Setting Up Refugium & Sump ** NEED ADVICE**

[ZachAttack]

OK, I've decided to expand my reef tank from a 30g to a 90g and use the 30g for a sump/refugium. I'm fairly new at this and would appreciate having some questions answered :smile:

1) i'm going to make all the refugium things on my own, what is the best way to create a siphon that won't fail in the event of the pump quitting and the water level dropping?

2) what should I go with for a sump pump for that size of tank, where would I find one, what type is recommended, and what is the recommended turn over rate??

3) do I plumb with PVC?? I've heard rumours about it being hazardous to the marine life

Thanks guys, again I'm really new at this and it's all an adventure for me. And I'd like to learn making the least amount of fatal mistakes as possible. any tips are appreciated :biggrin::biggrin:

[Marlin65]

Thats a lot of questions do some reading to get a better idea, but PVC is fine so is ABS.
It's best to drill your tank and have an overflow.
Flow depends on what you want to keep but for a return pump on a 90 you will want to run 800 to 1800 gallon per hour. OA or JL will have them.
That is just my opinion though.:wink:

[ZachAttack]

Ok, So I am guessing that if i drill it I would want to put the hole at the top of where I want my waterline to be?? And thank you for the help. It is appreciated :wink:

[fishytime]

Have a read through the first few pages of my tank journal thread (and the rest of it if you so desire:biggrin:).....It a pretty basic, relatively simple design... post here, or you can pm me if you have any questions re my system.... http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=40669

[ZachAttack]

thanks, I just took a look. But one issue I see is that your drain is drilled into the bottom of your tank, so what happens if the power dies and you lose your pump?? I forsee a major spill happening. How do you avoid that?? Also, what keeps the drain from sucking out any of your plant life and korals?

[bvlester]

He has over flow boxes in each corner where the lip on the 2 sides is about 1/4 inch lower than the maximum height of the water by the looks of things. He then has pipe stands one is the emergency over flow which is at the same height as the lip for the over flow boxes the over pipe stand shorter one is the main drain pipe. In case of a power outage only the first 1/4 inch of water from the DT can flow down to the sump. You have to make sure that the sump is large enough to hold the extra water without over flowing. When the power comes back on the water will then return to the DT and flow over in to the over flow boxes and in to the sump. You use stand pipes to make the over flow quieter almost to the point you don't hear it. There is different was of building overflows you can have an external one that you drill the top rear of the tank. Or as I will be doing a back wall over flow but being it can eat up real estate I am making mine only the top 6 to 8 inches of the tank which will create a lip over the bake of the tank on the inside this will inhibit algae growing on the back wall a bit. I can put mushrooms along the back wall they will grow ok there. It all depends on what you want your tank to look like and how much effort you want to put into it. What I am going to do will be harder but more efficient in the long run.

I seen a web site that gives good advise on sumps and how to make one step by step.
I will try and finf it and post link her for you.

I found a couple of web sites.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sumpoflowsetup/ht/sumpoverflow.htm
http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquarium/AquariumSumpDesign.html
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/diysumpplans/DIY_Sump_Plans.htm
Bill

[ZachAttack]

OK, so I think I understand this a bit better. So, with the lip type that you are planning on, does the back wall of your tank need to be shorter than the other walls so that it will flow over that into the overflow?? I`m confused how you get that to drain into the overflow without drilling. Also, I took a closer look at the refugium that he has, and am confused as to how that part fills, because the wall is higher than the sump section.

[hillegom]

Have a look at this
http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html
There is also a lot of other info there if you look around

[bvlester]

Have a look at this
http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html
There is also a lot of other info there if you look around

That is the site I was looking for but was rushed as we were dropping our daughters off at my mom's for the night a treat for them. anyways good show you posted it here.

Marry christmas to everyone.

Bill