Is it a correct sump design?

[pyekhine]

I prolly should be asking this before building it. But i did it..... Made the first chamber too small and can't fit the filter sock in it together with the skimmer.

I is a correct set up? Filtersock + Skimmer in first chamber, LR on second and return pump on the last one.

another question is how often do you guys need to clean the filter sock. i have to do it every 2 days. It clogged up so quickly. It is 200 micron sock. Maybe I should use 100 micron. any ideas?

 

[masterswimmer]

1 - The order of your chambers is correct. The design of your sump/fuge is not ideal though.

2 - If you change from a 200u (micron) sock to a 100u sock, it will clog faster and need cleaning more frequent not less. The frequency you'll need to clean the sock is not only dependent upon the micron rating of the sock but the amount of detritus in your display tank being drawn into the sock. If your system is brand new and you're cycling uncured, nasty, live rock, your filter sock could conceivably clog every day. However, if your system is a couple of years old the frequency you'd need to clean the socks could be as long as every 4 or 5 days.

3 - The rim of your filter sock should be below the rim of your tank. When the sock clogs it could cause water to overflow the sock, and if the rim is above the tank rim, possibly cause a flood overflowing the rim of the sump.

4 - It appears you've got two pumps in the return pump chamber. I'm not sure why. The only place in your entire system that you'll realize the loss of water through evaporation is the return pump chamber. With the return pump placed as high in the chamber as you've got it, it will be difficult to stabilize the water level. You need to place the pump lower than the lowest baffle preceding the pump.

Hope this helps
Russ

 

[pyekhine]

Thanks for tips... so what is the ideal design? I built a sock hanger for the 1st chamber but no room for it since the skimmer is bigger than i expected. Tank is fairly new. About 3 months old. I make sure that overflowing water from the sock goes in the sump. And i only have one return pump and yes, i adjust the water level in the 3rd chamber.