*Plumbing Setup*

[jaredb0311]

Hello all, Im setting up a 75 and this is what i came up with so far for plumbing. Any suggestions???

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg24/jaredb0311/plumbing21-1.png?t=1285888812

[Kfig7]

Do you have a backup drain in case something gets caught in the drain line?

[jaredb0311]

No i dont. I need one? where would i put it?

[reelfishy]

Just make teeth in the overflow and if you're scare of something big getting past it put up a mesh where the teeths are.

[jaredb0311]

Well i do have that prefilter you see in the pic. What could get past that?

[sedor]

You don't need a backup drain as long as your tank can handle the volume of your sump without overflowing. Even if it can't, just use a T'ed drain pipe and your chances of an overflow as very slim.

Setup looks good but i'd lose that sponge prefilter. Its going to be more of a hassle than anything.

[jaredb0311]

Ok cool. Also i should mention i got a maxi-jet 3000, its adjustable, so hopefully that should help fine tune things. Any other suggestions? :dance:

[jaredb0311]

hey ive been meaning to ask if anyone out there knows about turboflotor skimmers, i got a really good deal on a 1000 Blue. Will that do it?

[Dustin1300]

I was a bit worried about the design because of the fuge having so much flow. I then saw you have two ball valves so you can get less flow through the fuge and most of it through the sump. In addition, I've not heard a lot of good things about the turbofloater protein skimmers. If you are looking for a good skimmer for the price I'd shoot for the Super Reef Octopus skimmers. Amazing performance and well priced.

[jaredb0311]

Well i have heard alot of good things about the reef octopus, i think ill try one :)

[2Addicted]

Why dont you put your skimmer before the fuge and make the area where the skimmer is in the picture a nice bubble trap?

[Palting]

hey ive been meaning to ask if anyone out there knows about turboflotor skimmers, i got a really good deal on a 1000 Blue. Will that do it?

I had the turboflotor multi on my 110 gal tank. I liked the versatility (used it as a HOB on my sump rather than in-sump), it was well made, easy flow adjustment, got excellent skimate, easy maintenance. If you have a good deal on the 1000 blue, I say go for it.

[Dustin1300]

2 addicted is right. Your fuge should have clean water hitting it as you don't want a detritus build up in the fuge which then turns into a Nitrate factory!

[jaredb0311]

Thanks guys ill try that configuration. Also, i already have the turboflotor so i guess ill try it first, i heard once you get it adjusted proper it does make very good skimmate.

[jaredb0311]

Ok i looked at my drain area and the skimmer will work there, but what will i do with the wasted old skimmer area? More fuge? I'd hate to waste that area.

[jaredb0311]

2addicted- Oh... a bubble trap. how would you do the bubble trap?????

[Kfig7]

Just make teeth in the overflow and if you're scare of something big getting past it put up a mesh where the teeths are.

If he is restricting flow in the drain via ball/gate valve and there is no back up drain I would think that's playing with disaster. Many things can pass through the teeth in an overflow and build up in a drain line.

Call me crazy but don't people say not to restrict your drain line unless of course you are using a herbie or beananimal type system (which includes a back up drain)

[Trini 2D Bone]

hey am about to do the same thing should I have the refu next to return?

[Dustin1300]

The bubble trap is the one you have towards the return from the protein skimmer. The water goes under the 'baffle' and when it comes up over the next it pops the bubbles coming out. Take a look at melevs reef. He has some amazing sump designs and some great tips. Read up before you actually build/buy!

[Mr James]

You don't need a backup drain as long as your tank can handle the volume of your sump without overflowing. Even if it can't, just use a T'ed drain pipe and your chances of an overflow as very slim.

Setup looks good but i'd lose that sponge prefilter. Its going to be more of a hassle than anything.


I disagree. A turbo snail in stuck in my Durso on time emptied my sump volume onto the floor. From then on, I always use the "return hole" in the overflow as a back up drain. And I return over the top some place else in the tank. I have two Durso's in the overflow, one is about .75" above the other one, in case the main gets clogged. I never thought a snail would go up and over the overflow wall, but it did. Back up drains and no more turbo;s, is my rule of thumb!!

[Dustin1300]

I'd say that you are both right in your own respects. If you allow enough room for overflow in your sump you should not have a problem but why not go with the two. An extra overflow higher is an inexpensive way to have some more peace of mind. The second overflow can just be a cheap PVC standpipe and bulkhead. No need for silencer or anything either as it is just your backup and you want to hear it should your primary fail because of a clog.

[2Addicted]

So i had a little time to mess around with autocad today. I drew up a bubble trap and there is room for your skimmer in the first section, a nice sized fuge and room for your ato and return pump. Ignore all the stuff around the picture i was not sure how to get just the drawing in the photo




http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/way2addicted/55sump.jpg

[Dustin1300]

2addicted, I'd say this is the right concept but should swap the 'drain' and the 'fuge' in the picture. If you put the fuge on the far right you can more easily make low flow for the fuge and middle section can have the higher flow with the skimmer included in middle and serve as the sump. You can either get flow to the fuge section by making a T off the drain and adding a gate valve or you can T off the return and add gate valves. If I can post a picture shortly I'll do so.

[Dustin1300]

Here's my 'masterful' picture in paint. You see in the right the fuge and the middle is the sump. You have the T off the drain and with the one orange gate valve you can allow a controlled amount of water in the fuge.

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp32/Dustin_1300_Reef/RC/sump.jpg?t=1285982182

[03sonicstang]

I'm no expert but I copied Melev's Sump design from his 55 gallon and it works great.

This is my refug section. I have (2) Ehiem 1262 returning to the main display (3/4" Line). One is on a ball valve and another ball valve feeding the refug fresh filtered water
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/03sonicstang/IMG_5627.jpg

This is where my overflows discharge. Unfiltered water hits the skimmer first. then thru a Bubble trap and on to the return section. You can see the second Ehiem, another (2) ball valves, one feeds the display and another for the Calcium reactor.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/03sonicstang/IMG_5625.jpg

Now I'm deathly afraid of a flood, so I have (2) 1500 gph, overflows. They consist of (2) 1.5" Lines on each. So I have basically (4) 1.5" lines. It would take a lot to stop all them at once!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/03sonicstang/IMG_5208.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/03sonicstang/IMG_5210.jpg

Good luck

[Dustin1300]

Many ways and that works....I mentioned Melevs reef earlier as he has some great designs and is great for a beginner to see some of the possibilities with lots of pictures and explanations;)

[2Addicted]

Nice dustin, I should have thought of that. I really want a 55 gallon sump but i have no room.

[Dustin1300]

Nice dustin, I should have thought of that. I really want a 55 gallon sump but i have no room.

I'm by no means an expert on sump/plumbing but have been trying to pay lots of attention as I'm currently planning on an upgrade. In regards to the 55..I feel ya! I've got an extra 55 I hoped to put in under my 75 and stand is about an inch not wide enough which really sucks!:wildone: