How can I incorporate a fuge into this system?

[Candi]

I just purchased a used 70g Oceanic RR tank. It came with this skimmer, http://www.superskimmer.com/RD.htm: ETSS Red Devil and this sump: http://www.superskimmer.com/RD_Sump.htm

One of the main reasons I wanted a RR tank was to have a refug.. which obviously this sump doesn't allow (unless I want to squeeze a bit of cheato into the very small middle?) The skimmer takes up the first compartment and the pump for it and the return take up the back compartment. The skimmer could run outside of the sump but there isn't enough room in my stand for that.

I don't want to do an in tank or HOB refuge on the actual tank. The previous owner said she had a HOB on the sump at one point but that the weight pulled her original sump apart and she had to get another one) and said that if I tried that I should make sure to build some sort of frame for the sump... but I was thinking maybe instead I could make up some sort of little stand for the HOB refuge so that it's weight isn't really pulling on the sump wall?

Any ideas are appreciated, I've never even had a sump/refug at all so this is all very new to me and I want to do it right before I start filling it with water. I suppose since the sump is basically brand new and $ retail I could try to sell it and just go with a standard aquarium sump so I could customize where the dividers are?

Thanks!
Candi

 

[Carlo]

You could probably throw some cheato in the first compartment and add a clip on light fixture with a daylight bulb to your current sump. If you decided to sell it NO problem as you didn't bother the stucture at all and the light will come right off.

Carlo

 

[Candi]

So put cheato in the section with the sump sitting in it? (sorry confused )

 

[Carlo]

If the section with the filter sock is the "input" section you could throw cheato in that. Basically you can put it anywhere but you don't want it getting stuck/clogging the return pump.

 

[Candi]

Got'cha, yes that section with the filter sock in the photo (mine doesnt' have one) is the "input" section and where the skimmer sits (takes up most of the section)... since the pump for the skimmer is sitting in the same section as the return pump that should work

 

[Carlo]

Got ya. You need to be carefull so that the cheato doesn't clog up/get stuck in the skimmer pump too.

It's worth a try, but you may find you need a different sump if you want to do a "decent" fuge in it without issues/hassles.

Carlo

 

[Candi]

I think if I angle the sump, and leave the tank a couple inches from the wall I can actually fit the skimmer outside of it, that way I could make the large inlet into a refugium... just have to figure out how to plumb the skimmer back into sump using pvc (should it empty back into the refuge chamber or would it be better to go back into the return chamber?

 

[Hitman]

Do you have room for an external return pump? You could add a baffle to the last chamber, then drill the sump for a bulkhead fitting that runs to an external return pump.

 

[Candi]

Really no more room (or money LOL) for an external pump, so the one it came with will have to do (it fits fine in the return pump section). I also really don't want to modify the sump at all since it's a prefab acrylic.

My current plan is to make the first/inlet section into a fuge, the skimmer will run externally with it's pump in the rear/return section and the skimmer outlet going back into the fuge section. The only things I'm not sure of is if that's the right places to put the skimmers pump and return. I have PVC and cleaner/glue so I'm going to give this a shot today (likely won't test for a couple days still finishing up my rockwork (dry marcorocks) and need to get the RODI in overdrive to make up my water )