Good Idea or Bad Idea?

saltwater_wannabe · 12-29-2004, 01:48 PM

I would like to add a refugium to my system which currently has no room in the (15g) sump for one. I have been trolling these boards and pictures when I had an idea. I was thinking that I could purchase a smaller (prob. std. 5 1/2g) tank and sit it atop a frame of PVC about 6 inches off the bottom of the sump. Drill a 1/2" bulkhead in one side of it for a drain, but use the water coming out of the skimmer as the input for the refugium. The drain from the refuge would dump into the bay where the return pump is and return to the main tank. I know that the skimmer is only going to pull so much water through it, so there would still be water passing through the sump as normal, but a portion of the water returning to the tank would be "refugium water". Here's a pic of what I was thinking about.

(PVC frame not shown for clarity)

Give me any and all your input.

Thanks!
SWbe

traip93 · 12-29-2004, 02:00 PM

Only problem I see is the amount of bubbles that will be generated from your refugium dumping into your sump. I would have the Refugium dump intot he other side of your sump as far away from your return pump as possible...

saltwater_wannabe · 12-29-2004, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traip93

Only problem I see is the amount of bubbles that will be generated from your refugium dumping into your sump. I would have the Refugium dump intot he other side of your sump as far away from your return pump as possible...

The only reason that I wanted to dump the water from the refugium into the return pump area is so that I can maximize the number of pods returning to the main tank. I'm worried that if I don't drain the refugium on that side, then the pods will be drawn into the skimmer and back into the refugium and never make it into the main tank. Keep in mind, this is my inexperience talking.

traip93 · 12-29-2004, 02:16 PM

any pods that have to go through your return pump are going to be chopped up anyway. Only way to maximize pods in the main take is to have the refugium abov your main tank and have it be gravity fed to the main tank.

JANGO · 12-29-2004, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traip93

any pods that have to go through your return pump are going to be chopped up anyway. Only way to maximize pods in the main take is to have the refugium abov your main tank and have it be gravity fed to the main tank.

A lot more than pods can make it through a return pump unharmed.
I agree on getting air bubbles if your dumping the drain from the fuge right above the pumps. I would move that drain behind the baffle's going to the pump. If you dump the water right there most of it will go right over the baffle and not back to the skimmer.

saltwater_wannabe · 12-29-2004, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JANGO

I would move that drain behind the baffle's going to the pump. If you dump the water right there most of it will go right over the baffle and not back to the skimmer.

That may be the answer! This tank setup will be test run with freshwater in my garage before it gets moved into the house, so I'll get to check it to see what works.

nikesmashing · 12-29-2004, 03:01 PM

so what do bubbles actually do too a tank?

JANGO · 12-29-2004, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikesmashing

so what do bubbles actually do too a tank?

annoy the owner!

saltwater_wannabe · 12-29-2004, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JANGO

annoy the owner!

ding! ding! ding!

tims · 12-29-2004, 05:37 PM

that and depending on what type of fish you will have in the tank,they can attach to the fish and be adsorbed in to the fish causing problems..

wanareef · 12-30-2004, 03:29 AM

I would add a second outlet a little higher than the first- just in case the first get's clogged - that is if the fuge is not directly over the sump.

tabwyo · 12-30-2004, 02:16 PM

All in all boss I'd say you have a great idea goin. Plus a great way to save space. In my line of work I deal with some pretty big pumps and alot of critters pass through those pumps untouched. I one time sucked up a duck wich passed through 78' of plumbing and passed through a 45 vain centrifugal prime pump and all he had worse for the wear was wet feathers. But, honestly, if you want your sump to be a pod factry the you'd be best served be by an above display refugium. Plus go with Wanna suggestion, Aint nothin like a little back up plan to avoid a wet floor.