New sump design...........hit me with some input
 

Here is 2 rough layouts of my new sump design. Hope it's self explanatory

Design #1

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps10352519.jpg


Design #2

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/x...psf1c6bbc5.jpg

Well it looks really fancy. On the first drawing the baffle heights look good. I've found you need to have the socks about 2" above the water or they tend to shift out of there holder. On your second drawing Your sharpie lines show the water being about the same height as the sock holder. From my experience (what little there is) I think that you will find your water height will be too high in the middle chamber even with clean socks as you need to have a slight difference in pressure for the water to push through the sock. The other thing is you want to have the safety channel. If your socks plug up you want to have a way for the water to go over the baffle. Right now it would hit the floor. Not that 8 socks are going to plug quickly. Only other question I had was is there a specific reason for running 2 systems back to back like that? I have 2500gph running through 2 4" socks and the water still splashes into them making me think they can handle even more flow. Couple of 7" socks and you could run the whole amount through them. Then you got room for a refugium or frag tank. It's an awesome size, excited to see this one get set up. If its anything like your other tanks it'll be stellar. I like the built in chambers and ato. Good use of space.

I have no idea what any of that means. :lol:

How about an explanation for simpletons like myself?

Water flows in, water flows out?


Curious why you have 2 return chambers?

Quick answer for tonight on the 2 return chambers. Going to be running 2 - DC10000 return pumps with OM 4ways on each to a total of 8 return lines threw the back of my new tank.

Thanks for clearing that up! I was confused/mesmerized by all those chambers.

Speaking of chambers, I am against integrated dosing chambers :-). I frequently clean the crud out of my jugs by rinsing them in the sink. Can't imagine what a pain it would be to try and clean out integrated ones in your sump. I suppose you could just live with any residue and not bother to clean them.

Likin' either design

What about incorporating your heater(s) into one of the bubble traps to save space

Mine are in a wasted bubble trap, are always wet no matter what the return pump is doing, and are not fully submerged so hopefully they'll last longer (not fill up with water over time)

Same idea as what you are planning;
Drain to whatever chamber that overflows through the socks, then have the heaters in the next (upflow) chamber and voila, heaters are always wet, easy to remove and keeps the tops dry

Hopefully your sump is deep enough for your heaters to stand up straight :wink:

I ended up re-designing my sump (last pic), but thought these first pics would be good for a visual

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00812.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00826.jpg

This is where I changed the design and added the socks before the heaters
The last baffle is hidden by the center brace

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC01316.jpg

I see there is some concern about your sock tray height ...

I have 3 x 4" socks (only equals 1 x 7") in my sump and run an Eheim 1262
My sock tray is about 1/2" below the lip of my trim, and when the mesh socks plugged up, water flowed over the baffle (1/4" below the trim) without ever going near the trim

I also don't have the water dropping into the socks, but rather just flowing through them
My socks are fully submerged and have never shifted

I don't see an issue with your sock trays being anywhere you want them

Water levels for two return pumps will not be the same.

I say drop a baffle from each bubble trap. Over kill. More sump space.