Sump-layout opinions wanted

[Seajuice]

Hi all,
I am getting back into the vacuum of salt water and would love to get some opinions about my sump layout with the attached file.
I had a reef tank about 5yrs ago and would like to do a saltwater fish only tank this go around.
Have purchased a 90g tank with a 30 gal. sump below. I realize this may be over kill for a FO tank, but I like the idea of a refugium for feeding and filtration.
Thanks!

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!!



not a fan of refugiums, so no comment here. what sized UV are you going to use. unless it is a monster of a UV unit, it may be of better use connected in line just before the skimmer. most UV units on the market are UV clarifiers, not UV sterilizers.

G~

[Seajuice]

Hi and thanks for responding to my thread. I have ordered the following UV sterilizer: Coral life 6x-18W twister. Its rated for a 250g tank. and appears to be marketed to our interests.
Ok, I'll bite...why don't you like refugiums?
Also can you please comment if you think my general flow design is OK, especially the locations of my compartments and bulk heads.
Many thanks!

[gwen_o_lyn]

Welcome to TRT!

[Geoff]

is that a top view or a side view? the bulkheads seem in odd places for either.

i feel refugiums are just something else to clean. they contradict themselves. here is an example using your setup. why have a refugium when you are going to be sending all of the water leaving it through a UV? won't that kill the things you want to send back into the tank? where is the heater going? are you going to be using an auto-top off device? how easy is it for you to get to the refuge. you should clean a refugium on a regular basis or you will have algae problems.

that UV is to small to be used as an UV sterilizer. it really would only kill algae. i would put it in front of the skimmer and let the UV break down DOC's so the skimmer will be able to remove them easier.

G~

[Seajuice]

Alrighty!
Thats the top view. I like the refugium idea because of all of the critters it would produce + the addition of nitrate removal with LR and Sand.
Since the top is a fish only tank the UV would be essential. You are making me rethink the whole process however. Maybe just a simple trickle filter would be fine. Why do you think the bulkheads are in strange places. I put them in those locations so they would recirculate the devices they are attached to. So your saying put the UV in front of the skimmer?.....
Thanks again...
do you have any links or pics of your sump?

[Geoff]

i do not have a sump. or at least something that you would recognise as a sump. for all intense and purposes, i had a HOB skimmer with an elarged outlet tube. this is where i put my heater and chiller connections.

i will go back and study the plans again. remember, a UV will only kill the things that go through it. ick and most parasites only have one phase of development that is water born. the rest of the time they are in the substrate. a UV will not help here.

G~