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BUILDING A SUMP/REFUGIUM

??? Allright theres a first time for everything. Today I decided to build a sump/refuge
I bought a 20 long it was the largest I can fit under the stand, and still have head room for a skimmer. Question is where to put baffles? At what heights? What spaceing?
I'm using a CPR duel overflow, abermuda skimmer, and mag 12 return pump I plan on having a refuge between filter sock and skimmer. Any help will be very, very appreciated. THANKS JIM
 
im not sure what size tank you have but will a 20L be big enought? i have a 29 gallon i turned into a refugium, i originally had a 20L but it didnt have the height i wanted. go to championlighting.com and check out the adhi sumps and fuges, it gives you all the dimensions right on there. you can go to lowe's and have them cut window pane glass for about $4 each piece. its very thin but it is working quite well.
 
Ligershark said:
im not sure what size tank you have but will a 20L be big enought? i have a 29 gallon i turned into a refugium, i originally had a 20L but it didnt have the height i wanted. go to championlighting.com and check out the adhi sumps and fuges, it gives you all the dimensions right on there. you can go to lowe's and have them cut window pane glass for about $4 each piece. its very thin but it is working quite well.

I did the lowes glass and they shattered on me because I was putting too much water pressure past them. It was in a 135 that I made into a sump so it is different with the 20L but I would still get thicker glass if it was me because of the experience.
 
I'm using a 20long so it will fit under tank and still be able to get skimmer in and out for maintenance. Any thing taller and I would have to lay the skimmer all the way over slide it side ways to clear top of tank then stand it up to fit out between cabinet
and tank which would most likely cause some skimmate to spill.The skimmer I'm going to use will only have an inch of clearence when installed.

As for the glass phil519 recomended a site that recomends 1/4 inch glass. THANKS phil519 the site also helped me figure out the layout. Thank heavens for this site
NJR :) :)
 
it all depends on how tall youre making your partition, ive been running my tank for 2 weeks now with the window glass and its working fine, they are roughly 10x11 each and they arent under much pressure. im sure if it was a bigger partition with more pressure it would shatter. I am taking extra care when i fool around in my sump to make sure i dont crack anything. for a 20L it would be fine.
 
in-sump skimmers are sensitive to the water level they sit in. Depending on the skimmer you're using, you'll need to take that into account. e.g., ATI skimmers need to be in 6-8in of water, so if your skimmer section was 13in high, you'd have to build a 5-7 inch stand. Also if you're planning to divert the output from the skimmer to a different section of the sump, you need to be sure your baffles are below the skimmer outlet.
 
i don't think it's necessary in a small sump like a 20 gallon, but i used cutting boards from walmart as baffles in my 125 gallon perfecto sump. they work pretty well, and are quite strong. ;)
 
mr_X said:
i don't think it's necessary in a small sump like a 20 gallon, but i used cutting boards from walmart as baffles in my 125 gallon perfecto sump. they work pretty well, and are quite strong. ;)

here's pics-
toolsofthetrade.jpg

cuttingboardbafflesglued.jpg

lift.jpg
 
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