Help!! Advice? Getting back in

Welcome back! In my old setup I had my sump and display laid out in that L shape and really liked it.

Unless your sump is already built in a way that forces you into T'ing off your return for a low flow fuge I would consider an alternative sump/fuge concept. The original line of thinking was you want a low flow running through your fuge.. and depending on what you want out of your fuge that may be correct. However, the Triton method is becoming fairly popular and flies in the face of that thinking. The sump/fuge layout in a Triton sump wants high flow through your sump with your display draining entirely into your fuge as the first section of your sump.


This is the layout I went with for my current sump and it works well. The goal for my fuge is to provide a place for additional live rock, pod production, and a place to grow macro algae. It definitely works well for this purpose. Just something to consider... not sure if your sump is able to modified in order to accommodate this at this point or not.

 

I'm running a dual herbie set up on my new 120. I have my return line separate running up and over the back in the corner. I love it! It is 100% silent. My sump is directly below the display tank but I do have a couple elbows and horizontal runs due to the layout. I think you would be ok with the sump beside the display.

 

Yep, that's exactly what I did. Turned out exactly how I drew it up. Only flaw is the brace for the tank spans right over where my media tray is. I don't commonly run filter floss in there, but when I do it makes it a bit of a pain to reach in to pull it out.

Note my skimmer is external and actually pulls from the return section and drains back into the fuge (not quite in line with what Triton draws up but it works). One thing to keep in mind as you draw up your plans is that you'll want to leave enough empty space in your sump to accommodate the back siphon that occurs from your DT. That's what prevented me from making my fuge even larger.

 

Don't you typically want your fuge after your skimmer and wouldn't you get better skimmer performance if your skimmer drew water from your first compartment receiving water from your display tank?

 

That's been the traditional approach. They argue that you want to allow the macro algae in your fuge the first crack at nutrients.
https://www.triton-lab.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Brochures/Guide_to_the_TRITON_Method_5-4-17-web.pdf
Actually it looks like they don't provide a justification in that guide. I can't remember if it was on a FAQ somewhere or a previous version of this guide but they did explain it somewhere.

 

That's one of the many great things about this hobby (obsession!). There are so many different ways to do things and be successful.

 

Welcome back nlandgraf!! I have always had my macro algae/chaeto first, and Triton suggests that also. There are many benefits to having the tank drain into the macro algae section first. BRS has several videos on Triton that are very good The Triton method is based upon not having to do water changes (or very, very few) so the more room for macro's, the better! They also have information and additives available for "Triton Other Methods" in case you do not/cannot go with their complete/full-blown method.

 

What is the TFE paste Bud?

 

Triton suggests 10x display volume. So that would be 1500 gph on a 150g display.

For my 400g display I run a Jebao DCT-15000 which allegedly does about 4000 gph. However, I'm sure I'm getting nowhere close to that after accounting for head loss. I may try their new DCP-20000 pump (5283 gph) when I eventually have to replace mine.