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View Full Version : Sump setup difficult to decide...


Envy07
10/18/2007, 04:15 PM
This has been boggling me for ages. Should I setup the sump so that it's drain/skimmer->refugium->return OR drain/skimmer->return->refugium.

If I go for option one with the refugium in the middle then I could go with a smaller pump for a cheaper price. If I go with the second option then i'd have to tee off the return causing the pump to gain head pressure as a result slowing down the flow of the sump. I don't want to spend lots of money on a return pump.

How should I set it up? And what is the actual flow rate needed through a sump and with this in mind will a slow flow rate cause excessive noise in a 1 1/2" drain?

demonsp
10/18/2007, 04:19 PM
100 gallons per hour minimum on fuge. Also a closed loop system where the pump isnt in the fuge.
This may help , type refugium in the google search then look under images. Shows many options. The best setup is the refuguim in the middle with only water flow. Not how mine is but will be soon.

papagimp
10/18/2007, 04:20 PM
Well, I honestly don't think the layout either way would be more/less effective than the other. I've got mine setup as Drain/skimmer/return/refugium, but for no particular reason, just something different from my 55g, which has the first option you listed. Both do their jobs nicely. Keep in mind though that the return pump section is where ALL your evaporation is going to show up, the water level in that section will drop so if you go with a smaller return pump and make a smaller return section, the tank will need to be topped off more often, or hooked to an auto top off system. In my 20g long, with a 8-10" return section, I have to topp off twice a day at least. flow throug the sump can be anything the sumps drain and return can handle. Flow through the fuge should be alot slower, I have about 300gph through both of mine, works nicely, had 700gph at one point and it was too much, caused excess microbubbles to return to the display. As for noise, it may. depnends on the overall setup and weather you are using standpipes/durso's or not..

Envy07
10/18/2007, 04:25 PM
Well if the refug is in the middle wont the water flow be same compared to the rest of the sump. I will be installing ATO so that means I can squeeze in a pump so that my refug can be bigger. As for the drain, I installed a tee on the bulkhead and connected a 3" pipe top of the tee to act as a breather. I don't how much of an effect that would be from the noise that might come up due to the slow water drainage.

papagimp
10/18/2007, 04:27 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11001742#post11001742 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Envy07
Well if the refug is in the middle wont the water flow be same compared to the rest of the sump.

Yes it will Envy. I use a fluval 304 to feed the fuge on the setup that has the fuge at the end of everything.

Envy07
10/18/2007, 04:30 PM
So there is a difference b/w having the refug at one end. This allow you to control the flow rate as opposed to the rest of the sump.

demonsp
10/18/2007, 04:33 PM
Heres a great setup.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.championlighting.com/pics/filterpics/adhirefugium.jpg&imgrefurl=http://championlighting.com/manufacturers.php%3Fmanufacturerid%3D93&h=288&w=460&sz=25&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=WFocDB41TtQXtM:&tbnh=80&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drefugium%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBF_enUS243US243%26sa%3DN
Im no expert on this subject but and fuge setup will be very healthy for the whole system as long as the flow is 100 gl per hour minimum. Some even put the sump in a differant container.

I tried two inlets and nver worked right and was noisy. Overflow on one side and this is also where i have the cheato and the skimmer. Center just where skimmer sits and the right side the return pump. This is also where all the evap shows and i need to keep the side toped off or too many micro bubbles and then if to low it stop pumping.

Envy07
10/18/2007, 04:40 PM
Alright thanks demonp and papagimp...

I think I'll go for drain->return->refug. Seems kind of better in my opinion.

mouscacha
10/19/2007, 05:09 AM
I got my idea from here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm

Take note of several sections on refugiums. It contains posts of different setups. I set mine up like your first option.

http://www.casamina.com/img_4855.jpg

afbusdriver
10/28/2007, 10:53 PM
i'm going with the setup that a guy here talks about... my skimmer isn't going to be that big, but my tank isn't eiter...
http://www.reefvideos.com/
before i went here i was going to: prefilter, skimmer dump in pump while a small power head moved some to the refug....