looking to build a new sump/refugium

**bongobrian** · 01-19-2002, 10:53 AM

Does anyone have or know where I can get some instructions on a DIY sump? My goal is to make a large sump and section it off for a skimmer and refugium. Possibly even a small section for some bio-balls. So far I've only seen premade sumps and premade refugiums in the store. I havn't ever seen a premade sump/refugium combo. I'm not even sure if there is such a thing, seems like most people build their own. Anyway, this is the type of filtration that I think I need for my tank so any help you guys can throw my way would be awesome. I'm trying to keep everything in one sump container whether it be a glass aquarium, rubbermaid, etc. I just want to have a section for the skimmer, refugium, and the return pump. I'm not a big fan of having more than one sump tank. Any suggestions?

**newreefman1** · 01-19-2002, 11:01 AM

Hi Bongo..Why not get a few glass pieces to fit in the sump and use silicon(aquarium from HD) and silicon those baffles in...giving you a refugium area?

J

**mrok12** · 01-19-2002, 11:03 AM

pet connection in livonia orders custom sizes. I am having them order me a custom sump on monday. L-28 X W-20 x T-16. You can use glass, plexi glass, egg crate to section it off to. Did you see the pics I posted for you of the ecosytem?

MROK12

**Shadetree** · 01-19-2002, 12:42 PM

www.lifereef.com , check out the custom work. He has many different designs incorporating everything you are looking for. At the very least it will provide you with some ideas to pursue for design.

Scott

**mrok12** · 01-20-2002, 01:14 AM

?Have you gotten to the tropicorium?

MROK12

**Ltspd** · 01-20-2002, 06:24 AM

Here is my sump/refigium. I have a high flow area on the left and the low flow area on the right. The skimmer has its own compartment in the back right. The high flow is blocked by the skimmer compartment and the return section. I have added a ph to stir things up in that refigium area. This design is working very well for me.

The mangroves are begining to sprout new roots, the feather calurpa has taken off. The lights are 100w grow bulbs.

**scubadude** · 01-20-2002, 07:08 AM

how many mangroves you got there paul? and how much room do they have?

**Ltspd** · 01-20-2002, 07:55 AM

Scuba, I got 24 right now, but I only want 15. I am selling them off to the LFS here locally

I will plant the 15 around the sump in various places. Actually I have been told to suspend them about 1" above the sand and let them take root thenselves. They are sprouting new roots so I guess I will do that soon.

**mrok12** · 01-20-2002, 11:07 AM

LTSPD,
wHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS ON THAT SUMP/REFUGIUM? tHAT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY WORK FOR ME TOO.

mrok12

**Ltspd** · 01-20-2002, 11:41 AM

36 x 36 x 16. True water capacity approx 60g.

**bongobrian** · 01-21-2002, 07:39 AM

Thanks guys!
ltspd~ yes that system you are running is pretty much what I'm trying to do. I don't have nearly that much space for mine, but my tank is probably smaller too.

shadetree~I have looked at the lifereef designs, but I didn't really see much that combined a refugium and skimmer area. I saw some designs for one or the other.

mrok~ pet connection sounds interesting. Where are they located? do they have custom sumps that would have an area for a skimmer and seperate area for a refugium? I havn't been to tropicorium yet, but I just went to Preuss last week which was very cool. I'll get to tropicorium one of these days.

newreefman1~ actually that is EXACTLY what I'm trying to do here (if I can't find one already premade.) I just didn't know how difficult it would be for me to build something like that. Would the tank require any holes to be drilled in the glass? I was just thinking if there is some sort of premade sump out there for a reasonable price, I would just buy it instead of trying to make my own that might or might not work properly.

**BigLar** · 01-21-2002, 03:38 PM

Ltspd,

Do you have a diagram of your sump? Can you give more details of the chambers?

**Ltspd** · 01-21-2002, 04:36 PM

The space between the partitions is about 1". I designed things around the Myreef skimmer I am using. This allowed me to place the bulkhead fittings in the correct place for both the infeed and drain to the skimmer. The skimmer section is dry, not wet.

The sump was constructed from 1/4 acrylic, and I braced anyplace I felt the need. I added 1/4 x 1/2 pc's to all corners and added that as permeter bracing also.

**mrok12** · 01-21-2002, 08:53 PM

Brian had to chop 4 inches in length from the sump. But the sump 24-20-16 was only 79.00. I wil add the bafffles which is no big deal. Number to pet connection0734-525-1270

MROK12

**scubadude** · 01-21-2002, 09:40 PM

Paul.

Im curious as to how much room you have for growth on those groves, and is there a minimal heighth for them? I (and im sure others) have some minimal clearance areas was wondering if they would fit into. If you could bonsai (i guess trim them) your mangroves that would be purty nice! They look like they are about 12-14" tall right now?

**DJ88** · 01-22-2002, 01:14 AM

Paul,

Thanks for posting that drawing. I am currently setting up a new tank and will be using a 24x24x18 as a sump and your drawing helped me figure out how to lay it out..

Thanks again..

If I have any questions, mind if I email you?

*Ha! Look at that.. Just moved in.. NOV 2000!*

lol

**Ltspd** · 01-22-2002, 04:33 AM

Scuba,
I got about 6 ft for the mangoves to grow ;)

Remember this is in the basement.

DJ88, No problem, email away.

**mrok12** · 01-22-2002, 05:37 PM

Ltsb.

Do you see any ill effects with using a refugium as well as the skimmer? Ae the mangroves, macroalgea and such growing as you would expect. Did you use oolitic sand or mud as a substrate?

MROK12

**Ltspd** · 01-22-2002, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by mrok12
Ltsb.

Do you see any ill effects with using a refugium as well as the skimmer? Ae the mangroves, macroalgea and such growing as you would expect. Did you use oolitic sand or mud as a substrate?

MROK12

No. and its my recomendation that a skimmer always be used. I do however only run the skimmer 12/24 unless I feel the need to run it 24 hrs a day. In some cases, such as over feeding, moving stuff around, etc I run 24hrs a day. But, for the past month I have only been running 12.

The mangroves and feather calurpa are growing better than I expected. That may be due to the "grow" bulbs I am using over the sump/refig.

I use SD sand, 4" in depth, I also maintain LR in the high flow area.

**bongobrian** · 01-23-2002, 07:52 AM

Does anyone use prefilters in their sump? I was talking to a guy at my LFS and he was saying to have a section for a prefilter in the sump to help catch the particulate.

Thread: looking to build a new sump/refugium

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

looking to build a new sump/refugium

Look sorta like this?

WOW lookin good paul!

Here is a shot

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions