualize what you have in mind.

 

[drbdc]

I guess the main thing that I'm concerned about is that most of the better refugiums feed to the return and the skimmer side does too. So the flow of the refugium is less gph than the skimmer gph. If I use the main chamber as the refugium, it will have the same gph but considering the extreme size of the stock tank, it would be % wise less movement. So I think that that would be slowed down enough to work well. Also, I guess I would still want a certain % of the tanks drain to go straight to the refuge to feed it otherwise no poop to eat for it.

I'm gonna go experiment with paint and see if I can draw with the program. Never did it.

 

[drbdc]

here is the drawing,
Blue is from main tank overflow
green would be refugium area
yellow for return pump area
red is bulkhead overflows
pink/purple return plumbing
brownish is drain from main display tank.

 

[drbdc]

trying again

 

[drbdc]

whoops, I meant for the one tank drain in brown to go to the green refugium area

 

[Anonymous]

Using the diagram you have. I would have all of the tank drain in to the "Blue" and pull the skimmer feed out of the "Blue" also. Return the skimmer in to the yellow and/or the green. Add a top off system to the yellow to automate it and keep the water level stable.

 

[drbdc]

it will drain to the blue and some to the green, I just put the valved drain going to the return by accident, it should have dumped to the fuge. Only reason I'm splitting is to get some of the waste to the fuge area as well as the skimmer. Some go so far as to eliminate the skimmer but I'm a little scared to go that route.