Help me design my sump please.

Hello everyone. I need help designing my sump. Inside dimensions are 12.5" wide x 47.5" long x 12" tall.

I was planning on doing three chambers. The water coming out of the tank would be split into two. Half the water going directly into the skimmer and the rest flowing into the refuge.

The refuge is also going to be the home to my mantis shrimp so I want it rather large.

My question is how high should I make each of the partitions? The display tank can hold roughly 3 gal above the over flow. So I think my last chamber should be 5" long so that it is holds less water than the top.


(green lines are dirty water coming in, blue line is clean water going out)

The other two chambers I am not sure about. I can figure out the spacing myself, but how high should I make the partitions?

Also, what thickness of glass should I use?

 

Subscribed ... I'm thinking about doing a 55 gallon standard for a sump / fuge.

Also - why would you put your mantis into the fuge / sump?

 

Just as a place to keep him. That way I can move him out of his 10g (and it can become another QT). The water quality will be a lot better in a bigger tank, not that he really seems to mind much. I will probably divide the refuge into two using some type of plastic screen so I can see my mantis easier. There should be plenty of room in the sump for it.

Also he can't go into the display because a trigger fish is going to live there.

 

FYI the size tank you're looking at is actually a standard tank size, it's a 33 long, if you don't want to build it yourself.

Basically the height of your water/baffles should be determined by your protein skimmer. They have ideal operating levels.

Also, you might want a larger return pump chamber, that's where the height of your water is going to fluctuate from evaporation, I would make sure you have enough volume in there so that if your tank doesn't get topped off for a day or two your return pump won't run dry (even if you have an ATO system I would still do this in case it fails).

I don't think I would worry about having enough room in your last chamber for all the siphon-back when your return pump goes off, it's ok if the water goes above the baffle heights generally into your skimmer chamber in this example.

More sump info that answers some of your questions.
Melevsreef.com - What is a Sump?

 

I may end up putting my c-skim 1200 on this tank since I can't get it into my other tank, and it doesn't care what the water level was.

 

what is your main tank size?

 

Same size as the sump.

 

My sump is setup as skimmer/fuge/return....
My return section actually has the area bellow the fuge as well...

 

If your skimmer doesn't care (are you sure it operates just as efficiently at any water level and it's not just marketing?) then I would build your baffles as high as you can while still having enough room to accomodate any siphon-back when your return pump is off. More water volume is always better. Better give yourself some extra room of course, you don't want it going up to the rim of the sump every time you shut your pump off.

 

Fairly certain it doesn't matter. I will probably be using my c-skim 1200 on this tank since it won't fit under the stand of my other tank. The water level inside the skimmer body is controlled with a ball valve and it can be mounted externally. I am going to be placing it inside the sump just in case it leaks or something.