20g long sump help...

[carpenter981]

Im new to the hobby and Ive ready so much that Im confusing the hell out of myself, so a little help would be appreciated...

Im setting up my first salt water tank, Im going with a 60 gallon FOWLR tank with a 20 gal long sump. Ive done tons of research but still unsure on the size of the baffles for the sump. As of right now I cant afford a protein skimmer so my plan is from my display tank to the sump the water will hit a filter sock then overflow into a refugium (sand, rock, cheato) then into the return chamber. I will also put a carbon filter pad between the bubble trap.

My confusion is where would be the best place to put the bubble trap and how high to make the baffles for each?

thanks

 

[wolfie]

First off make room for the skimmer. You may have to think on what skimmer you want to use later. An insump skimmer would be best, but an hang on the back would work also.

As for the baffles you you want to have about 3/4" to 1inh between them. The fug does not have to be that big.
With the 20L you could do 3 baffles after the drain line then leave room for the fug then 1 for the return pump. As for the high it is up to you just make sure you have enough room to hold all the water + the back flow from the return line

 

[musicalocean]

You may be able to find a used skimmer on here! Thats how I found mine & got a great deal on it too. Groupertherapy made my sump for me. Check with him as he may have a extra sump for sale..

 

[weaglereefer]

20L is a good size sump tank for that size display. The thing to keep in mind is when you get a skimmer, they have different requirements for depth. Some as little as 7", some as high as 11" (this is in-sump skimmers). 9-10" is a happy medium, as the ones that want 11" will just perform a bit dryer, and the ones that want 7" can be put on acrylic pedastals or any other of a number of things to lift them to the right height.

I really don't think there is enough room for a fuge in that size tank if you will be using an in-sump skimmer. I would just make it two chambers, one for equipment, and one for the return pump. Baffles are good at 1". Skip the carbon pad. If you want to run carbon, get an upflowing media reactor and run it that way.

If you still want a refugium, you can build a standalone fuge out of a plastic bin from Walmart or Target, a bulkhead, and a few bits of PVC, put it next to the sump on a 2x4 platform (or if you get one taller than the sump tank, all the better), and have the bulkhead near the top so water can drain from the fuge into the return pump chamber.



Confused yet?

 

[superclown]

If hes not I am

 

[chefrepo]

When it comes to sump building check out http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html">http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html</a>. Real straight forward website. It will have you cutting acrylic and gluing it together in no time

Get a skimmer. If you have to forgo a fish or something DO IT. Do not skimp on your filtration. It will jump up and smite thee. I promise.

Refugiums are nice to have but, just starting out, not a gotta have thing.

Spend your money and energy on the basics right now. Your wallet and sanity will appreciate it in the long run.

 

[ivegotcrabs]

chefrepo;573206 wrote: When it comes to sump building check out http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html">http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html</a>. Real straight forward website. It will have you cutting acrylic and gluing it together in no time

Get a skimmer. If you have to forgo a fish or something DO IT. Do not skimp on your filtration. It will jump up and smite thee. I promise.

Refugiums are nice to have but, just starting out, not a gotta have thing.

Spend your money and energy on the basics right now. Your wallet and sanity will appreciate it in the long run.[/QUOTE]


+1


i learned the hard way