help with DIY fug

[Serra]

I have a 37 gal. tank and a 10 gal. (20x10x12) to use as the refugium. I plan on using a HOB overflow box. Anyone have plans they have used for fug or a good link to one?

Is there room for a protein skimmer and what medium priced brand do you recommend? This will be a seahorse tank with a few mushrooms.

Any better filtration ideas for a middle of the road budget?

Thanks,
Sheryl

 

[kpk]

I would go with a aquac urchin and there should be plenty of room on the sump. Or you could make it a fuge and get a aquac hob remora and hang it in the fuge.

 

[captbunzo]

Excellent choise, either case. If you are on a tighter budget then an Urchin or Remora will allow, I'd recommend the Coralife Super Skimmer as a less then great, but still decent alternative.

 

[Youngsilver]

You know... Travis and I have both thrown our skimmers in the closet. I run a 45 gallon refugium on my 55g reef, and it has never looked better. However, if you do get a skimmer stay away from the Berlin Classic.

Setup: hopefully travis can give you a pic of his 10g fuge setup

Lighting:
2 $5 reflectors, base, and cord from walmart

2 $8 Lighst of America 6k screw in power compact bulbs from walmart

I actually took an old 30" current usa pc light housing and rigged up a 2 of the lights of america bulbs w/ mirrors for reflectors to be more aesthetic.

 

[Serra]

So that's what they mean by a tree hugger? <snort>

I too hope Travis shows me pics of his 10 gal fug. So basically, how many chambers. Pump? Bout 80/hr flow? How do you do flow between chambers? I'll pm him and ask.

I think I will leave a place for the skimmer then can decide.

Thanks for the help!
Sheryl

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I'll see what I can work up. I don't have any pictures, but I'll try to make one. Check back later.

 

[pwhitby]

heres the basic design you should shoot for:

I think the picture is self explanatory. The baffles can be cut from acrylic and glued in place. The baffles stop microbubbles and allow you to place filter media, such as carbion bags in there.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Paul's example is a great setup for a refugium that isn't built into the sump.

As requested by YoungSilver and Serra, here is my setup. If I knew how well the return area would make bubbles, I would have made it into a downdraft skimmer. In fact, I recommend one. In the near future, I will be tearing down my current refugium so I can put a downdraft skimmer in there. My whole drain area is usually covered with about 3" of foam just sitting there. If I could concentrate it with a downdraft skimmer, it would be the best skimmer I've ever seen. Also, the picture has one extra baffle that I don't have. The very far left. You need it there to keep bubbles from spilling over to your return pump. It creates microbubbles.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Also, the spaces between the baffles are 1". The return area is just a little bigger than my Mag 7 return. The drain area is just big enough to squeeze a ball valve in there. Also, I use the same lights as YoungSilver, but mine are shaped different. I also use two of them.

 

[pwhitby]

There are some problems with the design above that you need to take into account. As water evaporates the level obviously drops. The only place that you will see the drop in water in either set up is where the pump is. Unless the pump return area is large you will be adding water everyday. Also, this area needs to be relatively large to prevent bubbles.

Travis's plan is good for a small set up, but it would appear you have more space available than he has.
Assuming you are planning on a two tank set up (as in the first post) I would keep the refugium separate if you can.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

If you can go with the two tank setup that Paul provided, by far, go for it. I was very limited in space under my 29g tank. So, of course, a 10g was the only thing I could fit. And as Paul stated, evaporation is a HUGE issue in small sump/refugiums. I evaporate about 1g a day. I have to fill every day. If I plan on being gone, I over fill it some. I'm looking into getting some sort of auto top off.

 

[Serra]

I too am limited in the stand area under the tank. 34x11x21" but I think I can do a 2 tank plan. Wonder what the dimensions are on a 5 gal. tank. Could elevate it...

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

You might also consider a Remote Deep Sandbed (RDSB).

Captbunzo, I know you're browsing around. Have a link to your thread with the 5g Jug RDSB?

 

[captbunzo]

You rang?

Here is a link to a great thread on RDSB. Honestly, I would bet on this concept for Natural Nitrate Reduction. With this installed on my tank, I had consistent Nitrate readings in the 0-1-2 ppm range (which I consider to be great). And just to make sure, I tested with multiple test kits, different brands.

Another note, pertaining to Paul W's comment about the evaporation chamber being small on that other sump model. Here is a link to a thread about a new sump that I built for myself a while back. A huge part of this plan was to avoid the evaporation problem. Again, this worked really well.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=802978

 

[Serra]

Thanks for all your help! I am talking to Paul about having this month's meeting at my house and have a how to build a sump or fug. What a sneaky way to get hands on help to do this project! I think lots of newbies will show up for this one.

 

[Dtking]

do you think i should do a refug on a 40 gal?! i know its not really that big, but would it be worth it?!

Thanks
Dustin and Melissa

 

[kpk]

Definitly dtking great nutrient export and cheap...

 

[Dtking]

cool, i think Jimmy and I are going to make one for the both of us... i hope a 10 gal will work!?

 

[Youngsilver]

So that's what they mean by a tree hugger?

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Here, I got some measurements.

The 10g tank is 10" wide by 12" deep by 20" long. When I made mine, I went to Lowe's and got their smallest size piece of glass and ask them to trim it to 8x10. I then went home and trimmed off about another 1/8"-1/4" to get it to fit in the sump. I then siliconed them in place with GE Silicon I Windows and Doors.