Tank - Sump/fuge Design

[Siamese Fighter05]

Howdy All!

I've been messing around with my idea of upgrading more and have come up with slightly different plan...
Once again i'm miles ahead of myself as this is a long time away from even starting but i like to map it all out

If i do get round to this i've decided that i want the tank to be 3ft still but 18" high and 18" wide instead as this will give me more depth for aquascaping as well as more stocking option . I can get the tank built at my LFS and want to have it without the glass slides running across the top and the black brace at the top. This will probably mean the glass will have to be thicker and will obviously cost more but i think this makes the tank look alot nicer and clean if it is open top.

I'm going to have to figure out a way to keep the surface clean, the oily coat has been a trouble for me in current nano although it's slowly going away now. I think that might be down to the fact that i didn't have enough surface agitation, i really think that the 20X turnover i have ATM is far too little and there is still a pretty big dead spot in the tank . So in the tank i'm designing/dreaming of i want to up the flow a fair bit Also i need to find a way to keep loose hairs from 4 cats out

Okay enough chatting and time to put my work-of-art paint production design into play

Let's describe this thing a lil

Okay as i said the tank will be 36" 18" 18" and this will work out at 50 gallons (US) and the LFS will also drill the holes into the tank for me
I'll ask my mate to make room inside the stand with a height of about 2ft 10" so i can get a decent tall skimmer. I'm going to try and keep the sump as large as possible, my LFS will make this also to my specification. Hopefully i can keep it about 30" 15" 15". Do you think i should go a little smaller to leave myself more room or will i be fine?

The tank will drain from the back left just below the surface with a 90 degree sucking water from the surface down through the rigid piping and into the sump/fuge.

Tank water> 90 elbow> bulkhead>90 elbow downwards>piping>union>piping>90 elbow> piping>90degree>piping = Sump (got there in the end )

Sorry if it sounds dumb but if i put it out clearly any bits i've missed out you guys can help me out with and also it helps make it all easier for me

The first part of the sump is just where the tank water will flow into. I'm going to keep the end of the piping pretty low as i've read that this helps keep the noise and gurgling down alot. A small piece of acrylic for the water to flow over apparently helps also

Then the water flows into the refuge, in here goes my rubble, macro, chaeto and a powerhead flowing into the rock as well as a 6500k light for the algaes. This section ends with a bubble wall.

Next section is where most of my equipment will be dumped. A skimmer, heater, digi thermometer and internal filter filled with phos zorb and/or nitrate remover. Another bubblewall ends this part.

The last part is just the return pump, as we don't have any exact measurement in mind it's pointless to say what model to use ATM.

Aquascaper has advised that i use flexible tubing for the return as the pump tends to make rigid piping vibrate which can be quite noisy. It's very important that i can keep the system as quiet as possible to keep my mum happy

The only disadvantage i can see to this is that you don't really get much flow put into the tank from the sump. With a spray bar i guess your just getting a little surface agitation at one end of the tank. Wouldn't the splash from the bar just cause alot of saltwater to jump out of the tank/onto light cover and lower the SG when you top up and make light cover cleaning a nightmare? This is what i get when i run the airstone at night on my nano to clear the scum :? i have to use a plastic tray to stop my lights getting covered. This means i can only use the airstone at night as the plastic tray would get cooked by my lights if i left it above the tank. Are there anyways around this or will this just not happen?

With so much focus on my next tank being put into waterflow/surface agitation and keeping ugly looking equipment out of the display putting small powerheads everywhere would surely defeat the object . So i've been looking into closed loop systems and i think that this would be the best option. Gulp, not that i'd be overly comfortable with water being outside of the tank I guess i'll have to bite my tounge and ask my cousin who is a plumber to do all my connections and let him know how deep i am into all this fish business I guess it's better to swallow my pride than see 50 gallons+ spill over my mums new laminate flooring?

I have a few questions regarding the CLS though, in most threads i've seen the way people get water down the tubing towards the pump is by drilling holes at the base of the tank and the having tubing stickup through the bottom. Is this the best way? I guess you can put rock around this to hide it from view?

If you've got through my jabbering and have anything at all to help me out with, please dont hesitate. Everything is appreciated

Jobs to do before tank: Get part-time job between college, Driving lessons and pass, build computer, NEW REEF TANK..............................Nah Reef tank before the computer!!!

The only good news about living with my mum is that it means i have no bills so any money i don't use going out can go straight onto the new tank. Still a worrying thought it is for a 17-year-old how much i might end up blowing on this thing

Dan

 

[Mr Miagi]

Looks sweet sf! You gotta love planning a new reef!

I can see two things. Why have you designed your drain into the sump like that? I can think of methods far more silent, and improve surface skimming than an elbow pipe placed upwards. Why not get your tank made for an external overflow?

Second, the baffles (Im having a mental blank, i mean those pieces of glass between sections) are awkward, especially if your going to have sand. You mention using LR ruble wich is good, but are you going to go bear bottum in the fuge?

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Looks sweet sf! You gotta love planning a new reef!

I can see two things. Why have you designed your drain into the sump like that? I can think of methods far more silent, and improve surface skimming than an elbow pipe placed upwards. Why not get your tank made for an external overflow?

Second, the baffles (Im having a mental blank, i mean those pieces of glass between sections) are awkward, especially if your going to have sand. You mention using LR ruble wich is good, but are you going to go bear bottum in the fuge?

Yep, it's good fun! Wish i could start now ££££££

I chose that kind of drainage because i wanted to try and keep the tank as close to the wall as possible. I thought that an overflow would mean it would have to be even further away which would ruin the sideview from the sofa. I'll need to look into an overflow, if i can try and keep it as thin as possible maybe it would be a better idea. I also thought this way looked quite tidy. I've also heard alot of problems with the syphon in overflow boxes, although i can't understand what it is?

Can you tell me the advantages of one and also how it gives me more surface agitation? I'll go and see if i can find pics of one so that it makes more sense to me

Do you think sand is beneficial in the fuge? I don't really want to do a DSB but i'd add 1-2" layer if you think it would be an advantage 8) Good point i wonder how i keep it out of the way of the first one..... I wouldn't be able to put a small piece of arcylic t stop it from touching because that keeps the level in the fuge as low as the wall right?

Thanks alot
Dan

 

[Matthew5664]

That belongs in a gallery M8

Just my 2p worth;

1)I think the sand is too thick if it's not going to be a DSB. 1" max I would say. 2" and above your into DSB's

2)Also I would but the skimmer before the Fuge otherwize your gona skim all the fugey goodness!!

Other that that I think your on a role. 36x18x18 is what I have with a 30x12x18 sump. I find its not to big but not too small.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

That belongs in a gallery M8

Just my 2p worth;

1)I think the sand is too thick if it's not going to be a DSB. 1" max I would say. 2" and above your into DSB's

2)Also I would but the skimmer before the Fuge otherwize your gona skim all the fugey goodness!!

Other that that I think your on a role. 36x18x18 is what I have with a 30x12x18 sump. I find its not to big but not too small.

Cheers mate But to be honest you are too easily pleased if you think that design with paint is good you really need to see my stickmen

Ah okay i'll keep the SB about 1" then. I really don't like sand beds that much anymore as my current one had an outbreak with of diatoms and it's 2" thick. The next tank will just have enough to cover the glass with maybe a small spot under a rock about 2" so my firefish can dig himself out anohter crib

I read somewhere that there are more advantages to having the skimmer after the fuge as this means the water flowing into the macros etc. is more full of nutrients, this gives them more to pull out and helps them grow faster. Then the skimmer pulls out w/e's left. Can some show the pro's and cons of each method and reccomend which is the best.

Thanks alot for your reply matt, It's good news you have the same size tank as i hope to get. I can learn from your successes and your mistakes (Let's hope you don't encounter anymore!). I'm off to your thread now to see what i can gather

Mr M- I found out how to sort the SB in the fuge out. Most sumps have the baffles set up differently to my plan with 3 walls instead of 2. The 1st one starts from the bottom not the top, so this is where the SB will go against

I can't find any examples of external overflows, most i've seen is like my original with just rigid piping or an internal weir. I diffently don't want to take the weir option though

Does anyone have any good examples of external overflows or rigid piping plumbing for me to take a look at please?

Cheers Ears
Dan