Help needed with first sump set up please

[Leon]

Hi all, have not been on for a while due to the floods trashing my house.
All sorted now :D

I am in the middle of setting up a new tank and this time i have gone for a sump system but it is originally designed for a fish only set up and have been told to adapt it to run a reef tank as shown in the attached photo(if i can get it to up load)

One thing that is worrying me is the last glass separator I have blocked the gap at the bottom with another piece of glass siliconed over it but the seperator is the same height as the first one so will i need to cut it down to allow the water to flow more easily over it or will it run ok as drawn.

I blocked the last glass separator to allow me to run a DSB or MUD calerpa / cheto in it, but i cant decide what to run any help / input is welcome thanks

Leon :confused:

[moorish]

you would need to reduce the height of the seperator in the last chamber by quite a bit so as to allow more water to flow over.derek

[Leon]

Thanks for the reply.

How much will i need to cut off the last chamber do you think

[mad pierre]

Thanks for the reply.

How much will i need to cut off the last chamber do you think

The height needs to be enough to make sure your mud/sand does not wash over the last separator, but more importantly the gap between the plates must be more than enough to cope with the maximum flow rate of your return pump or it will run dry.
Also I notice in your second diagram you appear to have the water level very high. Please ensure that you leave enough height to allow for the extra water which will flow into the sump from the main tank should the electricity fail. I run mine at about half the height of the sump, but that will vary depending on tank/sump sizes and overflow position.

Peter.

[Leon]

the sump is purpose made for the tank so i would think it would be able to handle the extra water should the electric fail all i have done is block one side to allow me to run a DSB just dont want to cut the divider down if I dont have too.

The sump is designed to run bio balls with sponges but i dont want to run it that way thats why i blocked the bottom of the last divider up, but not sure how the water will flow over the dividers with them both being the same height. I have a gap of 4and a half inches from top of sump to top of divider.

At present I have half filled my tank with water just waiting for my RO unit to catch up Ive got about 100 liters to go :)

[cl0wn]

i would be inclined to agree with peter, i'm probably wrong but that sump origionally looks like some sort of trickle set up? meaning lots of room for excess water when the power stops, i would do a few tests to see how high the water level will be with the return pump off and on.

would it not be easier to cut the baffles out entirely and get some new glass cut, or cut some thick perspex yourself? that way you can maximise the dsb / mud chamber, and have all your equipment where you want it
(there has been analysis done of certain muds and the results suggest that some may not be quite what they claim, i'll see if i can dig out a link).
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/mm_analysis.html
found it

[Leon]

hi thanks for the reply. I have cut down the baffles and managed to fit in all equipment :D. Also as you suggested I tested levels to fill the sump got a little water on the floor at times:eek: THE MRS (boss) wasn't happy lol, but now if power fails the sump doesn't overflow i have 3cm left :eek: cutting it fine.

I have now added salt etc and added DSB,and live rock over the week end

I will post some photos tomorrow to show my progress