Refugium/sump design, need input

Hi everyone,

I have been designing my refugium of 60g (48.5 x 15.5 x 17.25). This will be for 150 or 180 gallons DT. My plan would be Drain + skimmer, Refugium, and return. This is the dimensions:

Drain + Skimmer chamber = 18" x 15.5" x 17.25"
Refugium chamber = 26" x 15.5" x 17.25"
Return chamber = 10" 15.5" x 17.25"
The baffles between chambers (bubble trap) = 1" apart.

I will be using Reef Octopus Diablo XS 225 Protein Skimmer. Also 2 external return pumps.


My questions:
1) Is my return chamber too small?
2) Do I really need bubble trap baffles between fuge and return?

Thank you for your input.

 

Here's mine, smaller scale than yours but the concept is there.

 

It seems like, yours is the other way around. Drain, fuge, and return + skimmer. I am still not 100% sure which one is better. I have seen people do either way. Also, my other concern about my design, is that since the drain will be with skimmer, the skimmer might not have steady level of water.

 

My return is the same side as my skimmer, I have no issue with water level.

 

Yeah, that's what I meant, but my plan is the skimmer is with the drain, which has a lot of water movement. Return chamber should be fine, sorry it was typo...lol.

 

I would try to make your return section as big as possible. The reason being is this is where all your evap will take place, and the bigger it is, the less topping off you or your ATO will have to do. but overall those are great dimensions and a great design.

 

+1

 

Thank you for the response. I am trying to create as big as possible for the refugium. I am just a little concerned about 2 return pumps might suck too fast from return chambers.

Cosmo, from what I see, your drain and skimer are in the same chamber. Do you have problem with water level for your skimmer?

 

Not at all, as long os your pumps aren't rated for more gph than your overflow can handle you'll be fine. But you can install some valves on your return lines so you can dial the flow back if needed.

I did my sump this way so I could control the flow to the fuge and make it lower flow, I dropped a small T into it and put a valve on that to slow it even more.