sump filtration

Yes the return teed off to the fuge...but I won't be running a fuge. I plan on having 3 sections...in take skimmer/return/fuge but the fuge will more or less be empty for now. I'm still on the fenc on weather or not in want a fuge but I don't want to build a 2 section sump then a month down the road change my mind and have to rebuild it.

 

Sump Design

I purchased a 55 gallon from Petco, and turned it into a 3 section sump/refugium. The water drains into the refugium, goes thru some pipes into the skimmer/ equipment compartment, and goes thru three baffles before the return pump compartment.

 

The only problem with your setup is you can't control the water flow that's going to the fuge. With your overflow draining straight into your fuge your getting the full flow of your system going to the fuge. What is your plan if you need to slow the flow to the fuge? I see more and more people are going with the design that has the return in the center. So the water flows from the overflow to the intake/skimmer sedtion ...through a bubble trap to the return section. Then from the return pump it tees off and 1 part goes to the tank and the other has a ball valve and goes to the fuge. This way u can tune in exactly how much flow you want going to the fuge.

 

Mine drains to one section, water flows through 3 baffles, then comes my fuge, followed by one more baffle, then I have my return and skimmer. It works great for me.

 

Thanks for the info but once again the more control you can have over your setup the better off you are. And that's why I will be going with the return in the center. That way I can control the flow going to the fuge..

 

I think that's a good decision.

 

I dont have this in use yet, still building my system, and wont set up until May, I am still open to plumbing changes, but the way this works is I have a piece of glass dividing the 55 in half, there are two 1 inch holes drilled in the glass. Water enters the PCS pipe on the Fuge side, and goes down an 8 inch or so piece of pvc pipe into the sump area. On the Sump sied I have two plastic ball valves on these pieces of pipe so I can reduce the flow if I wish. As far as the whole of my system flowing thru the fuge, the pvc pipe from my overflow T's off when it gets into the fuge dispersing the flow and not directing it at the DSB that I will have in place.

 

Well I'm getting closer to completing this project. I got my glass cut today and got the silicone. Got all butb1 baffle silconed in. Going to wait till morning before I install the last one. I'm going to have to pull the center brace out of my stand to get the sumo in has anyone had any problems removing this? I'm a little scared in don't want it to collapse.

 

I'd be worried too but people seem to do it without problems. I'm sure there's some sort of caution to use.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on if I should brace up my stand somehow when I remove the center brace to get the sump under my stand? Maybe take half the water out of the tank to reduce the weight while the brace is removed? Or just knock out the center brace throw the tank in there and get the brace back in quickly?