Fairly Simple sump, suggestions?

Hey guys! Brand new to the forum! I'm working on gathering all my supplies for a 29 gallon reef, with a 20 gallon tall as my sump. I did a quick sketch on google sketchup and wanted to know what you guys think. It's got a space for water to flow in that will have some live rock just to dissipate the bubbles, then it will go to the skimmer, which leads over the main baffle to the refugium. From there through the bubble trap and to the return pump. I'll be using an AquaC Urchin skimmer.

Any idea on how to make it better, all the while keeping it fairly simple?

Also, when it comes time to put the bubble trap baffles in... How do you get the silicone in between the baffles (being they are 1" apart)? That one has mistified me for a while now.

Hoping to get good info! Thanks!

-Scott

 

First, welcome to 3REEF!

second: your sump design looks like a good build. Somethings to consider: Im not sure what you are planing on putting in your fuge section but typically these compartments require slow flow to allow for ideal growth with in the fuge. This is most commonly achieved by using the 'central return method'. The intake usually uses a "T" and a ball valve to direct flow to the skimmer compartment on one end of the sump and to the fuge compartment on the opposite end with the return pump being placed in the center of the sump in its own compartment. however, this method will be difficult to implement in a tall tank like yours.
at the moment you fuge area will still be a good place for a DSB and some LR and perhaps some mangroves. other than that your sump looks good and your use of the baffles are correct. i would place the baffles as close to the return pump as possible while still leaving some room but the goal here is to maximize your fuge area as much as possible.

Silicone issue: you apply the silicone all at once and place the baffles in at the same time starting from either end. should be fine.

 

That'll work but I would put the return in the middle and move the fuge to the end. Split your drain line with a tee and valve the flow into your fuge area to slow flow through it down.
I say this because imo you don't want to skim water before your fuge if your gonna put chaeto or other macros in it and you don't want to skim flow from the fuge because you'll remove alot of the pod life your trying to send to your tank.

 

LOL we must have been typing at the same time...I didn't copy you honest lol

 

i know you didnt... you worded the central return build much better than me and in fewer words

 

Ok so being that both of you seem to be pretty experienced, I'd definitely be inclined to follow your suggestions. I want the drain area on the side it's currently on, but when i put the fuge on the far end, and return in the center, do i need additional bubble traps from the fuge to the return? Or just from the skimmer to the return?

I also dont mean to sound stupid, but i've done (countless) hours of research on this whole thing, but what is "cheato". It's something i havent yet learned about.

I appreciate the suggestions, and am looking forward to finally building this!

Thanks
-Scott

 

chaeto is a macro algae, used to filter out nitrates in your tank. helps keep them under control

 

no sounding stupid here..

No you don't need any more bubble traps. I'd build the baffle from the fuge a little taller than the last one in the trap. too avoid bubbles from the fuge make a splash zone under the return with either LR rubble or chaeto. chaeto along the fuge baffle will help catch and rise bubble too.

 

When you say build the baffle from the fuge a little taller than the last one in the bubble trap, do you mean if i use my current set up? If so, it's hard to tell in the image, but the first baffle from the inlet to the fuge is about 3/4 inch taller than the last baffle in the bubble trap.

Otherwise im trying to figure out the water flow right now if i switch it up... I dont even think i have to change much actually, just adjust the location of the baffles in the tank to make the center a bit larger and make the inlet just before the bubble trap so microbubbles are filtered out before getting to the return pump.

Thanks for the explanation of cheato!

Do i seem like im on the right path here with everything? Lol.

 

good luck! post some pics when done building it.. eventually Im going to build one, but just have mine as a refugium only box with 1 small pump moving water from my wet/dry into fuge and make fuge hieght taller then wet/dry with gravity feed return 2" pipe draining back to wetdry sump.. so my refugium flow is only regulated with size of pump feeding water to fuge..