sump.

[EQCM2B]

When building a sump, should I make the return side larger than the skimmer side or does it really matter?

[dakar]

Really a matter of personal choice, and whether or not you are going to incorporate a refugium into the design, the whole idea is to add as much as possible to the total water volume. But be sure to leave enough extra room to contain the oerflow water in the event of a power outtage, or you'll have wet feet

[EQCM2B]

I don't think it is large enough for a fuge since it is only a 10 gallon tank. I did plan to put some cheato in it with a light though or maybe set something on top of the sump. I just did not have any more lenghth to use.

[davejnz]

According to some articles that i've read,skimmers perform best when placed in confined vessels with a stable water level that recieves a raw water feed from your overflows output.Recently,Reefermadness used the idea by placing his skimmer in a bucket inside his sump.This allowed him to achieve a stable water level for his skimmer.The whole idea of a small skimmer chamber is based on this.Organics have a tendency to rise to the surface of the water.When a skimmer just sits in a large open sump,the organics often never reach the skimmer pumps intake(usually,well below the surface).When placed in a small vessel that is plumbed directly to the overflows output,the organics from the water have a greater chance of reaching the skimmers pump.

[EQCM2B]

Thanks guys. Maybe instead of 50/50 split for tha skimmer and return I will make it more like 25/75 so I will have a larger return and smaller skimmer intake.

[Fally]

I have a design that I made for my 10 gallon sump. It has a skimmer chamber and a crash chamber directing water from the overflow towards the skimmer intake. There is a fuge in the middle with bubble traps on either side. It works quite well for me. The return area is quite small and I have to top off about a half gallon each day from evaporation. I am considering putting in an automatic top off to give me more time, 3-5 gallons.





Good luck!

[davejnz]

Thats a good diagram Fally,thanks for sharing.One of the benefits of a small return area is that it will be the place where the water fluctuates.By having an auto-top-off,it will constantly be adding water to this small fluctuating volume of water which will keep your salinty stable.

[JustDavidP]

In my sump-fugium, you can see a float valve in the center chamber. This is for the auto top off. The return pump will live in there too...obviously, the section on the left is a refugium



Dave

[JustDavidP]

You really can't see the float valve in that pic...here's another: