My DIY Sump/Refugium

[daltex]

Since this is my fist design ever and my first draft, so feel free to make any recommendations. it is for a 46g…..



Side and top view of plans..

[daltex]

Oh yea, it will be made from a 20g aquarium, the left side will be the refugium. Red arrows is the water flow.

All measurements are too scale, including pumps and skimmer base and height
Sorry but the resolution is 800x600.

[Meric]

From looking at the drawing it looks like the Skimmer will return to the Refuge side of the sump.

If that is the case, isn't the Bubble baffle on the wrong side?

Other than that it looks good.

[Poseidon]

The way I read it, it looks like a plan!!! I like the extra baffles! Mine is only 1 set, under then over, and I get a good number of bubbles in the fuge!!

[daltex]

That baffle is just to make sure the skimmer is not putting bubles into the refugium

[daltex]

The way I read it, it looks like a plan!!! I like the extra baffles! Mine is only 1 set, under then over, and I get a good number of bubbles in the fuge!!

That being said do you think one baffle is good enough between the skimmer and the refugium ?

[Poseidon]

Yup. The fuge can handle a few bubbles. You just don't want them to get to your return pump, cause then they end up in your tank!!

[daltex]

Well,

The Aquarium and stand was just delivered, and the largest size I can fit is 11X33 and 11 would be tight, so I might scrap the entire plan and do a hang on

[daltex]

ok revised,
Feel free to comment


My only question/ concern is with a 1/4 acrylic, will a 24"l x 10"w x 24"h be flimsy ? I assumed it would be hence the 4" braces at the top and bottom of the refugium side.

[Meric]

ok revised,
Feel free to comment


My only question/ concern is with a 1/4 acrylic, will a 24"l x 10"w x 24"h be flimsy ? I assumed it would be hence the 4" braces at the top and bottom of the refugium side.

Are you building the sump itself from Acrylic or just adding acrylic sections into an already built sump?

[daltex]

Starting from scratch

[Meric]

Starting from scratch

The taller you make an acrylic tank the thicker the acrilic needs to be.

.25" Cell Cast Acrylic should be OK, however .375" would be stronger. With .25" you will get some bowing.

I am guessing you will be solvent welding the whold thing together to make it as strong as possible. Put a small cross bar on the top and solvent weld it on, that should reduce or eliminate the bowing.