Fuge / Sump Info Needed

[Sherri]

How do you determine what size refugium/sump is needed for a certain size tank? Also circulation pump?

Thanks...

Sherri

[Tim Marvin]

It all depends on how much room you have under your stand or were you are putting it. My answer is: as big as you can. What tank are you going to put it on? The new one?

[Sherri]

Yeah...the 180 Brick. Don't don't the dimensions of the Oceanic stand. I know the one I have now under the 100 gal is a bit over 15" wide and 30"Long.

[Sherri]

Can I move this to General Reef Discussion - accidently put in "Lounge" - Thanks!

[RobertG]

Sherri, I agree with Tim on this one. The bigger the better. I am very happy with the 90G I have. It really helps keep the tank clean, ditritus settles down low & not that much in the tank. All seems to be good.

Congrats on the new tank. So much fun work ahead. :w00t

[NaCl_H2O]

How do you determine what size refugium/sump is needed for a certain size tank? Also circulation pump?

Boy, that question has about a thousand answers!

When I designed my system I established several goals that helped me design sizes, flow rates, closed loops etc. Start with some goals like these and work backwards into volumes and pump sizes:

1) Operational Sump volume = 66% - 75% full
2) Reserve Sump capacity = 20% of tank volume (Anything that drains when you lose power)
3) Water turnover from sump return = 5X tank capacity
4) Target tank turnover = 30X For my SPSs (I used 20X for my LPS tank, and 15X for my FOWLR)
5) Closed loop volume = calculated from 3 & 4 above along with tank size

Note: I used an estimated "Actual" tank volume by subtracting out glass thickness, DSB, and Live Rock.

Play with it a little, it really isn't that hard to work out once you setup you goals. This helps you make better decisions and not have to upgrade/downgrade equipment. The one major mistake I made was the horrible "Actual" flow rate I got out of MAGDrive pumps for my closed loops, which I had to replace with PanWorlds later.

[Tim Marvin]

Have Pete or Dan build a refugium that will fill as much space as you can. If there is a brace in the middle of the stand that cannot be removed and put back then have them build two. One refugium and one sump and you can bulkhead them together once you put them in the stand. We had to pull the brace from RobertG's with the tank full on top and it was a little scary. Fortunately he built a good sturdy stand originally and there was no broken glass.... :cry It all turned out nice! :shades

[Sherri]

Currently have an Iwaki wmd 960gph filter pump on the 100...also have AquaC Urchin Pro Skimmer - Are these strong enough for a 180?

[NaCl_H2O]

Currently have an Iwaki wmd 960gph filter pump on the 100...also have AquaC Urchin Pro Skimmer - Are these strong enough for a 180?

Yes & No.
- Tank = 180, use say 85% as operatinal volume = 150g
- 960gph pump = about 6X turnover
- That's a good target IMO for flow through the sump
- You need to add closed loops, Powerheads, Tunzes, or something to get your flow up to 15x-30x based on inhabitants

Don't have any experience with the Urchin Pro?

[Sherri]

We do have a closed loop on the 100 and the 180 will be RR. I've got a Eheim filter pump 580gph in sump, a Iwaki 960 gph circulation pump and a AquaC Urchin Pro Skimmer w/ Rio 1400 pump. I will have Powerheads and will prob get a Tunze also.

[captexas]

I agree on the sump and fuge, go with the biggest you have room for. As stands don't have much room once you put in the sump, return pump, and other return equipment, you could always do a fuge off to the side if there is room. Pete could build a matching stand for it as well. I would check with Oceanic on the dimensions of the stand and how it is constructed as far as center brace and whether the top and backside are open. If the sump won't fit through the front, it may through the back or topside before the tank is set in place.

I would recommend looking for a bigger skimmer. Going with a bigger tank and sump you need a better skimmer to handle that amount of water. The extent of the size of a new skimmer also depends on the tank inhabitants, both fish and corals types.

[NaCl_H2O]

Amazing how easily a $1,000 tank can turn into a $3,000+ project :D

[captexas]

Only $3,000? Must be a FOWL tank! LOL :wacko

[Sherri]

Amazing how easily a $1,000 tank can turn into a $3,000+ project :D

:sick I think I'm gonna be sick.... :blink

[alexwolf]

go with a smaller return pump and concentrate on flow in the tank. will keep the noise down too. definitely a bigger skimmer ;)

[Ram_Puppy]

I think a couple things to remember, just like in a skimmer, contact time in a fuge is important, you don't want stagnant water of course, but slow is good.

Also, don't limit yorself to space under the stand, think outside 'the box' so to speak. What about a gravity fed fuge? what's wrong with a simpler setup, Y off your return line, and let gravity pull it back in, one less pump to worry about.

My wife has finally agreed, She is going to let me build an entertainment center next to the tank, and it will hide a 55 gallon fuge in it's top level. :) That's just under half my tank volume.

[eric]

I went with a closed loop with a SCWD in order to keep the flow up in the tank and down in the fuge.


Tempting Murphy by putting a sump above electronics, ain't you?

[don-n-sa]

If you are going to put your fuge underneath your stand then I recommend that you have Dan build you a Sump/fuge combo like he built for me when I had my 100g...it worked great.

[alexwolf]

depending on the stand configuration, you might be better off with 2, one sump one fuge, with a T coming off the plumbing and going through a ball valve, that way you can regulate the flow.

[GaryP]

Is a large (5-6') HOB Fuge a possibility? I had thought about doing that at one time for my 125 gal. It has the advantage of not needing seperate lighting source. The light leaking from the main tank would give it more than enough light.

[don-n-sa]

The one that Dan made for my 100g was a very large sump with a fuge that was on acrylic legs that sat inside the sump. I used an external pump that rested outside the sump but still inside the stand and I plumbed a "T" coming off off the return and used a ball vale to reduce flow to the fuge...I guess you do not remember what it looked like Alex. :P

[don-n-sa]

In this hobby there is always a way to do what you want, you just have to figure out what it is you really want.

[alexwolf]

but she might not be able to get it in the stand!!! that was my point!!!

[don-n-sa]

Yeah that is very true...what I did, which Sherri might not have the time for , is wait until the stand arrived then I had Dan come by and measure to see what was the largest sump/fuge that could fit through the stand. I am not sure but most stands will have some way to get a wet dry inside....either from the side, rear , back or even the top of the stand is sometimes open.

[alexwolf]

dans the man!!!!

[don-n-sa]

dans the man!!!!I am sure you could do it too Alex! 8)

[alexwolf]

nah i dont do sumps!!!!

[Sherri]

Presently, we have a combo fuge/sump in the bottom of the 100 right now. It measures 15" x 30". Sitting in the sump is the AquaC Urchin Pro SKimmer....There is a "T" where it flows thru the fuge also at a slower flow & empties back into fuge.

[don-n-sa]

nice...need the same set up but just bigger!

[scuba_steveo]

3,000 lol... I wish!

[don-n-sa]

$3000...hmm that's what my wife thinks that I have spent on my 240g. :unsure


sssshhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! don't tell >_<