Fuge plumbing

[ambaratur]

Hey -

With a 125 gal RR AGA there are 2 drains. When I am plumbing a system with a fuge would it be better to bring one of those drains right into the fuge and 1 right into the skimmer area of the sump - or is it better to bring both drains into the skimmer section and then tee off of the return line to feed the fuge with a ball valve?

 

[hyperfocal]

I have exactly the same question. It seems to me that a split gravity drain is more efficient (not spending pump energy to circulate water in the sump/fuge) but less controllable (being able to dial-in fuge flow with a gate valve seems nice).

Curious to read what others think..

 

[jjmcat]

I would bring both drains into the skimmer area.Can you tie the two drains into one with a y for the skimmer?

 

[zeblisik]

i think it somewhat depends on the fuge; what are you using it for exactly?
also where does the fuge drain into?

i plumbed a system w/ 2 remote fuges and they are draining back into the return section of the sump.

the fuge in my sump receives water from the mains main drain and drains back into the return.

does any of that make sense???

let me try again, from my intakes I have T'ed it off to the fuge, I have a ball valve under the T to control how much flow the fuge gets. You can by some weird valves build into Ts for $$$$$$ but i think my solution works well enough. I made sure to have more than one intake though... just in case a snaill decided to take a dive and clog the semi closed ball valve.

ambaratur,

id bring one intake directly into the skimmer section. the 2nd intake T it off and let a controled amount go into the fuge, the rest going into the skimmer section

sorry for the rambling

 

[ambaratur]

zeblisik - I think I understand what you are saying. Let me restate it to make sure you agree - what you seem to be getting to is that I may not want the full force of a drain going into the fuge so send part of that drain to the skimmer section and part to the fuge controlling the flow to the fuge using a ball valve.

My fuge will then drain directly into my return pump area.
I intend to have a DSB in the fuge with some cheato as well.

I suppose my real question is will the fuge benefit more from having unskimmed water fed into it?

I am planning an Eheim 1260 return pump at 5' head - so the volume of water from each drains should not be too high.

 

[ambaratur]

jjmcat - I would think that if I bring both drains into the skimmer section I would bring them independently and avoid a Y to connect them. This would mainly be done to provide redundancy in case one of them should become blocked.

 

[jjmcat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7303142#post7303142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ambaratur
jjmcat - I would think that if I bring both drains into the skimmer section I would bring them independently and avoid a Y to connect them. This would mainly be done to provide redundancy in case one of them should become blocked.

How large is the pipe or hose your going to use?Ive never had any blockage in my short year and a half in the hobby.

 

[ambaratur]

Each one will likely be 1" to match the drain size on the tank. My experience here is only through reading - but what I have read says that 2 drains are always better than one.

 

[jjmcat]

well whatever you decide i wish you the best of luck.

 

[sttroyiii]

Make sure you dont bring the two drains into a 'y' or 'T' before they dump in the sump. Ive read a few threads now on how people do that and then the returns end up fighting each other trying to drain, causing horrible noise and flushing effects.

 

[zeblisik]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7303132#post7303132 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ambaratur
zeblisik - I think I understand what you are saying. Let me restate it to make sure you agree - what you seem to be getting to is that I may not want the full force of a drain going into the fuge so send part of that drain to the skimmer section and part to the fuge controlling the flow to the fuge using a ball valve.

My fuge will then drain directly into my return pump area.
I intend to have a DSB in the fuge with some cheato as well.

I suppose my real question is will the fuge benefit more from having unskimmed water fed into it?

I am planning an Eheim 1260 return pump at 5' head - so the volume of water from each drains should not be too high.

Since youre planning on using your fuge as a means of nutrient export I'd say there's no need to skim the water before it enters the fuge. There will most likely be plenty of water and nutrients for both the fuge and skimmer.

Once your system has stabilized it may be that your skimmer functions as a back up to the fuge, a little extra. Or maybe both will draw a lot of nutrients but in order for the fuge to function it must draw nutrients, so donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t skim the water entering it.