Tell me how to build my own refugium???

[DrFish33]

I have an AquaClear 500 hanging on the back of my tank right now. Someone mentioned to me that I buy an impeller for whatever the smallest AquaClear hang-on filter is and put it in my 500 instead of my current impeller. With that having been said...I'm not sure what else to do. Any suggestions are welcome. Detailed suggestions are even better. Thanks.

[Geoff]

step away from the myth known as the refugium.

a HOB filter will not be big enough to be of any good for any sized tank.

why do you want a refugium? what have you heard that makes you think you want one?

i had one for 2 years, and it did nothing usefull. i removed it over a year ago, and now i do not have one or ever plan on putting one on a tank in the future.

G~

[DrFish33]

So I should just throw away my AquaClear 500? Or should I let it run and just put live rock rubble in it as my only media? I think I kind of need it for the flow.

[hannam11]

Geoff why do you think refugium is no good?

[Geoff]

refugiums do not do anything that they are said to do. all they end up doing is becoming a settling tank for detritus, which is not a bad thing, but they would need to be cleaned often in order to not create more problems. it is better to leave it empty and vacuum it out once a week during a water change than to have anything in it. keeping algae in it, does not do any good either. algaes leach growth inhibitors for corals. they also leach any phosphates that they have absorbed that they really do not need anymore. it is better just to let the skimmer do its work.

than there is the whole pod thing. i have asked many people to put a filter sock on their refugium outlets to catch pods for 24 hours. nobody has caught more than about 5 over 24 hours. this is not enough pods to support any kind of critter in the main tank. why would a pod want to get anywhere near a sucking vortex of death?

if you want to add anything expensive to a reef tank, add a true conical settling tank. this will really help your maintenance. i really am hoping to add my in the next couple of months.

G~

[hannam11]

OK what is a true conical settling tank?

[Geoff]

this is what i am planning on putting on my system?

there are smaller ones, but that will give you an idea on what i am talking about. i plan on plumbing it on the drain side of my tank just before the sump.

G~

[ScruffyRubicon]

Geoff

Is this to catch the detrius and other waste for easy removal? I would assume that you would put in and out bulkheads higher than the bottom.

[Geoff]

i plan on putting the inlet bulkhead just above where the conical area begins. the inlet pipe will be directed along the sides of the tank, creating a vortex. this keeps the flow to minimum in the center of the tank so that the detritus will stay once it has settled. a few inches above that i will put some eggcrate in the tank. this will act as a flow barrier. it will keep the flow below the grate more turbulent while the water above the crate will be calmer allowing more of the detritus to fall out of suspension. as close to the top of the tank as possible i will add the outlet bulkhead. the actual drain will be dead center in the tank. this will limit any chance that detritus will make it into the sump.

if all goes well. when i do a water change all i have to do is turn a valve on the bottom of the tank and all of the detritus will flow into a bucket.

i would have liked to use a larger tank, but the 15 will be a tight fit as it is. the larger the tank the slower the velocity of the water in it. the more likely all of the detritus will be settled out.

G~

[ScruffyRubicon]

Looks like a good idea!

Wonder if I have room for this one?

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by Geoff

this is what i am planning on putting on my system?

there are smaller ones, but that will give you an idea on what i am talking about. i plan on plumbing it on the drain side of my tank just before the sump.

G~

Geoff

Is this the exact one you are getting for this? The reason I am asking is I noticed it is for biodiesel production. Is this item alright for our tanks (food grade)? They have other tanks that are food grade but not conical.

[Geoff]

yes, that is the exact one i will be getting. it is a standard poly tank. it is no different than the rubbermaid tanks in use for sumps (me included). i really wish i could fit the 30g in my area, but i may be stuck with only the 15g size.

G~

[ScruffyRubicon]

Reading above, is this what you have in mind?



Red line is the vortex break.

[Geoff]

yep, that is what i am thinking. for me though i will be using 2" inlets and outlets, so the scale will be a bit different.

since i have not made mine yet, finding the optimal distance for the flow break may take a couple of tries. my gut feeling is closer to the outlet is better than closer to the inlet.

G~

[tabwyo]

Well I for one say if you want a fuge then have a fuge. Almost all of the problems that Geoff pointed out can be taken care of with proper set-up maitainence. I for one saw a marked improvement when I set up my last fuge. The only reason I am not runing one at the moment is space. The biggest problem with fuges is that people get the idea that they are good for every tank, they'll take care of any water paramiter problem and some even think refugiums are the key to world peace. A refugium is a piece of equipment and needs to be taken care of just like your skimmer, lights ect... LR rubble in the AquaClear is a good idea. Just remember you need to take it out regularly and spray the detritus out of it.