Awesommmmee. I was wondering when i'd see a journal pop up for this tank! Seems like you have a pretty solid plan. All of my sumps are designed like this, with the exception of the internal/external overflow, which is a great idea. Can't wait to see this come together!
Posts by Duck5003
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One suggestion i would make is having your initial entry into your media chamber from the top. Let gravity work for you, helps keep the flow moving to the pump area.
Another suggestion would be to add at least one additional filter media chamber. Benefits to this
-more room for filter media (never a bad thing)
-allows two areas for bacteria so you can clean and/or change the media in one and not skip a beat
-plenty of space to cycle media for other tanks
As far as the refugium, in my most recent one i decided to put it in the front of the sump. Reasons for doing this
-Reduces physical material getting into filter media which helps prevent clogging (although ive never once had a clog issue, it would take forever)
-Allows all the water the same filtration
-Plants THRIVE off the excess that settles in this tank as opposed to getting stuck in filter material and just being there
I also have fish in there, cull shrimp to clean, and a TON of snails.
Whats interesting about your sump though is the height (more reason to start the flow top to bottom) Below is a pic of my most recent sump. Its a 20 L and i actually gave it 4 chambers after the refugium in the front. Two for media, one to add my ferts and eventually diffuse my CO2 into once i get a non DIY setup, and then lastly my return pump which currently has my DIY CO2 line running directly into the impeller. With your sumps height i would probly just add one additional media chamber, and then your return pump chamber. Just some thoughts, honestly either way will work i've just begun to prefer this most recent one.
**I should also note this is by far my most quiet tank setup i have. It's actually shocking how quite it is.
Another suggestion would be to add at least one additional filter media chamber. Benefits to this
-more room for filter media (never a bad thing)
-allows two areas for bacteria so you can clean and/or change the media in one and not skip a beat
-plenty of space to cycle media for other tanks
As far as the refugium, in my most recent one i decided to put it in the front of the sump. Reasons for doing this
-Reduces physical material getting into filter media which helps prevent clogging (although ive never once had a clog issue, it would take forever)
-Allows all the water the same filtration
-Plants THRIVE off the excess that settles in this tank as opposed to getting stuck in filter material and just being there
I also have fish in there, cull shrimp to clean, and a TON of snails.
Whats interesting about your sump though is the height (more reason to start the flow top to bottom) Below is a pic of my most recent sump. Its a 20 L and i actually gave it 4 chambers after the refugium in the front. Two for media, one to add my ferts and eventually diffuse my CO2 into once i get a non DIY setup, and then lastly my return pump which currently has my DIY CO2 line running directly into the impeller. With your sumps height i would probly just add one additional media chamber, and then your return pump chamber. Just some thoughts, honestly either way will work i've just begun to prefer this most recent one.
**I should also note this is by far my most quiet tank setup i have. It's actually shocking how quite it is.
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I know it would work well for you. My most recent one is just a different way that i have found benefit in but it's one of those things in this hobby. Some like HOB, some like sponges, some like UGF, some use all 3. They all work! Your design would definitely work. Honestly, the thing about your sump....It's HUGE lol That sump could handle so much more than its supporting and honestly, i've never had a sump clog on me. A friend of mine has a 40B sump for his 75g lake tang tank with a center would be refugium (i'm gettin him into planted tanks :icon_twis ) and i'm pretty sure he's never even so much as rinsed that thing in over a year and it runs like a champ. Only difference on his is glass baffles and more of them on both ends of the refugium.
So really, up or down the water will flow just fine and your turnover rate will be more than enough. I love big projects like these, you'll have a ton of fun setting this up i'm sure. And i for one am excited to watch
Sounds like a very good decision to me. I don't think you'll ever find yourself saying, "damn, wish i had not swapped out that old used tank and upgraded to this custom built, new, bigger, beauty of a tank" lol however you may be saying the reverse of that, wanting to upgrade down the line and wishing you had.
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