New sump! Out with the Old. In with the New

Discussion in 'Reef Aquarium Articles and How To's' started by KFisher, Feb 3, 2014.

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  1. KFisher

    KFisher Plankton

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2014
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    Location:
    Tampa FL
    So I've never been too thrilled with the design of the original sump that came with my 90 gallon when I purchased it a few years back. It came with the tank so I wasn't complaining because really I knew nothing at the time about reef tanks and wasn't really sure what my preferences were. The design is a 3 chamber. Overflow to the left. Return in the middle. Refugium on the right. It's terrible for slowing the flow of micro bubbles to the center section due to its lack of bubble traps. I've tried sponges and facing the skimmer outlet as far as humanly possible from the next flow section and I just can't take it anymore. The wall that controls my water level is pretty high too which I've built a skimmer stand that doesn't allow my skimmer much room(1") for removing the lid or neck for weekly cleaning. Plus it's not as pretty as I want. Controlling the refugium section with a ball valve isn't something I'm all too fond of either since the pump I'm using is a seasoned Mag 9.5 that controls not only flow up to the tank but into the fuge AND my modded TLF 550 biopellet reactor that is a 3/4 tubing to 1/2 which has 2 outlets. 1 tube that flows to the inlet of my skimmer and the other controls flow through my 1/3hp chiller and returns back into the opening of my skimmer . I feel as though the Pump is being pushed beyond what it's capable of handling. So I ordered a Jebao DC 6000 that is coming Wednesday. I like the thought of having a variable speed pump with 6 speeds and a FEED mode with the push of a button as opposed to opening under the tank, closing the ball valve while unintentionally speeding up the flow of my biopellets, chiller and the water forcing into the skimmer inlet. Then having to come back 15-20 min later to adjust the ball valve to get flow back to the tank.
     

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  3. KFisher

    KFisher Plankton

    Joined:
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    And here's the new Sump which I picked from a local guy who builds them. It's 34.5 x 16 x 16 and it should fit my Diablo xs-225 just fine with a little room to spare. Hopefully I'll be able to fit the Biopellet reactor in that same section. I intend to put in sand, a couple decent sized live rocks, mangroves and possibly some chaeto. The return section should fit my dc 6000 just fine
     

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  4. Rhameolution

    Rhameolution Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    Apr 24, 2013
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    Location:
    North Chicago, IL
    That new sump looks good! Also, your dog totally photobombed that second photo.
     
  5. chris adams

    chris adams Purple Tang

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    Port Charlotte, FL

    classic big time photobomb. Sump looks good
     
  6. KFisher

    KFisher Plankton

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    Haha that's our baby! Mia is everywhere I or my fiancé go. Anytime the doors are open on the tank, her head is in the fuge looking at the crabs. She's a riot. Thanks guys
     
  7. KFisher

    KFisher Plankton

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    The new pump arrived today! Wishing it was the weekend so I could puting all together and replumb
     

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  9. KFisher

    KFisher Plankton

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    Fits nice!
     

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  10. KFisher

    KFisher Plankton

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    I'm hoping someone can help me out with this but I have a barbed and threaded return bulkhead that I was hoping to hard-plumb from the pump to the tank and I'm not sure how to handle this. Anybody encounter this yet?
     

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  11. coylee_17

    coylee_17 Fire Goby

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    I have the same thing, I'm ordering new bulkheads that are slip instead of barbed.
     
  12. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    that is a very sharp sump! I missed the dog on the first glance, and looked back...too cute :)