Reef Mania sump design for the 210!

[MNGold15]

Well here is another great design from Bob. We are just working out the minor details, but here is how it will look overall. The right back corner is the refuge and the left side has a bio ball chamber, and the ps8 will sit in the opening in the center. I am going with a external pump, the sequence reeflo marlin. The auto top off will be in the last chamber before the return pump. the CR300 will sit next to the sump in the stand. What do you all think of the design? Here is the link to the picture, since it says the file is too large to upload here: http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z293/MNGold15/GrantWestrum3.jpg

[wolmutt]

very nice!

[mtfatwork]

sump looks awsome. Why are you going with the Marlin, if you dont mind me asking? My tank is around the same size as yours, and I am pushing up from the basement with a wahoo which runs alot less wattage, and still has a ton of flow.

[Jubei]

That's a really nice design. I'm suprised you are planning on using bio balls, because I heard they are a nitrate factory and requires a bit of maintenance. If you are using the BB for a source of nutrients, then I would just build out a bigger fuge instead. If you want to filter out the larger particles and reduced bubbles in the sump area, then you might want to look into adding a filter sock.

[MNGold15]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Mary- Thanks. I am going to put ball valves on the return pump, and I am going to split the return to both overflows. The megaflows are supposed to only handle 600 gph, but I have herd that they can easily handle 800-900, they just get louder.

Jubei- I have used bio balls in my 90 for 4 years, and have not touched them. I also have a fuge on my 90, and my nitrates are at 0 ppm along with everything else. They are a nitrate factory, the refuge can then convert the nitrates. We were already adding a filter tray above the bio balls, but good catch.

[epidemic]

If it were me. Id be a little concerned about the height of the overflow in the sump. I assume that will be the skimmer chamber. Thie higher it is, the more crutial it will be to keep your water level high. If it gets lower than the overflow pumps can dry out and such

[MNGold15]

Thanks derek, the sump will have a auto top off, so the level should not fluctuate. the back right area with the overflow will be the refuge, im not sure if that is what you are talking about or not. I am guessing that you are talking about the main sump area with the 9" high baffle where it dumps over. I was a little concerned about it too, because originally we had all of the baffles at 8", and some people thought that it may back up too much so we raised that baffle to 9".

[epidemic]

yeah it looks like I was thinking of the fuge area. 9" baffles should be fine