Sump Height, Does It Matter?

Privitor · 03-24-2008, 12:15 AM

i am setting up a 36g bow front and i am going to build my sump/fuge from a glass aquarium.
before i start this project i wanted to know if the hight of the sump matter?
on one hand i have a 10g glass that is 12" high and i have a 14g that is 15" the width and length are the same.
i know this is a small difference!! if i use the 15" will that effect the light in the fuge or will the skimmer drown?
if i use the 12" high i loose 3 gallons of space?
is bigger better?

stop me before i do something hasty!

veriann · 03-24-2008, 01:09 AM

as long as the sump can handle the volume of the lowest drain point & piping from the display it doesn't really matter. logic dictates- shallow makes for easy access, high increases potental volume increase. but as you hinted, periferals such as skimmers you might need to be creative & platform to successfully deploy them

**JustDavidP** · 03-24-2008, 01:45 PM

As V said, total volume is more important than tank height. As long as you can handle any overflow or back siphon from the display, should you have pump failure or a power failure, you'll be fine. I'd opt for the shorter tank, just to be able to get in and out and service heaters, skimmers, pumps etc. without having to be double jointed.

Dave

Privitor · 03-24-2008, 04:38 PM

well thats what i was worried about is the return back flow in the 10 gallon if i leave enough room for the extra water the pump might not fully sumerse or the fuge might be too small. i can always make a shelf for the skimmer.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY PICTURES OF A SMALL UNDERTANK FUGE/SUMP MIX?
i would like to get some ideas of were to install the baffels and water levels!

**JustDavidP** · 03-25-2008, 11:17 AM

None of mine would be considered "small". Here's what I used under my 75G. For design purposes, it worked well. You could just scale it.

Privitor · 03-25-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDavidP

None of mine would be considered "small". Here's what I used under my 75G. For design purposes, it worked well. You could just scale it.

on this one how do you have the return? i dont see a pump in the fuge?

**JustDavidP** · 03-27-2008, 11:01 AM

The refugium is built with overflow holes on the inside wall (facing the skimmer). If you have a router, you can actually make "teeth" like on an overflow.

The water comes down from the display, is split to two directions, the skimmer box and refugium. Both allow water to escape into the center box, which houses a Mag7 Return pump to the display.

Here's a picture of it "dry"

And my new one for the 38G I'm setting up.

On the left, where the sand is, you can see, under the Eurobrace, a center area with teeth cut out.

Dave