Sump Advice

[ShifyShify]

Hi Guys,

Yes i have done it !! At last I have decided what to do !

I am gonna keep my 70l FW tank and be patient with the Marine set-up.

I am going to get a 50gal Bow fronted tank off e-bay, get it set up with a sump and protein skimmer. I have had a look at www.melevsreef.com and this aided my decision. Still got a couple of questions though.

As i am a plumber/builder I am planning to build the sump/refugium myself and do all the plumbing. I have also seen pictures of a closed loop system Closed loop system and plan on something similar.

I was just wondering what sort of flow i should be looking to get through my sump and how big it should be, I was thinking of about 10-15Gal(UK) ?

I have just realised that all of this is going to take me a couple of months but that the end result should be well worth it !!

 

[SkiFletch]

I'd look into a pump similar to an eheim 1250 or danner mag 7 for my return pump if you plan to use a closed loop for the in-tank flowrate. I'd also make sure that you use 3/4" (or metric equivalent) piping for both the drain and the pump output.

How are you going to do your overflow and how are you going to do your supply to the closed loop pump? IMO the sump tank itself is the easy part, the overflow is the tough part. Are you going to drill the tank or not?

 

[ShifyShify]

At the moment not planning to drill the tank, was looking at using a Schuran Overflow box from Sevenoaks Tropical Marine. Are these any good, would look at drilling if there was a definate advantage.

Am planning to build the cabinet myselt too, I would like the sump refugium to be on display.

 

[SkiFletch]

Thats one of the best looking overflow boxes I've ever seen. Looks just like the one I built . Never seen one with a purge valve on the siphon tube (in this case square tube). So long as you inspect the box regularly for air bubbles and purge them you shouldnt have a problem with that box. Nice find.