20g Sump design

Thought id post here before doing anything i might regret, any input is appreciated. The water will be coming in from a durso standpipe and im leaning towards a Rio 8 or 10HF for the return pump.

Some pros and cons as i see them:
Pros:
The flow in the refugium will be high towards the top where my chaeto will hopefully float, but low towards the bottom and thus not an issue for any pods.

Cons:
The fuge will receive water that has already been partially skimmed.
The return pump will be unprotected against any detritus from the fuge, like little pieces of chaeto.

Thanks

 

Bump!

 

I would put the baffles after the fuge and put some type of filter after the first baffle to eliminate runaway chaeto or anything that can damage the impellor on the pump. Just use a single baffle, maybe double, after the protein skimmer to keep the height of the water for the protein skimmer to operate at an optimal level.

 

If you put the return in the middle chamber and split your drain pipe to divert about 1/4 of the flow to the fuge side, your fuge and skimmer will both get "dirty" water and both will overflow to the return pipe. Your fuge will also get slower flow this way.

 

Great info. I'm starting to think about replacing my wet/dry with a similar design made out of a 20 Tall tank.

I want to keep an eye on this thread and see what other suggestions come in.

 

This is not a good idea...

In order to "divert" flow from a drain pipe some, type of valve will have to be added. Never a good idea on a drain. Find a better way.



Better off to put a Tee from your RETURN pump into the fuge area. On this line you can have a valve to control the flow going into the fuge.

I do agree it's better to have the return in the middle.

If you did that, you can get a tiny low flow pump that sits in the drain side of the sump and pumps water into the fuge area, which slowly overflow into the return section (in the middle).

 

Your right, I should have mentioned that i run a herbie overflow which makes the valves on the drain pipe a non-issue.

 

20gal tall is in my future....going to keep an eye on this one

 

Looking to build myself a 20g sump soon as well. Waiting for a $1/gal sale at Petco. Ill be doing the return in the middle, with a small power head or whatever putting slow flow into the refugium. I like this idea alot, just trying to decide on a DIY overflow or the CPR model, tank is undrilled.

 

Same setup I went with on my sump. Works fine for me. Sump is a 20L.

Under cabinet shot before I had the baffles in the sump. Bubble trap is right next to the drain lines just like you have it in your drawing.