90 Gallon Build - Here We Go!

Hey! I'm trying here. :-[

 

Nobody starts as a guru. We all start as rookies. I bought my setup from a coworker. So I never started from scratch, or even cycled a tank. I would have gone insane trying to jump in from scratch. I nearly went off the deep end just buying a setup and repalcing everything but the tank and stand.;D

 

I'm just teasing you.

Okay, one more question about the sump, then I will ask no more! :

I'm going to divide the tank into three sections using baffles. In one section I'm going to have filter media, in another the heater, and in the other the protein skimmer and return pump. (I may have a refugium too, haven't decided yet.)

Does it matter what order the chambers are in?

 

not with what you r putting in there if u had a fuge u would want the skimmer before ur fuge so ur pods make it to the dt and not skimmed out

 

I was very confused starting out. So many options. I started out on here asking 1,000 questions about skimmers. Heck, I'm still confused most of the time. Always something new. Impatience won't get you anywhere but frustrated once you get your tank up and going. I am very impatient and this hobby is teaching it to me one painful step at a time. It costs too much money to rush into something here. Not like some other hobbies where you can DIY and save a few bucks or buy and just get it done, in this hobby if you research, DIY 2 things, and buy one other item used, you save over $500. You can really stretch the budget if you give it some time. You'll thank yourself later

 

Okay, thanks a lot!!

I'm doing my sketch right now.

 

The skimmer will put out microbubbles. you need to seperate your skimmer and return pump with bubble traps. Those are the baffles you will have to install. The heater can go anywhere there is flow. Skimmer section, return section.

The skimmer should get raw water from the DT. It's OK if you want to filter that with floss or socks, but I don't use any filters. To run carbon you can just use a bag in the return section or a media reactor like 2 fishes or Bulk reef supply.

If you want a fuge, the best way of going about it is to split your drain. The main going to the skimmer section on one side, and the other going the the fuge. The return section for your return pump should be in the middle. That way the skimmer and fuge both get raw water.

Now some folks do run the fuge then the skimmer or visa versa to the return section. But that way you can't slow down the flow through your fuge. All the water will go through it. The fuge only needs 10-20% of the flow through it.

So three panes of glass between skimmer and return for bubble traps, and one pane to seperate the fuge. 4 panes/baffles total. Here is my build, there are numerous others the same way.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/my-sump-fuge-equipment-closet-build-59007.html

 

Okay, here's my first draft (without a refugium).

Tell me what you guys think.

 

Some skimmers require shallow water depths. What kind are you going to get? You will probably want to set the water level in a second chamber (and place the skimmer there) to the height of your skimmer, or be able to easily add a stand to get it to the right height. Mine only sits in 7 1/4" water. You will also want a bubble trap after the skimmer. Also, keep in mind all evaporation will be realized at the return pump chamber so if you have shallow water there, beware, and make sure you have an ATO.

 

looks good to me only problem i see is u having to fill the sump often iwth such a low baffle on the rp section maybe make it even with the section before it