??? sump design!!!! NEW DESIGN ADDED!!
 

I have just bought a new tank and have to build a stand for it but I also want to build my own sump. So my question is this:

Where should the skimmers ( as in two t1000 ) be placed? Before or after the refugium?

I am planning a 44 1/2" x 21 1/2" x 16" sump with 4 compartments, this allows me to remove the sump from under the stand at any point. 1st compartment is the intake with LR rubble, 2nd compartment would be the refugium (from what I have read so far) with a DSB ( not sure if this is needed) and what ever else goes in there, 3rd compartment would be my skimmers with a bubble trap leading into the return compartment. There will also be 2 TLF Phosban 150's in the 1st compartment.

Would like to have some idea if I am going about it the right way and if there are any more thing's i should consider before I order my glass.

Also what kind of light do I need for the refugium? Where should heater be placed?

BTW the tank is 96" L x 22" W x 18" D

Here is what am thinking about building:

Greg,

Check out all Sump design here
http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

I don't think you want to have water flow out of refugium and into the skimmer at all because that reduces the efficiency of having the refugium. If the last compartment must be the return compartment then i think you should put skimmer in first and refugium in second

I think with 3 compartments, the middle one should be the one contains water that returns water to your tank. The skimmers will be one side and refugium will be on other side

But i am no expert so let's see what others have to say

I had looked at this site before but not to closely. I think I might have found a design I like on the first page links. It is the 35 gal sump it would fit great.

Hey Greg,

The skimmers should go after the refuge.

My Refuge consists of the first compartment where the water starts and flows through LR and DSB (use to have Cheato, but don't anymore), it then drops into the second compartment where one skimmer is, then goes through a bubble trap into the 3rd compartment where another skimmer sits and the Zeovit RX. The Reactor drops water into a bubble trap, and the 3rd compartment also flows through this 2nd bubble trap. The last compartment is where I have my return pump.

I hope this helps,

Rick

Your skimmer really should have first crack at the waste water. It removes detritus and other solids (food, fish crap, etc.) before they can enter the refugium, these cannot be processed by cheato or liverock and just end up as waste rotting away and contributing to nitrate problems. Then of course you have the problem of pods and any other lifeforms being destroyed by the skimmer before they can even get to your tank. So I say, let skimmer do its job, removing waste. Then let your refugium do its job, providing a safe (no predators), calm (low flow) place for pods, filter feeders etc to grow.

I take a different approach. Skimmers cannot process large particals of waste, Pods/critters/whatever in my LR and DSB can process/eat the larger pieces of garbage, producing a much smaller form for the skimmer to remove.

Just another point of view.

I have my sump divided into 3 sections the left section houses the skimmer and carbon and gfo reactors middle section is the return with heaters and the right section is the fuge the fuge gets about 25% of the draining water while the skimmer gets 75%

If the tank has dual overflows you could run a three compartment sump like mine.....one drain to the skimmer side.....one drain to the fuge side....and return in the middle....you want both the fuge and the skimmer getting "dirty" water...you could probaly "T" the drain if it isnt dual overflow....just throwing it out there:biggrin:

It does have dual overflow's but for some reason I can't wrap my brain around how yours is set up. Do you have any pic's posted or one's you can send me to get a better idea.

Should also mention I got a monster 30w UV with the tank.