125 reef build - Page 10 - Aquarium Advice

vietcu · 04-09-2008, 11:23 PM

Hey cccapt, is the flow from skimmer side going past the fuge a little fast with the sump setup like this? I am doing the same setup as you, only in a 40g for my 75.

cccapt · 04-10-2008, 08:21 AM

I don't really think it's too fast. My pump is 1200gph, but with the head loss, what you see is about 850-900gph thru the sump.
If you made a similar sump, I would suggest that were you see the eggcrate, also add a piece of plexi and glue it like the middle piece of the baffle setup....about 2" off the bottom. I wish I did that, because I still have a few microbubbles that get into the last section where the pump intake is. The extra peice of plexi would probably eliminate those few mb's that get that far. Having the plexi above the bottom would not have any affect on the water level in that section, plus it would make it harder for the mb's to get down under it and into the pump.

pitt420dude · 04-10-2008, 10:27 AM

WHat is so bad about microbubbles, do they make your pump louder or harm it in any way?

What maitenance will you need to do to service the sump and the equipment in it? Obviously emptying the protein skimmer but anything other than that?

fijiwigi · 04-10-2008, 10:52 AM

Just curious why did you use eggcrate for the return section baffle of the sump and not just another piece of acrylic baffle. was it so the evaporation took place in the fuge as well and not just the return section?

cccapt · 04-10-2008, 10:59 AM

A few won't do anything except get pumped back up into the tank. A lot, and I mean a real lot of mb's can cause the pump to cavitate, which can cause even more getting pumped into the tank. It could make the pump louder too.
As far as service on the pump, I'm hoping none...lol. This is the first external pump I used. It's magnetic drive, so there's no seals or anything to change. I guess if anything, just keep the impellor clean. I clean the cup and neck on the skimmer once/week. I change the gfo in my reactor once/month. I do a 20g pwc every 2 weeks and the sump is big enough that I can just pull 20g out of and add the new water. I don't have to disturb the main if I don't need to do any "spot cleaning" in it.

cccapt · 04-10-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fijiwigi

Just curious why did you use eggcrate for the return section baffle of the sump and not just another piece of acrylic baffle. was it so the evaporation took place in the fuge as well and not just the return section?

Well, I never thought about microbubbles getting that far so I figured eggcrate would be fine for keeping the macro out of the pump. If I was to drain my sump and make some changes, I would add a piece of plexi, 2" off the bottom, about 1" or so past the eggcrate in the pump sect.
With the plexi being off the bottom, it has no affect on the water level in either section.

vietcu · 04-10-2008, 08:36 PM

I ordered glass cut to size for my sump, but I guess I could make a plexi out of that last one and see what happens. Thanks Cccapt, I'll let you know how it goes when its up and running. How far apart did you do your baffles anyways, 1" or more?

cccapt · 04-11-2008, 08:10 AM

They are about 1 1/2" apart. Just enough so I could get silicone on both sides.

Good luck with your project!

Latitude_change · 04-11-2008, 04:06 PM

Wow!! That is all really nice. It is also really helpful for new guys like me to see the steps start to finish. Thanks!

cccapt · 04-11-2008, 10:44 PM

Thank you. I'm glad you found it helpful.

04-10-2008, 08:21 AM	#92 (permalink)
cccapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,282 Images: 2	I don't really think it's too fast. My pump is 1200gph, but with the head loss, what you see is about 850-900gph thru the sump. If you made a similar sump, I would suggest that were you see the eggcrate, also add a piece of plexi and glue it like the middle piece of the baffle setup....about 2" off the bottom. I wish I did that, because I still have a few microbubbles that get into the last section where the pump intake is. The extra peice of plexi would probably eliminate those few mb's that get that far. Having the plexi above the bottom would not have any affect on the water level in that section, plus it would make it harder for the mb's to get down under it and into the pump. __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project

04-10-2008, 10:27 AM	#93 (permalink)
pitt420dude Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pittsburgh! Home of the 5 Time Superbowl Champs! Posts: 949 Images: 11	WHat is so bad about microbubbles, do they make your pump louder or harm it in any way? What maitenance will you need to do to service the sump and the equipment in it? Obviously emptying the protein skimmer but anything other than that? __________________ Thank you so much for all your help. I'm now going green. LOOK! A NEW LEAF!!!!!

04-10-2008, 10:52 AM	#94 (permalink)
fijiwigi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 1,045 Images: 7	Just curious why did you use eggcrate for the return section baffle of the sump and not just another piece of acrylic baffle. was it so the evaporation took place in the fuge as well and not just the return section? __________________ The "experts" are many, but the truths are few. "When we have stopped learning, we have stopped listening"

04-10-2008, 10:59 AM	#95 (permalink)
cccapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,282 Images: 2	A few won't do anything except get pumped back up into the tank. A lot, and I mean a real lot of mb's can cause the pump to cavitate, which can cause even more getting pumped into the tank. It could make the pump louder too. As far as service on the pump, I'm hoping none...lol. This is the first external pump I used. It's magnetic drive, so there's no seals or anything to change. I guess if anything, just keep the impellor clean. I clean the cup and neck on the skimmer once/week. I change the gfo in my reactor once/month. I do a 20g pwc every 2 weeks and the sump is big enough that I can just pull 20g out of and add the new water. I don't have to disturb the main if I don't need to do any "spot cleaning" in it. __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project

04-11-2008, 08:10 AM	#98 (permalink)
cccapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,282 Images: 2	They are about 1 1/2" apart. Just enough so I could get silicone on both sides. Good luck with your project! __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project

04-09-2008, 11:23 PM	#91 (permalink)
vietcu Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 82	Hey cccapt, is the flow from skimmer side going past the fuge a little fast with the sump setup like this? I am doing the same setup as you, only in a 40g for my 75.

04-10-2008, 08:36 PM	#97 (permalink)
vietcu Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 82	I ordered glass cut to size for my sump, but I guess I could make a plexi out of that last one and see what happens. Thanks Cccapt, I'll let you know how it goes when its up and running. How far apart did you do your baffles anyways, 1" or more?

04-11-2008, 04:06 PM	#99 (permalink)
Latitude_change Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 34	Wow!! That is all really nice. It is also really helpful for new guys like me to see the steps start to finish. Thanks!

04-11-2008, 10:44 PM	#100 (permalink)
cccapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,282 Images: 2	Thank you. I'm glad you found it helpful. __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project

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