DIY sump

[My94TA]

I am going to have to build my own sump to keep it hidden in my stand. I would prefer to purchase one, but I cannot find any that will fit through my cabinet doors. So I am going to build one that is L-shaped. This way my skimmer can fit. Its too tall to fit in the cabinet. What I am planning is having an overflow box feed into the sump where the skimmer is that is designed to be submersable, that is chamber 1. The water will exit the top of the skimmer as well as the water that overflows from chamber 1 into chamber 2. Chamber 2 will have a sponge to keep bubbles to a minimum. To my understanding, bubbles can keep or elevate nitrates. The it will go into chamber 3. It will then overflow into the refugium. This will hold exactly 5 gallons. Then overflow into the last chamber where it is picked up by the return pump.
My concerns are:
1. If I match the return pump gph to the overflow's natural gravity feed siphon, will I need a pump to feed the sump from the overflow box?
2. Is what I said about bubbles keeping/elevating nitrates true?
3. What all should my refugium hold besides macro algea (cheato), mineral mud, and a light?
4. Do I need a filter sock off the overflow box?
5. Can I put LPS corals in before I get my sump built. I currently do not have a refugium.
6. What else am I missing?!

My glass guy said he can cut everything for $70 using 1/4" glass. I am trying to keep cost as minimumal as possible. Thanks in advanced!

[My94TA]

Originally Posted by My94TA

I am going to have to build my own sump to keep it hidden in my stand. I would prefer to purchase one, but I cannot find any that will fit through my cabinet doors. So I am going to build one that is L-shaped. This way my skimmer can fit. Its too tall to fit in the cabinet. What I am planning is having an overflow box feed into the sump where the skimmer is that is designed to be submersable, that is chamber 1. The water will exit the top of the skimmer as well as the water that overflows from chamber 1 into chamber 2. Chamber 2 will have a sponge to keep bubbles to a minimum. To my understanding, bubbles can keep or elevate nitrates. The it will go into chamber 3. This will house nothing, but if I need to put something in there like Phos-Guard, I can. It will then overflow into the refugium. This will hold exactly 5 gallons. Then overflow into the last chamber where it is picked up by the return pump.
My concerns are:
1. If I match the return pump gph to the overflow's natural gravity feed siphon, will I need a pump to feed the sump from the overflow box?
2. Is what I said about bubbles keeping/elevating nitrates true?
3. What all should my refugium hold besides macro algea (cheato), mineral mud, and a light?
4. Do I need a filter sock off the overflow box?
5. Can I put LPS corals in before I get my sump built. I currently do not have a refugium.
6. What else am I missing?!

My glass guy said he can cut everything for $70 using 1/4" glass. I am trying to keep cost as minimumal as possible. Thanks in advanced!

I made some changes, but hit quote not edit

[crvz]

1. You never want to match the return, you always want the overflow to be rated for a higher flow rate than the return pump.

2. No. Not by themselves. If you continually blast wastes with oxygenated water, then yes, but bubbles in the water are not an issue.

3. What do you expect the refugium to do? I don't have a refugium at all on my 200 gallon setup, and I don't have a pinch of sand either. While there's an ever going debate on the use/effectiveness of a fuge, I personally think they're more trouble than they're worth.

4. Do you want to? Here is where nitrates are likely to form. That bag collects wastes, gets freshly oxygenated water passing through it all the time, and without very frequent changing (as in daily), you're at risk in my experience.

5. Sure. You don't need a refugium for any coral. My tank is primarily SPS, and they do great.

6. I'd really do some research on the fuge. You're better off investing in a good skimmer and solid tank setup.

[wanareef]

I'm guessing that you are in another state, or else I could build ya one.