Sump falling apart!

Brandon1023 · 11-27-2007, 11:02 AM

So the sump I was so proud of that I built myself is just crumbling like a cookie!

The aquarium sealant I used is absolute CRAP! I bought it from PetSmart... The baffles are coming loose 1 by 1. The picture below was posted originally on this website, and I used it and made my sump almost the exact same way. The baffles that I colored red are the ones that have come loose. The one separating the fuge from the return I have rigged up with some PVC pipe right now, and the other one came loose yesterday.

I followed the sealant directions and let it cure for 48 hours before adding water. The stuff said you could build a small aquarium with it. FAT CHANCE! I wouldn't trust this stuff to hold a small glass of water, let alone an entire freaking aquarium! OK rant over...

So basically I'm going to remove the baffles in red, and the baffle I colored black. Obviously the return pump won't stay where it is once that baffle is gone. Hopefully the last baffle will hold, I have a couple ideas to make sure it does. So I guess it's a good thing because that will increase the size of my refugium.

My question is though, I was wondering how I will go about my sump now, since it will be a separate entity from my fuge. I know that's how Tangster and many others recommend it anyways, but I had this up before I read all of that. So like I said all is not lost and I can fix this and probably be better off for it in the long run.

So I'll have my overflow feed into the sump (I'll just use a simple Rubbermaid like everyone says) and then into the fuge and then back home? Or what? ALL RESPONSES WELCOME AND NEEDED...although I must admit I'd like to hear Tangster's thought on this as well, haha!

Also if anyone has pics or drawings of how they have their sump setup separately from their fuge and how it's all plumbed, that would be BOMBDIGGITY.

Like I said I'm not entirely upset about this, it just means more water volume for me and a bigger fuge in the long run, it just sucks that it's like...coming apart

Tangster · 11-27-2007, 11:08 AM

Look you really don't need all that crap in a sump anyways its just a water tight box to set the mechanical stuff in.. People today are just way way way over thinking and engineering the stuff LOL I myself have never use anything but a old tank as a sump no baffle or weirs or plates Just a old 40 breeder and thats it.. I set a 20 H Fuge up and that trickles into the sump and that takes care of our tank just fine.
Personally I'd toss all that stuff out anyways as it would be in my way. Take all the stuff out and leave the tank for the sump put the pump at one end and have the water into the sump from take at the far opposite end. Then when you bring the drain line in just go to the bottom of the sump and add two 90's to form a U and then a short stub of pipe to raise that to the sumps running water level that will put every bubble up on the surface and away from the pump. Then if you have a bubble issue I can show you a simpler better fix.. But one problem at a time (:

I'm old and simple minded I have to keep it all as simple as I can to function! LOL The Olf KISS method works for me.

Brandon1023 · 11-27-2007, 11:12 AM

OK so your overflow goes into your fuge first? How do you have it setup to trickle into your sump? And then I assume the return pump is in your sump as well, yes? Sorry if I have this backwards...

And thanks for the fast response!

Jason McKenzie · 11-27-2007, 11:16 AM

I to have a bunch of baffles in my sump to ensure no bubbles enter my main tank. + It makes the last chamber the evaporation chamber so I can gauge top off levels and have my sensor in there.

But the more I learn the more I agree with Tangster (WOW). I take care of bubble with filter socks and who cares if 1 chamber evaporates or the whole sump I can still use my auto top off.

So Ya who cares about the baffles get all the junk out and just run a sump

J

Brandon1023 · 11-27-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason McKenzie

get all the junk out and just run a sump

Hehe well I plan on doing that but I would like to have the fuge as well, separate from the sump. I'm just asking what the best way is to link the two and how to have them flow.

Do I have the overflow run into the fuge first, or the sump first?

I think I remember Matt saying something about having it go into the fuge first because the more dirty water through the fuge, the better. I just need to know how to plumb it all

Keep in mind I have 2 more mag drive pumps and a rio pump just sitting around at my disposal at any given moment, so we have some wiggle room here

Jason McKenzie · 11-27-2007, 11:36 AM

I would T the return and ball valve the 1 T. have that T go to the fuge and then you can control the water flow + you can take it off-line if you need to.
Then just have it overflow to the sump

J

Brandon1023 · 11-27-2007, 11:47 AM

OK...starting to form a plan here. But how to I get the water from the fuge back into the sump? Just use a mag drive? I have a mag 5 I could toss in there....

Otty · 11-27-2007, 12:59 PM

Set you seperate fuge tank up a little higher then your sump and drill a hole in the side of it and let gravity pull it back down in the tank through a bulkhead. That is how I run mine. I put water in from the OF and let gravity feed it back to the sump.

Tangster · 11-27-2007, 01:04 PM

Yes Put a tee in the line to feed the fuge from the 1 inch line going to the sump..The trick is that U at the bottom of the drains in the sump then the stub of pipe..that puts all the bubbles up on top. We ran a 47 with a 10 gal sump and I ran a Mag 12 for the main pump on a overflow I had made to run some water and never had a bubble issue . Amcarrigs buddy came over once to bring her a coral frag and was amazed that their where no bubbles I I ever do I'd just put some base rock in there to slow the water and the rock ad's more too the system as a NO3 remover then about anything and a place for the worms to grow in the old dark sump.

Tangster · 11-27-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otty

Set you seperate fuge tank up a little higher then your sump and drill a hole in the side of it and let gravity pull it back down in the tank through a bulkhead. That is how I run mine. I put water in from the OF and let gravity feed it back to the sump.

Ain't no such thing as gravity the earth just sucks LOL