teacherreefer Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Hello all, I'm preparing to add my sump. I was wondering if you guys can post some pics so I can get some ideas for putting this together. Thanks in advance! Josephoi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 What are you looking for? How to set your baffles, equipment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 It's So dependent on what you want! You've seen the big sump, but I also made a 3 section out of a 29, and run a 20 gallon sump with no baffles. Google "saltwater aquarium sump" and go to the images for hours of fun! teacherreefer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 I am going to use a 30 gal. Tank and put a 100gal hob skimmer in the first portion along with some live sand, rock pieces and some form of macro in the second portion. (A couple members here have already offered some macro for free!). I want to set a baffle between first and second portions and have the sump above the tank so the return is gravity fed. This is going to be in my science classroom so I want them to see the entire system. I also want any Copepods or amphipods to have the ability to get to main tank without going through a pump impeller. Does this sound like a successful scenario? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 And thanks for those pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 You might want to consider a 3rd tank for your refugium. A display refugium could be a cool thing for students to learn from as well. teacherreefer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 I do have a couple smaller tanks that I could do this with Jesse... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 Anyone have a glass drill bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleybronco Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Yes I have one you can borrow get ahold of myreef on here he has it right now teacherreefer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 The display fuge would be awesome, and definitely better having it above for the reason you stated. I think the 3rd tank is a good idea because the HOB skimmer is going to take up a good chunk of that 30 and not leave tons of room for the fuge, or be as cool to look at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 Without a drawing tool: I think I'll plumb a line to gravity feed a small tank with the skimmer. Pump that up to a refugium (30 gal. tank). Then put a slotted baffle in the end and drill and plumb a return line into refugium tank. What temp do you guys keep your reef? With almost doubling my water,I think I may need a new heater. I can't remember the watts on mine off the top of my head... But it is turned all the way down and temps are usually around 78, thermostat is stuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 I pm'ed him harleybronco, thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleybronco Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Anytime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 I keep my tanks 77 to 78. I can't visualize your plumbing, could you draw a pic and then take a picture of the picture and post? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 (edited) Sorry for the delay, My wife and I are experiencing some complications with our expected additions (TWINS!) to our family and have been quite busy. I have attached an image of a sketch I made. This is the end product I'm going strive for although this project is somewhat sidelined right now. I have the tanks, PVC, bulkheads, and access to glass and Plexiglass for construction. I do not have a Skimmer or pump though. I was approved to purchase an RO/DI system for my classroom to produce pure water for experiments and the aquarium though! Edited April 16, 2015 by teacherreefer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Fraggenstien Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 (edited) Seems like you're either going to have a ton of flow through the fuge or a hard time keeping the display heated (assuming the heaters are in the sump) with this design. May want to consider splitting off the return and diverting the majority of the flow directly to the display. Edited April 16, 2015 by Dr.Fraggenstien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 +1. You want low flow threw a fuge. Gives it time to do its job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myreef55 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I agree with above. If space allows I would run the pump directly back to your display and then drain from the display to your fuge and from the fuge back to the sump. This will still have a lot of flow through the fuge so IMO even better would be to drain back to the sump but have a tee and valve that allows partial drain to go to fuge and rest to sump. Hope that made sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I also agree on the low fuge flow. It looks like you are attempting to keep the fuge above the display still, which will give you the maximum benefit because it will drain into the display instead of chopping all the good stuff into bits with a pump. As stated above, just divert some of the flow directly to the display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Fraggenstien Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I drain my fuge into the sump and let the critters take their chances. In my mind most of them are microscopic larva anyway and can handle going through an impeller. I do bypass the skimmer chamber tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Now the wheels are spinning... I'm wondering if I should use a 30 gallon tank and just use a piece of plexiglass/acrylic to divide isolate a portion for the macro algae and have the other portions (a skimmer section and a live rock live sand section) handle the bulk of the flow... I will diagram and post for suggestion or opinions. Btw, my seniors are really pushing me to see this through before they graduate, I love hearing their enthusiasm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 ...but the idea by mutely to maximize the critters getting back to the tank is extremely enticing from a classroom standpoint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherreefer Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 Ok, just purchased a return pump on Amazon, just need to wrap up some extracurricular stuff at school this weekend and I'll be under construction next week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Ok, just purchased a return pump on Amazon, just need to wrap up some extracurricular stuff at school this weekend and I'll be under construction next week! What did you get?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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