Hello all, first post here. I've been reading this forum and everything else about reef tanks like crazy for several months now and will soon be starting my first saltwater tank in january, after the holidays. This site has been a great source of info and inspiration, so thank you!

I have been going back and forth regarding whether or not to add a sump. My tank is 33 gallons, and if I build a sump it will have to be a 10 gallon to fit in the stand. I'd like to have a protein skimmer (one that will fit) and whatever size refugium i can fit and still have room for the return pump. i had originally planned to just use a HOB skimmer. (specifically the Octopus bh 1000.) I guess i'm wondering if going the sump route is worth it when my sump would be fairly small, and the HOB i had planned seems to get good reviews.

I also would like to not drill my tank (for a few different reasons) and would use an overflow box if i had a sump. i've read the risks of that, as well as the ways to circumvent them (allowing water space for power failures, keeping the return outflow high enough to not create a reverse siphon,etc.) and it seems to make sense to me.

and a more cosmetic question, i really like the ADA glass lily pipes and was wondering if they would work for the outflow from the return. i'd have to use a pump that would work with the right size flexible tubing to fit, but would it create too much pressure for the glass or would the shape itself be a pressure issue? I know they're used for canister filters, and i have yet to find any of them used for sump returns.

any ideas on this stuff is greatly appreciated, being a complete newbie!

A 10 gallon is more than enough for that sized tank. Do it this way:

(Compartment A skimmer and drain) (baffle) (baffle) Compartment B return pump with T off to refugium) (baffle) (Compartment C refugium)

Look at the Skimmers by AcuaC. http://www.aquacave.com/aquac-urchin-with-...immer-1228.html I've used the Remora with great success.

I think you will get a lot of algae growth in the ADA pipe. Here is picture of one full of algae.

So two baffles would be enough between A and B? I thought there needed to be three, but that would definitely save me some space.




heh yeah, that's not pretty. i was hoping some pipe cleaners every few weeks would take care of it, or maybe i'm deluding myself.

Alright, i've been thinking of some sump ideas and came up with this. i've seen a few similar to this one. i'd appreciate any opinions on it (for a 10 gallon sump). would i need another bubble trap outside of the fuge since i also have an intake going in there as well?

the first baffles are only 8"... thats the lowest possible water level i can use with my skimmer and i wanted to keep the return section at only 1 gallon. or can i just make the first baffle taller than the third one?

Click to view attachment

finished my ghetto sump, check it out, still needs some cleaning up, read the post.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...t&p=2547697

i had my skimmer on the return side, but moved it to the fuge to see if it functions better.

EDIT: Intake side not return, grr

The height of the fall from the refugium will almost certainly cause bubble issues.

thanks! yikes, i would have overlooked that. so could i put in another bubble trap on that side, or would it be better just to shorten that wall. (or both?)

Dunno what the optimal mix of caution and effort is. A bubble trap may work but shortening the wall or keeping the the flow rate low certainly will.

I would add another baffle to keep the fuge area volume up vs shortening the wall

i think i'll shorten the fuge wall to 8.5" so there's at least some height difference for flow from the fuge to return. i think i'll still have a decent fuge volume, about 8.5% of the display tank volume.

You can keep the flow low as well. That will create less splashing, fewer bubbles and it will allow more bubbles to escape and cause less when it overflows.