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Tank Log: Sump Equipment |
The sump is based around a 50 gallon glass tank. Since it was my plan to use submersible pumps to minimize plumbing problems, a glass tank works fine for my application. I decided to partition it into 3 sections.
| The first section contains the skimmer and tank return. |
| The second section will house the heaters and carbon and will allow bubbles to escape. |
| The third section houses the return pumps. |
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Here are a couple of pictures of the sump tank. I have just finished gluing in some black acrylic dividers using aquarium silicon RTV. I also built a small acrylic stand to hold the skimmer at the proper level. |
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Here is another view of the sump tank. I have built in dividers that serve as bubble traps to help ensure that the bubbles created by the drain line and the high powered skimmer don't make it down to the return pumps. |
The skimmer is a Precision Marine Bullet 2 skimmer. I considered going with a Bullet 3, but my 36" cabinet would not give me the height necessary once I raised the skimmer above the level of the water in the sump. This skimmer uses the new Beckett style air injector rather than a venturi. It will be powered by a MAG 18 submersible pump which is capable of 1800gph.
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Here is the calcium reactor equipment. It consists of a model CR622 reactor which is the larger of the PM models. It includes a recirculating pump and all necessary hardware. I also have a 10lb CO2 bottle and regulator. |
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Here is the equipment plumbed in under the tank. |
The sump is all plumbed in and running at this point.
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This shows the two MAG 9.5 pumps used to drive two 3/4" Seaswirls. The foam is an attempt to remove some of the fine bubbles getting through the sump. |
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Here is the sump, basically setup but in disarray. I have also wired in a large digital thermometer with an temp alarm and a pH monitor for adjusting the calcium reactor. |
