55 gallon sump/fuge work in progress

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

Well since my 55 has been reseal with fresh silicone and water tested, everything at that point was thumbs up. I layed out the sump/fuge roughly, and at this time I have the fuge wall in place.

This give the fuge area a dimension of 10.5 x 13 x 13, using a calculator online with those dimension minus the .5 on the length, it came back the size of the fuge is 7 gallons. figuring this should be big enough for either a 75 or 90 dt tank, this is the third chamber.

the first chamber is where the protein skimmer will be in, and the size of this chamber will be about 11 or 12 x 13. the only thying is deciding how high i need the first and third baffles, for a over under over baffles. I have a AquaC Urchin skimmer with the dimension of 19" tall x 6" wide x 2-3/4" deep, and the footprint is 6 x 6 with the mj1200. plan on overdrive this skimmer with a mag 3 with a valve.

the Water level exit height is 12-1/4" and this 55 height is 18" - 19", so knowing this how tall should the first baffle be. because the 2nd baffle will extend down from the top of the tank and have a clearence under it of about 1.5 - 2" then the water will go up and over the 3rd final baffle into the return area. Thinking on the thirdx baffle should be 1.5" - 2" lower than the first baffle. So I just need help on the height of the first baffle.

Lets here everyone input on this please.

[kilted celt]

On my sump my bubble trap walls are- 1/2 in from top, 1/2 from bottom, 1 in from top.
Hope this helps, sorry it took so long.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

thanxs for ur input kilted celt.

Here's what I'm thinking of for the first chamber. Since the Water level exit height is 12-1/4" on the skimmer, thinking about making that first wall between 10" to 11" high. or make a small stand for the skimmer sets on to bring the water exit hieght up an additional 3 - 4 inches. but of course to go this stand route I would need to get some weldon.

I'm already thinking that the fuge wall taking that out and increase the height of it from 13" to 15" or 16" with a 15" height and the same dimension length and width from the above it will give me 8.86 gallons and with a 16" height it will give me 9.45 gallon for the fuge compare to the current 7.68 gallon fuge that i have right now.

[kilted celt]

The only other advice that I have is to be sure that you have the volume free in the pump chamber or the skimmer chamber to take the additional water from the tank when the pump is not running.
I have enough in mine, but just... and by luck.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

that's why I'm trying to figure a good height for all the baffles. My plans is once I get the dt , sand, and LR to start cycle the tank, I'll have everything running including the sump. So I'll shut the sump down and let the backflow happen from the dt to sump, to make sure I have that setup properly and that the sump won't flood from backflow.

At least I can say that everyone on RS had always said even to me as well other new members, going slow and doing the research will pay for itself in the long run. I have to agree, because since I only got 1 tank, 55 I can try to get this sump/fuge setup without having to worry about it, compare to rushing the job.

I guess thats why I'm trying to figure the height I need for certain baffles or the intial wall for the intial water overflow.

[BLAKEJOHN]

I would set your first bafflae at 17" tall. This would require a 5.5" stand for the skimmer to set on and then skimmer would be submerged 11.5" and would leave .75" of free fall from the output of the skimmer (you dont want the skimmer output to be submerged at all, this would cause backpressure and the skimmer will overflow)

The next bafflewould also be 17". Mounted 2" from the top and 1" from the bottom. The reason it is mounted 2" from the top is that this give you the ability to utilize the entire 55 gallon tank in the event of a severe overflow. First the return will fill up and then the fuge section will fill up and then you have 2 more inches across the entire tank to axcept more water.

The third baffle would be 15". This will set the level in the fuge area or center section.

This setup would give you 11.48gls in the first section. 17.14gls in the fuge section. And with the return section filled with 13" of water this would be 8.1gls.
This would provide you with being able to overflow 12.63gls into the sump without spilling a drop.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

thanxs Blakejohn, I understood the baffle height more. because it was the output of the skimmer I was just wasn't sure, I did know I didn't want water to enter that area of the skimmer.

[MountainFish]

Great info BlakeJohn!

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

well the skimmer section (section 1) I have that layed out using 1/4" tape. I'll use the online calculater play around with the height of the first wall, to see how many gallons I can get in that chamber, then I should have a good idea of baffle heights.

I do like the idea of leaving couple inche from the top open with the center baffle to be able use the entire tank size if needd for over flow should reach that height in the sump.

[SilverDragon]

edit sorry

[SilverDragon]

Edit

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

ok after doing some configuring on paper and using a measuring tape on the 55 sump/fuge I got my dimensions that I'm gonna use. next week I'll buy either acrylic or glass sheet depending on the final price to cut everything down to the sizes I need and get them silicone in place. Then I'll do a water test to see if the skimmer and fuge section hold water and not leak, if it holds then i'll add water in the skimmer section so it over flow and go under the second baffle and bring the water level up close to the edge of the third baffle and let it set to see if water won't leak into the return section. If it does then why not fill the return section up and I'll take pics during this process.

[kilted celt]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Acrylic didn't stick to glass with silicone so you has to use glass with glass...

[astiesi]

That is correct, silicone will not adhere properly to acrylic. Many people have had luck using a bead of silicone on each side of a piece of acrylic to wedge it in, but I have also seen this technique fail. My recommendation is to go with glass.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

that is true. Thats why I got to get prices on the glass I need to do this sump with.

K let me ask you guys this, on a 55 sump/fuge how thick would you use 1/8" or 1/4" thick glass. Because like I said i have the layout now and height for baffles and the wall overflow for the fuge. Yes planning on having a dsb in the fuge as well as chaeto