Sump/Fuge Questions.

Is a 20 gallon long big enough for a sump/fuge for a 75 gallon?How do I know how high to make the baffles?How big should I make the cambers?Should I use a gate valve or a ball valve for overflow water from the tank to tee off and go to the sump?How do I make the overflow water entering the sump quiet?
Thanks as always for the help.
Daniel

 

Baffle height should be based on your skimmer's needs. You will need up to 7.5 gallons of back flow space based on where you place your siphon breaks on your returns. Make the section for the skimmer slightly larger than the foot print of your skimmer. Most make the fuge the largest section. The return area should be large enough to house the return pump and not expose it from evaporation for what ever period you wish to have between top offs.

Either valve will work but gate valves can be fined tuned easier. The tee should send water to the fuge. The skimmer section and the fuge section should empty into the return section.

I haven't mastered the quiet entry, but it can be made less noisy through using an elbow to direct the flow from the overflow along the surface of the sump.

 

properly designed and executed it will be fine. The skimmer will determine the hight of the baffles to regulate the water level of the skimmer. Be sure the 3rd baffle of the bubbletrap is slightly lower than the first which sets the skimmer chambers water level. If it's not it will cause flow issues. Most skimmers require between 7" and 10" water level for proper operation, the 20L is big enough to provide this.
I have provided a diagram of a typical setup and a pic of my 20L I originally built for my 90.

 

I have a Sea Life 200 Impact Skimmer.When I got it the directions had no suggestions for water depth.Also can I make the fuge overflow baffle higher than the skimmer baffle?

 

yes, by putting the fuge on the opposite end of the sump and the return in the middle the fuge wall can be as tall as you like.
you should do some testing with the skimmer to determine the water level, maybe contact the manufacturer as well.

 

Will do.Thanks again.
Daniel

 

heres how i did mine. skimmer on left, refugium on right, return in middle.
i have it teed off from the drain with a ball valve to slow down the fuge side. works like a charm so far.