Ideas on adding a show refugium

[KyleO]

I recently set up another (tall) cabinet next to my show to house my Ozone and ATO system which comes up to about half the height of the tank itself. Looking at it I have decided to place another tank on the cabinet to match the height of the show tank that will house some more delicate critters that cannot survive in the show (pipe fish, sea grass, maybe a seahorse or two).

I am thinking that lighting and flow to and from the show is all that will be needed but need a great idea on how to get the water from and back to the show that I can regulate and that will not overflow in the case of power outage or pump failure.

Gravity fed would be great but I can't figure how to do it. Both tanks will be glass so I am limited.

Any help or suggestions would be great!

 

[mbbuna]

if the top of both tanks are at the same height then you can gravity feed the fuge. if you have a sump i would feed the fuge water from the sump and have the over flow go right where the pump is that feeds the main tank

 

[KyleO]

I do have a sump that is almost directly under where the new tank will be going so that is not a problem.

Mbbuna, could you elaborate a little on the gravity feed from the main tank? The two will be almost the exact same height and I am having a hard time visualizing the connections.

 

[Bandsaw]

To gravity feed the fuge Mbbuna, would the display not have to be drilled? Otherwise a siphon overflow would be needed. I don't think I would want siphon overflows with that slow a rate.

Another idea KyeO for a show fuge (which I think is a great idea) is to mount the fuge so that it is higher that the display. Does not need to be much higher. Drill the fuge and have a return pipe run from the fuge back to the display. Use a small pump to pump water from the display to the fuge. To prevent a back siphon, have the water coming into the fuge above the water line or just below or do something like this;

I used this tupperware spagetti holder, put my inbound water tube in to the bottom and filled with small live rock pieces. When I loose power, just a small amount of water drains back (just until the tupperware tube drains).

I plan on putting some blood shrimp in my fuge to spice things up.

 

[Bandsaw]

Ahhh says the blind man. I'd still be nernous of the u tube failing (still a syphon). I agree with the sump. I both draw water and return to my sump.

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10938012#post10938012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KyleO


Mbbuna, could you elaborate a little on the gravity feed from the main tank?

whoops!!:hmm3: there should be a T at the and of can (can't). water will always seeks its own level, so if the top of the tanks are both the same you can'tgravity feed it