Experienced sump builders, I need your thoughts on a project.

1st post here on 3reef, love the site, and chances are I'll be here to stay.

I've had the aquarium addiction for a couple years now, but I'm finally looking to start a decently sized aquarium (55). I've been solely into freshwater but I'm looking to setup the 55 in a way that will allow me to easily convert to salt.

So here's my idea. I received a free 20 gallon long tank with a cracked side panel that I want to turn into a sump/refugium. I plan to either replace the cracked panel or just glue a baffle to it since nobody will be seeing it when hidden away in the stand of the 55. I plan on using a DIY PVC overflow tube, and 1, maybe 2 return pumps. I found some pond pumps at Harbor Freight that are 528 GPH with ceramic shafts and 7.87' of lift for $9 a piece so I bought a pair to see how they do. If they work I'll be ecstatic since they have an enclosed pre-filter, built in flow control valve, and a large selection of threaded hose barbs and what not included with it. If they don't they will be used as utility pumps.



Now, to the reason I need your help. I'm not sure how well this Sump design is going to work since I've never seen one like it anywhere else. Since I want to try and use this sump for as long as I can with as many tanks as possible, it needed to have room for both return pumps that have a 6"x8" footprint, as shown by the box on the far left. Then next to that box is a over-under-over bubble baffle. Then a decent sized refugium. Finally the 2 filter areas of the box. Both squares are 6x6, and are planned to be nearly the full 12" of tank height. The aquarium drains to the top box where the filter sponges/floss/mechanical filtration will reside. The water will flow down through the mechanical, under a baffle then up through the next chamber which will be filled with ceramic bio-media and topped off with a replaceable bag of carbon.

I'm mainly concerned about having enough flow through the first 2 chambers, but I'm certainly open to any thoughts/suggestions/ideas regarding the rest of the setup.

 

Welcome to 3Reef.

Instead of ceramic media, I would go with live rock rubble. I like filter socks a lot better than sponges, but thats more of a personal preference. I had a similar setup on my first sump but decided to convert it from a fuge to hold a large skimmer with plans of adding a 10 gallon fuge on later. Dont be too concerned about high flow here, you want slow movement through a fuge. You want higher flow in your display from powerheads or closed loops to make the most of your best filtration, live rock.

~Will.

 

Agrees with above ;D

Other thoughts, I have a 50g tank I use for GHA control research and other testing. The fuge on this tank has a retun pump rated at 600gph and that is more than enough flow, so I think one of your return pumps would be enough. If possible I would try and work a skimmer into the design if space allows.

 

I wasn't too concerned with a huge amount of flow, I was primarily concerned with making sure there was enough flow that the water level doesn't end up backing up due to inadequate sized baffles, and end up bypassing the filter media.

With any luck, 1 of those pumps will be more than enough and I will have half of that return portion to use for a skimmer when I get to the point of actually converting over to salt. If not, I'll probably give up on the refugium and just put it in there.

 

So I went to Lowe's today to pick up the parts for my PVC overflow, and while I was there I was looking at the Plexiglas to use as dividers, I figured it would be easier to work with than glass. But while I was looking, I found some 10x12 panes of glass for $2.32 that would be perfect. The only issue I could think of was how I'm going to make an overflow from the bio filter area into the refugium. If it was plexi, I'd just cut teeth in it, but since it's glass, I don't have that option. Any ideas?

 

I think ceramic media will give more surface are compared to a bit of rock rubble is such an area. I used rings and just took the bags out every water change and rinsed them off. You need to keep them clean. Like any media.

 

I already have a LOT of ceramic media, so unless it causes a problem, that's what I'll be using. I got it for more than 75% off when a local PETSMART closed. I have six 3"x8" filter bags full of the stuff, and I paid probably $15 dollars for it.

 

I think you should find a way to incorporate a protein skimmer in your sump somewhere. A protein skimmer is a very importent piece of equipment for the health of your tank. The return pumps you have if used singlely I think will be too small. I also have a 55g tank and I have a 30g sump below it and I needed to use a mag12 pump which is rated for 1200 gph at 0' head height. Off hand I dont know what the gph is at 3' though. Also it depends on how many returns you have going into your tank. I have 3.

 

I'd go with the rubble rock over the ceramic media and you don't really need mechanical filtration in a reef tank. If you are planning a fish only then maybe but for most systems with coral you will likely end up with high nitrates and po4. I know it sounds counterintuitive but too much bioarea will process the waste too quickly

Consider going with a 70 gallon over the 55 or another tank with more depth. The 55 will really limit what you can do around aquascaping.

 

I'm going to set it up on a FW community tank for now until I get everything ready for a saltwater setup, hence the need for mechanical.