Fuge above the display?

[ej797]

I am considering putting my fuge above my display. Do any of you have experience with such a setup you are willing to share?

I've read that such a setup it is a good because the pods and other life do not have to travel. Further, such a setup would work really well in my space.

My main concern has to do with draining the water from the Fuge and how I can reduce, or even better, eliminate bubbles in the Display. Any ideas on how I can accomplish this?

 

[ThRoewer]

If you have a sump you could use 2 drains in the fuge, one restricted with a valve that feeds into the tank and another unrestricted that drains into the sump or overflow of the display. Kind of like this overflow box does it: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/eclipse-s-overflow-box-600-gph-eshopps.html
The drain with the red pipe would be the unrestricted one going to the sump.

 

[ej797]

Hmm, that could work. I'd love to hear from someone who has had a fuge or frag tank drain into their display as opposed to their sump. Did it work? What was done to reduce the bubbles in the display.

 

[Anemone]

O had a fuge that drained into the display via a toilet-bowl flapper wave maker - used a standard 15 gallon glass tank, divided in the middle glass that didn't reach to top of the 15 gallon tank. water from the tank was pumped into the fuge, which overflowed the center glass. The non-fuge side of the tank was drilled to accept a standard-size toilet flapper assembly. Attached a plastic float to the flapper via fishing line, and every time the float got to a certain level, the tank "flushed" into a 3 or 4 inch pipe on one side of the tank. Made a pretty good directional wave for the length of the flush. The rest of the time I had regular powerheads in the tank for laminar flow.

This was not a bubble-free experience however, and probably not what you were looking for.

Kevin

 

[mcgyvr]

I had a fuge that drained into the tank...fuge had a bean animal drain setup..no bubble problem at all..

 

[ej797]

I had a fuge that drained into the tank...fuge had a bean animal drain setup..no bubble problem at all..

This! I'm familiar with the Bean Animal drain setup and I am planning on using it for the display drains to the sump. I think this will work just fine. Awesome. thanks...

 

[ThRoewer]

This! I'm familiar with the Bean Animal drain setup and I am planning on using it for the display drains to the sump. I think this will work just fine. Awesome. thanks...

For a fuge I would rather go with a Herbie overflow than a Bean Animal as you don't really need high flow rates. Though I actually have a Herbie style overflow on my 40 gallon fuge. The entire flow of my display tank drains through that fuge into my sump tanks without any issues.