Critique my sump design.

[waucedah_joe]

Ok, here goes. After much thought and research I think I'm close to final design for my new sump/fuge to go with my 75 gal. reef tank.



I plan on a 1200 gph HOB overflow. Drain will enter sump on the right side where my AquaC remora pro skimmer will hang off the right side. Water will flow through the baffles to the return section where I plan to use a Aqua Medics Ocean Runner 6500 pump, (1700 gph), for my return pump. The return will have 3 flow paths. First is about 150 gph to the UV sterilizer which will discharge to the refugium, second recirculation back to the return section for any excess pump flow, and 3rd will go back to the dsplay tank. Display tank manifold not designed yet. I plan to have a DSB, live rock, and Cheto macro algae in the fuge, and heaters in the return section.

Here's a couple more drawings with dimensions.





Any and all comments appreciated. Thanks.

[PhilOlsen]

WELCOME,

The design looks good, the only concern I have is the amount of flow. You really want to keep the turnover to 4-5 times tank volume per hour, I would go with a 400-600 GPH overflow instead of 1200.

[Woodstock]

Welcome to RS

Looks nice. Can you show how it will be plumbed?

[waucedah_joe]

Originally Posted by PhilOlsen

WELCOME,

The design looks good, the only concern I have is the amount of flow. You really want to keep the turnover to 4-5 times tank volume per hour, I would go with a 400-600 GPH overflow instead of 1200.

Thanks for the feedback. What do you see as a drawback to the higher flow? I originally started with the lower flow that you suggest but sought to increase the flow with the goal of getting the all of my powerheads out of the main tank and not adding an additional closed loop system. That's why I put my fuge section on the end instead of the middle so that all the sump flow did not go through the refugium. Also why I figured I'd through this out there before construction begins.

[waucedah_joe]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

Welcome to RS

Looks nice. Can you show how it will be plumbed?

Will post when I get it drawn up. I'm just figuring out how to do plumbing in Google sketchup.

[PhilOlsen]

It will be very tough to maintain 300-400 GPH in the fuge while the rest of the system is running at 1200, not impossible, but I see a lot of wet socks while getting it tweaked, you will prob. have to redirect almost 400 gph back into the sump anyway reducing the flow into the tank to 700-800 by the time you calculate elbows etc. IMO it would be much easier to slow the flow through the fuge and control the overall water level with a overall system flow of around 600.

[JOSEPHLB]

Tagging along in this thead (got an AquaC Remora Pro myself)..

What is the general concensous on where the fuge should be located in a sump?

Overflow --> Fuge --> Return
or
Overflow --> Return <-- Fuge (this would require tee'ing off the overflow plumbing, correct)

[waucedah_joe]

Originally Posted by PhilOlsen

It will be very tough to maintain 300-400 GPH in the fuge while the rest of the system is running at 1200, not impossible, but I see a lot of wet socks while getting it tweaked, you will prob. have to redirect almost 400 gph back into the sump anyway reducing the flow into the tank to 700-800 by the time you calculate elbows etc. IMO it would be much easier to slow the flow through the fuge and control the overall water level with a overall system flow of around 600.

Thanks for the input. Please forgive my lack of understanding, but this is an area where I have absolutely no experience. I want to have a high GPH return flow to hopefully eliminate the ugly power heads in the display tank. That's why I went with the larger capacity overflow and pump. I figured with 2 branches off of the return line, one to the fuge with a throttling valve and another back to the return section, also with a valve to bleed off any excess pump capacity that the display can't handle. Is your concern with balancing the flows?

[Witfull]

Joe i see what you are planning and looks good. when the plumbing is drawn in others will see your flow concept.

what he is planning is water being returned form the center of the tank, which will have a lower water level than the fuge. some water will be Tee'd off from the return and go to a UV. UV's need slower flow. this water will then feed the fuge and spill over into the center return section.

[lcstorc]

If I am reading it right it sounds similar to what we have set up except we have a separate tank for the fuge. Still part of the water coming from the tank goes through a valve and into the fuge. The rest goes into the sump and through the skimmer. The fuge then overflows into the return area in my sump.
It's working great for us so far.

[sasquatch]

Hi Joe, not sure I saw you in meet and greet ,so Welcome to RS. Love those drawings!! I think it flies just great, sure no shortage of supply for the skimmer, looks like about 10 gallons in the return area, guess your going to need a pretty good auto top off to keep up, any idea what your back flow from power out will be.Steve

[sasquatch]

I am not guilty of multi posting, I aint did nuthin, flog me if you will,but I am innocent!!!!!

[Witfull]

flogging? what do think this is? the Spanish Inquisition?

[PhilOlsen]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

I am not guilty of multi posting, I aint did nuthin, flog me if you will,but I am innocent!!!!!

50 lashes with a wet noodle for you.

[JFK_Jr]

I like the concept...

What program did you use to make those drawings? Really cool!