External refugium setups plumbed into sump

[Reef or Die]

I am planning a new build and my sump does not have room for a refugium.

I am looking for creative ideas on how I can plumb one externally that will be fed by my return pump and will dump into my existing sump. The external sump will be a 15 gallon rimless.

Could anyone point me to a link where I can see some pics oF how others have done something like this?

Pics would be awesome!! Thanks :spin1:

 

[ecupcar]

I don't have a pic, but i ran a fuge above my frag tank. It was a 20L with a DSB, probably 3inches deep across with a couple of different flavors of algae. I only fed the fuge and the fuge would constantly feed the frag tank. I think that was the healthiest my tank has ever been.

Long story short, I broke the fuge in a move and never replaced it. But gravity feeding your display all day long works great.

 

[Reef or Die]

I am thinking of placing it next to my tank but most likely it will be in the stand next to the sump. Looking to see how others have set up something similar.

Thanks for the info!!

 

[Thisseemsfishy]

I actually just set up my fuge/sump today. I haven't plumed it in yet, I'm going to wait a few weeks. Basically its a simple set up, from tank gravity feed to filter sock which is in the skimmer section, a few baffles, then a 5" DSB/fuge, into a return section. I'll take some pics tomorrow.

GL with yours.

 

[Thisseemsfishy]

All glass panels in the tank are 2 in taller in mine so I could handle more water. My return will have a shut off valve to stop back flow during a WC.

<a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f362/jsho27/?action=view&current=20gallonsump.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f362/jsho27/20gallonsump.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Reef or Die]

Nice design. That is what I wanted.
Wound up with a great deal on a sump but it is just skimmer and return section

Want to plumb in a refugium which will be a separate tank from the sump. Any advice/ pics?

 

[Poeticlydead]

I ran into the same issue when I up graded my skimmer a couple years ago and had to pull my baffles between my skimmer section and fuge, I simply added a second tank to the stand next to the sump.

It's easy to do just elevate the new fuge tank so it is above the sump enough to clear a bulk head fitting (only the bulkhead needs to clear the sump not the whole fuge tank), then feed the fuge from a T in your return pump problem solved any you can control the flow to the new fuge with a ball or gate valve.

 

[Reef or Die]

Thanks for the info. that is exactly what I am looking to do. Should my fuge drain/ bulk head be 1 inch or is 3/4 okay??

 

[gp2]

My ghetto fuge worked great. I put a bucket on top of the 15 gal sump. Used a small pump to pump into it and put a hole where I wanted the top water line. Shoved a hose in snugly as the drain so I did not have to listen to the water trickle down. Used a small powerhead for circulation and a clip light. I think the bucket was about 2 gallons, and I used eggcrate and PVC to support it. The chaeto "swirled" slowly promoting rapid growth and nutrient export. It worked amazingly well, and I had rapid growth while my small tank was overstocked.

 

[Poeticlydead]

Thanks for the info. that is exactly what I am looking to do. Should my fuge drain/ bulk head be 1 inch or is 3/4 okay??

depends on the intended flow rate but I wouldn't go any smaller then 1"

 

[Agu]

Why not T off your drain line to feed the fuge? You already have it going downhill and it would be easy to do. Just put a valve on it after the T to control flow to the fuge

Put as large a bulkhead as possible on the fuge. Water flowing out of the fuge won't be under pressure and with a small bulkhead you're very limited in the amount of flow through the fuge.

 

[jporter]

Check out life reef. They make a stand alone fuge. I have one and it's great.

 

[lilmonster]

Here's mine,

the fuge is the 20gln on the lower right,
it flows from sump to the 10 gln which flows into the fuge
then to the sump again

 

[omartinez]

i'll be using an external fuge too, this is my basic drawing

my main issue is that the fuge is at the same height as the main tank...and i cant drill the tanks...will be using overflow boxes...

 

[nuch]

Yup best way is DT tank drain tee off 80% sump 20% goes into fuge. Have the fuge elevated alittle so it gravity feeds to the return section. This way u avoid use a pump also.

 

[Reef or Die]

cool. Thx
How big would you suggest the drain be from the fuge to the sump? 1 inch or 3/4 or 1/2?

 

[budster.stig1]

Reef or Die:

Before you do any thing, do yourself a favor and read http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=969713 front to back, this is the way to go!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[reefergeorge]

Reef or Die:

Before you do any thing, do yourself a favor and read http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=969713 front to back, this is the way to go!!!!!!!!!!!

It looks like they reinvented the bioball with eggcrate.

 

[JRoweNole]

My sump is in an adjacent separate room from my tank.

Eheim 1262 pump return plumbed into a manifold whereby majority of flow returns into the tank. Some flow goes through hose into a 70 gallon rubbermaid stock tank and gravity feeds back into return section of sump via bulkhead installed toward upper part of stock tank.

Sump and stock tank are on floor, manifold installed into wall above both.

 

[salty55]

i have a 20 gallon tall refugium setting beside my 75 gallon display. it is about two inches higher and gravity feeds directly to the display tank. it is fed by the return pump manifold. it's been set up for about 5 months and works great! all sorts of life going on in there.