Thx for the help w/pics

[KBartley77]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I just wanted to thank everyone for their ideas on a sump design, finally the wet/dry is gone and hopefully happier times ahead, my nitrates have already dropped from 40 ppm to 10 ppm. One little question I have a few micro bubbles coming from the sump and have checked all my plumbing for leaks is it this pvc pictured and will a prefilter slid over it help. Again thanks guys you've been a big help.#ed_op#IMG src="/richedit/smileys/2.gif"#ed_cl##ed_op#IMG alt="image file name: 2k8088610d58.jpg" src="http://www.captivereefing.com/richedit/upload/2k8088610d58.jpg" border=0#ed_cl##ed_op#IMG alt="image file name: 2kf18b05e344.jpg" src="http://www.captivereefing.com/richedit/upload/2kf18b05e344.jpg" border=0#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

Looks like your research has really paid off, looks very clean and well organized. If you add a sponge prefilter or some sort of filter sock/media bag to try to reduce the air bubbles in the output it will need almost daily cleaning to avoid nutrient build ups and creating more nitrates. Not sure if you have room to build and H trap to isolate the air from the over from getting into the sump, it looks pretty tight in there, Great use of available space though.

The dramatic drop in nitrates is likely do to adding 30% more water to the entire system. Overall you should be far better off than the wet/dry filtration could offer.

Can you describe the method of water flow through the sump/fuge? Maybe it's just the angle of the pictures, but I don't see the return line or pump, I would guess water enters on the right as pictured into the skimmer chamber from your overflow, water then spills to pass thru the refgium and is returned through the left most chamber... just don't see a pump there.

[KBartley77]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hey Dakar thanks for the reply, in the left chamber I have a 1" bulkhead which I have 1"pvc running out of , and around the back of the cabinet to a Gen X pcx 30 return pump. I'd really hate to put a pre-filter on, but I don't like the air bubbles either. Do you think in the first picture if I made another inlet piece with no holes above the water line, would that help?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

Are you seeing a good amount of air bubbles in the refuge?

If not I think your air bubbles are likely not from the overflow/skimmer, but instead from the lack of a bubble trap between the refuge and the return chamber, water spilling down that sheet is creating the bubbles and your return pump is grabbing them up to spit into your tank.