Sump to Fug Flow

[The Rugger]

Hey Folks. I am putting together my first tank have hit a bit of a snag. I inherited a 55Gal fish only set up for free. The cabinet has a divider that separates it into two sections that are connected by small window. I have the wet dry shell on one side that I intend on using for a Sump and a fug I created on the other (Thanks Melev). I have been experimenting (in the garage) with using an overflow tube to move the water from the sump to the Fug. This doesn

[jojo22]

I would just use an overflow box.

[dberrong]

I'm with jojo, but it looks like you may have to modify the overflow box a bit for width from one box to the other and you can adjust the height of the box for your water depth needs.

[Grue]

Place your protien skimmer in the sump. If you read the directions it should tell you what it's prefered dept is. Let's say 6 to 8 inches. I would place the bulkhead 6 to 8 inches from the bottom. Or the middle of the waterline (7inches) With bulkheads on both sides (Sump and Fuge) connect the 2 with your choice of tubing\piping. Only change I would make is where water enter the fuge I would add 3 baffles. Water out of the protein skimmer will add microbubbles. This would also be a great place to add so liverock debris. I am not an egspert just my 2c
Grue

[melev]

Where is the skimmer going to be installed? The wet/dry section? Can you elevate the wet/dry on a stand, and still fit the skimmer? If so, drill the wet/dry at the proper depth so it can drain into the refugium.

Don't get a huge return pump. I know you want to. Resist the urge. :)

[The Rugger]

Thanks for the feedback.

The protein skimmer is intended for the sump, but clearance is limited when it comes to raising it more then a couple inches. It seems building a sump would help maximize my limited space adding some water capacity. This will add time and expense, but is probably the best option IMO.

I guess I could add a baffle to each side that would act like an over flow box and be less cumbersome then the traditional box. This would require probably modifying the overflow tube, adding extensions.

I will have to think this through. Considering the long term, the fewer siphons I have to maintain the better. I guess I am leaning towards the bulkhead option.

Decisions… Decisions…

[The Rugger]

The pump I have is a "Quiet One 4000". It seems that Mag is the overwhelming favorite, but Foster and Smith gave me a solid deal, so I bit.
After all is done I believe it should be moving about 850-900 GPH. I don't think this is overkill, but I could be wrong.

[The Rugger]

So I scrapped the Wet Dry shell and put together a Sump/fug that will better maximize my limited space.

After some reading and some thought I came up with what is thought was the best approach. I then read and thought some more and changes my mind. I took note that the fug seems to be better off getting water that has not through the skimmer. Most designs I saw leveraged this, so I came up with a second design

Here are some rough sketches of what I was thinking. The 1st has the flow going in one direction the second splits the feed from the tank and sends water to the skimmer and to the Fug separately.

anything glaringly wrong?

Thoughts on which would be best?

[The Rugger]

I guess If you don't have PDF those Attachments won't help much.

[Grue]

I like the top one it is like mine. One of the things that made me change my setup was detris. It began collecting on the pump. Noteing that all the water will not go thru the PS I relocated my pump to the middle. (Left side of your referum) I put a divder in to force the water to go thru the planted area then dump in the pump area. After 2 weeks I saw that detris started accumlulating on the sump side (Perfect for me to vaccume up) In that area I put in 3" Sugar sand (Really fine stuff) I would of loved to have done it all at 1 time. But It works well now and I am happy with it.
Grue

[Whoyah]

I would go with the one in/ one out version. Both would work and I could see splitting it on a larger set-up but for a 55 I would just keep it simple.

[The Rugger]

Thanks for the input. I am well on my way. I decided to keep it simple and have the one in and one out. I did some cutting on the cabinet to make room for the bulkheads. I expect I will be cutting the holes for the bulkheads in the next day or so.

Any advice on the height of the bulkheads placement?