Help Me Choose A Sump Layout! AGA 180

[drummereef]

Going to be upgrading to an AGA 180 soon. Need help picking a sump layout.

The sump will be a custom acrylic design (60x18x16). The return pump is a Pan World 150PS (MD55R) Rated at 1100gph. 1" MPT in/out.

AGA specs: Two 1" drains and Two 3/4" return bulkheads.


What sump design would you choose and why? What size plumbing would you use for the drain line and return from the pump?



http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h215/brettvoelker/Sump1.jpg http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h215/brettvoelker/Sump2.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h215/brettvoelker/Sump3.jpg

:)

[fernandesbe]

I'd go with the second one, thats the way mine is set up and I find it works great. The other options leave a lot of stagnant water by having the return pump take the water from the middle compartment .....not a good idea....you have to have the water flow through the refugium inorder for it to function well............

[Musicbabe]

I've heard that one concern with having the refugium at the end of the sump is the potential for the return to get clogged.

[forensicdoc]

I am using option #2. It works for me.

[Bebo77]

2:thumbsup:

[mflamb]

:rollface: #2 will make you do this :rollface:

[uztaryn]

Number 2 is the right one it appears.

[ck1]

I also use Number 2

Chad

[hurtback]

in drawing # 2 and #3--is the return line coming OUT of the return section in the sump? and in drawing # 2 what is the valve going back into the refugium part--
also---is it better to have flow from both sides of the sump into the middle and then returned to the tank, or flow from one side to the other ,then out back to the tank

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9392226#post9392226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hurtback
in drawing # 2 and #3--is the return line coming OUT of the return section in the sump? and in drawing # 2 what is the valve going back into the refugium part--
also---is it better to have flow from both sides of the sump into the middle and then returned to the tank, or flow from one side to the other ,then out back to the tank


Yes, the return line is coming from the center (return) section of drawing #2. I'm still trying to get input on layouts, but it seems like #2 is definitely the most popular. Some people feel that #1, flow from left to right, might get stagnant water in the center section. And it is also harder to control the amount of flow to the fuge. Most like a relatively slow flow in the fuge.

[hurtback]

in drawing # 2---what is the valve for on the overflow drain line going into the refugium---

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9392891#post9392891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hurtback
in drawing # 2---what is the valve for on the overflow drain line going into the refugium---

The ball valve helps to control the flow into the refugium. By cutting back the amount of flow it will then divert the rest of the drainage to the skimmer side, as you can see the pipe that leads to the left side of the sump.

[Shnabbles]

Hey just so you know on the 180 aga's the return is the out side holes and the drains are in the inside holes

[hurtback]

so his 'red' lines are returns???

[Shnabbles]

his red lines should be returns yes... the 1 inch wholes are the drains ... the 3/4 inch hole is the return

[hurtback]

ok---another somewhat ' dumb' question i have
---"Some people feel that #1, flow from left to right, might get stagnant water in the center section. And it is also harder to control the amount of flow to the fuge. Most like a relatively slow flow in the fuge".
why would there be dead flow spots in the refugium with flow from left to right--using drawing #1

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9393377#post9393377 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shnabbles
Hey just so you know on the 180 aga's the return is the out side holes and the drains are in the inside holes

Sorry, the drain is red and the return is green. Sorry about the outside/inside buisness... it's more for the general flow and layout of the sump and how it should be plumbed. Please excuse the reversed overflow stuff.

[Fishel]

#2 that's what I am doing.......

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9393499#post9393499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hurtback
ok---another somewhat ' dumb' question i have
---"Some people feel that #1, flow from left to right, might get stagnant water in the center section. And it is also harder to control the amount of flow to the fuge. Most like a relatively slow flow in the fuge".
why would there be dead flow spots in the refugium with flow from left to right--using drawing #1

Can't really answer, but someone explained that the return pump would 'suck' water from the fuge more than in #2. Doesn't make much sense to me, but I'm no expert obviously. :) I do know you can't control the amount of flow to that area alone since it is dependant on the overall flow from the pump.

[drummereef]

For all of you that choose #2, can you post some pics of the setup? ;)

[Fishel]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1056759

[lbear]

I am using #2 for my current setup. My skimmer is plumbed in the return section and I feel #2 setup makes it less efficient since only half of the total water flow go through skimmer section.

[drummereef]

Awesome suggestions everybody!

[Fishel]

Melev built my sump (pictured in previous post).. he recommended I redirect about 25% of the water from the 1 drain to the refugium. I will be doing this via the gate valve I have installed....the other drain goes directly to the skimmer section...

[drummereef]

Fishel - What size drain and return plumbing did you use?

[Fishel]

I have 2 overflows, each with a 1.5" Drain and 1" Return. However, I am doing the "Herbie" method in order to keep the overflows and sump as quiet as possible. This means I will be using both 1.5" drains as my "main drains" and both 1" drains will be used as "emergency" drains.

I have 2 returns going through the back of my stand and up the side and then splitting 1 to each side of the tank via 3/4 inch bulkhead with LocLine. So I have 2 3/4 inch returns.

It goes like this:

Left 1.5" drain straight to skimmer section (far left of sump)

Left 1" drain to skimmer section (far left of sump)

Right 1.5" drain split 25% water going to far right of sump (into refugium), 75% water going to skimmer section (far left of sump)

Right 1" drain to skimmer section (far left of sump)

return via Sequence Dart to Aquavue 40watt UV Sterilizer, reduced to 3/4 inch pipe and split into 2 returns, one to each side of tank and through glass via 3/4 bulkhead and then locline....

with that explanation you can probably look at the pics again and make some sense of it.

apart from all of that I will have 2 closed loops running independently.. one covering each 4 foot section of the tank... their intakes will be far right and far left on the back wall of the tank via 2" bulkhead, about halfway up... their returns will all be from the bottom of the tank, 3 1" returns each underneath via 1" bulkheads and using 45% elbows to direct water into the tank from the bottom....(6 total closed loop returns)...

then I'll have 2 vortech pumps running, one on each side of the tank oppossing eachother....

I have not drilled any holes yet for the closed loops or sump returns... I am waiting on my diamond hole saws to arrive.....

the tank is setup as a island creating a living room dividing space. my couch will be against the back of the tank. my closed loop Darts will be outside the stand behind my couch... i'll be building wood covers to cover the far left and far right of the tank where all the plumbing will be.. .so the visible area from the couch side will be between the 2 overflows (still a large area for viewing)....

[drummereef]

Thanks, Fishel! That makes perfect sense now.

[ben&bobbi]

i'm doing a #2 now too!