sump refugium design... HELP!

[TheGrimReefer]

Its coming along well so far, all i need is some parts and pieces to finish it. The biggest one being the reef octopus skimmer i want, because it needs to go in the tank before install or itll never fit in (stupid stand). Do you get a better understanding on how the system will work now? Its pretty much a center return design sump/fuge with some tweaks and it being 2 seprate tanks.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Youre saying you wont be able to remove the skimmer after its installed? Not being able to remove the skimmer body for periodical maintenance might be a problem down the line. The body and pump will need cleaning so hopefully that has been taken into consideration.

[slwedge71]

Thanks for the link to this thread. I will try and post some pictures later on tonight. Tank is already set up for a year now. Been having some issues with algea. Talked to one of the salt water guys down here that runs a shop and he said to start a "fuge" and things should start coming together better for my tank.

[TheGrimReefer]

Youre saying you wont be able to remove the skimmer after its installed? Not being able to remove the skimmer body for periodical maintenance might be a problem down the line. The body and pump will need cleaning so hopefully that has been taken into consideration.

you bring up a good very good point. and i just dont know if i will be able to until i get the skimmer in and try it. the tanks sit 17 inches tall and i have 24 inches on clearance inside the stand and even less where the doors are. i have about 6-7 inches to try and jam a skimmer up and over the lip of the tank. probably not happening. i can anways just shut the system down and use the inlet side of the sump as a wash tank and then just siphon the water out of it and reflil it as if it were a water change? you have me scratching my head right now. i guess ill go for the reef octopus space saver serious instead of the xs, there a little smaller

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

That could work. Make sure you can access the pump for removal, in case it needs replacement/ maintenance. Also, remember skimmers need relatively shallow water level to work as designed. I have an SRO XP1000SSS and the recommended water level is just over 5". Although, I have mine in about 7" of water and it works well.

[TheGrimReefer]

my sump is set to have 10 inches of water in it. the reef octopus xs160 requires 8-9.5 inches of water and thats what i was building the sump with that depth in mind, figured i wanted to deep and i can always prop the skimmer up an inch in the sump to have it set at a water level of 9 inches. the xs160 is 22 inches tall so id have 2 inches from the top of the skimmer to remove the collection cup, hopefully its not to big to fit over the lip of the tank.to be cleaned. the space saver model requires only 5.5 inches of water and is 20.5 inches tall, so i can prop it up in the sump but only 3 inches so that would put me at 7 inch waterlevel with no room to spare to remove the cup=no good. im going to stick with my origional plan and get the xs160 and just hope the collection cup can be removed from the sump area, or just do what i said and clean it in the inlet side of the sump then pump the water out and refill it again, and probably runn the simmer for a while to clean up the inelt side of sump before i kick the flow back on to the rest of it. You really threw a wrench in my gears there FoMoCo Master Tech. How often do you clean your pump and skimmer body?

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Glad I could scrw up your plans temporarily . I clean my skimmer collection cup twice a week. Any longer and it doesn't work all that great. I try to clean the skimmer body once every 4-6 weeks. I've only had the skimmer running for three months and I haven't cleaned the pump yet but I probably should on the next interval. I don't see why servicing the skimmer while in the sump wold be a problem so that sounds like a plan.

[TheGrimReefer]

yeah i think thats going to be the game plan for now just keep my plan with the xs160 and headbutt any problems as they come my way. The sump isnt getting cemented to the ground or anything. it can be removed, it just wont be the easiest thing to do i would have to disconnect the bulkheads between the 2 tanks. slide out the fuge then the sump can be removed, not something that you want to be doing every 4-6 weeks though. Glad you atleast pointed out that flaw now so i have a heads up of what im about to be in for.

[TheGrimReefer]

BTW does FoMoCo stand for Ford Motor Company Master Tech?

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

BTW does FoMoCo stand for Ford Motor Company Master Tech?

Yes

[TheGrimReefer]

haha it took me a while to figure it out, your picture is the streetbike so i was think some sort of motorcycle tech at first. im also an auto tech, work in an independent family run shop. I interned at bmw for a little while after auto school but the dealerships around here are hurting, people keeping there junkers longer these days

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Haha. Ya, the sport bike is just another hobby. In fact, I just crashed the thing at the track this last weekend. Dealerships are tough these days. Most are still running with skeleton crews, trying to maximize profit and minimize spending. It makes for stressful times.

[TheGrimReefer]

Just an update.

So my first overflow box didnt glue to well, so i ended up making another one out of 1/8 acrlyic and cut it all out with a router insead of my circular saw. Needless to say it worked out a billion times better and i got nice clean edges to glue. The bends also came out nicer after all that practice. I also drilled the glass, after sucessfully breaking my first 10 gallon tank. Ill call it my test run, i then practiced my technique on the other panes cuz they were good as garbage at that point. Once i got it down i drilled both tanks and it worked out very well. I got a piece of 1 3/8 flexible pvc to connect the tanks. I cut out some 3/8 presboard to put the tanks on along with some 1/4" foam. At that point i just had to see it in action, i couldnt wait any longer. None of the PVC is glued so it made a flood in my kitchen to say the least but it was well worh the practice run and knowing the overflow box can handle the flow of the pump without any worries and the fuge seems to drain just fine, even when i give it full blast on the mag 5. Now i just need to wait for my skimmer and locline to come from marine depot before i do a final plumbing and get it up and running for good. Hopefully next weekend. Heres a video of the kitchen freshwater run.

refugiumrun1.mp4 video by thegrimreefer17 - Photobucket

and one more thing, is there anyway to move this to the DIY section its probably more fitted there. I wasnt thinking at first when i posted.