Sump/Fuge Build Thread (Help)

Hey Guys,

So, just picked up a 20g long that i'd like to turn into a new (Badly needed) Sump/Fuge. This is for my 75g (wannabe a reef) tank.

I'll definitely post pics and all that fun stuff as i get going on this.

My first question is what should the spacing be on my bubble trap baffles?

Is an inch gap big enough between the baffles?

How big of a gap for the middle pane from the bottom?

 

An inch and a half is better. The wider the gap, the slower the flow, the more effective the baffle is. Another 1.5 inch on the bottom will do.

 

Ok, so that messes up the dimensions i was about to post... anyhow.

Another question, should i have the fuge in the middle and return on the end or have the fuge on the end like in this diagram?

And another...
Should i have it set so that the flow is limited to the fuge and enters on one side and exits on the other?

Or maybe just tee off my drain and have half go to the skimmer on the left and the other to the fuge on the right? This sounds way easier than what i have diagrammed. However, would it be better for the fuge water to be ran through the skimmer first? Does it matter?

Left hand side is drain from DT which flows throught the BT to the Return and then fuge on the far right...

 

1. put the return in the middle
2. T off the drain, use a ball valve on the fuge side so you can limit the flow into the fuge and force the rest to the skimmer chamber.

The basic design is tried and trusted, lose that piece that you show connecting between the chambers for the flow. As for the baffles your fine, just shrink the fuge to 10" to get the extra space for the baffles.

good luck

 

Ok, so here's the latest draw up...


Skimmer on far left - BT - Return - BT - FUG Drain t's off to both sides

Should i increase the height of the baffle on the skimmer side? In the even of a power failure i'm afraid it would cause the skimmer to over flow.

Do i need the BT off the FUGE side? i'd love to get rid of these mircro bubles...

 

dont think you need a bubble trap for the fuge side. flow is slow enough that micro bubbles shoulnt be a problem

 

Did my baffle's at an 1 1/4" apart. and the middle baffle is 2" from the bottom.. You should be fine with what you have chosen...

 

ok, so...
is the consensus that i don't need the bT on the Fuge side? If so that's sweet cause that'll give me a few more inches for the fuge side.

Also, what do people think about the skimmer side baffle?

I would think that i'd want the water level to be fairly high in that section. Theoretically as high as it would be if the power ever shut off. That way when the power comes back on, as far as my skimmer knows, nothings changed and it wont over flow... I can always raise the skimmer itself off the bottom to achieve the desired height.

 

Oh, and finally cleaned the thing out. Been sitting in my parents basement for prob 10 years! Nasty... planning on giving it another thorough treatment though with vinegar.

 

I don't have any trap on my fuge. At recommended flow, it is just s slight sheet of water down the pane and it causes no bubbles.

Your skimmer section is set at 7... I would do 10"... at least 8"-9".

How high is your tank?

You need the skimmer section to have the ability to set your skimmer at the deepest recommended level for adjustment. Most skimmers are good at 8-10.