Information on Sump Refugium & Cynobacteria

[strobel113]

I have a 90 gallon tank with a eshopps r‑200 2nd generation sump.

I am draining into the first chamber where i have my skimmer, and the refuguim (sand/rock & chaeto) is in the middle and return in the last chamber. (single drain and 3/4" return with submersable return pump 400-500g per hour)

2 issues i am having:

1) drain has alot of bubbles into the first chamber. i have a 1" drain and have tried draining into a filter sock (is fine for a bit than creates bubble to the top of the sock) and also set up a reverse durso and it kinda helped but not enough. seems like still alot of bubbles.

2) cynobacteria in the refugium. Seems i cant control this. there is not much going into the display tank but i can see some developing. i have a grow light on for about 12 hours reverse of the display tank light for the algae.

With the skimmer on it seems to slow flow down going into the second chamber.

I was wondering following:

Should i put a circulation pump in the first chamber with the skimmer to help push water into the refugium to help with flow? will that help eliminate the cyno?

Would putting a T in the drain line and running a line into the refugium help add some flow into that chamber, as well help with the bubbles?

This is the first sump i have set up. i had just regular filters on my 55g years go when i last did saltwater.

Any information would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks.

 

[azsoccerpop]

The total amount of flow into the sump will always be in relation to your return pump so if you are looking to increase flow then look at both drain and return flows. I tried a durso and hated it and eventually I went to a herbie drain with a gate valve on the primary drain which is 4" below the chamber 1 water level . Minimal bubbles when it gets to full siphon.


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[strobel113]

do you have pictures?

text me me if possible. 602-451-5523

Thanks

 

[TangingOut]

What return pump do you have? If that's the rating before any head pressure, then it's under sized and one reason why you aren't getting much flow in your sump.

I've never been a believer of flow having anything to do with cyanobacteria. Whenever I get it, it's in low flow AND high flow. You can try the circulation pump. If nothing else, it'll keep detritus suspended in your sump or concentrate it into a spot where you can siphon it out.

As for air bubbles in drain, there's not much you can do with a durso. It seems you already tried a couple of the popular methods for it. One note, if it's brand new it'll get better as bacteria builds up in the drain pipe. Did you increase plumbing size in the reverse durso?

 

[azsoccerpop]

Information on Sump Refugium & Cynobacteria

Information on Sump Refugium & Cynobacteria

If you do a search for herbie or bean animal style drains you will see that they require 2 or 3 drain pipes respectively. The primary drain has a gate valve NOT a ball valve on it that you tune so that the water level in your overflow is just above the primary standpipe and so a full siphon is achieved. The secondary drain pipe in a herbie is for emergency and this stand pipe in the overflow sits higher than the primary. If the primary plugs up the second pipe will take over when the water rises in the overflow. Similarly in the 3 drain "bean animal" the secondary drain allows for a trickle of water and the 3rd drain is emergency and is totally silent with no bubbles. The 2 drain herbie works fine for me


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[strobel113]

Yea, my tank only has the 1 drain and 1 return bulk drilled. i put the circulation pump in the fuge and that wasnt good as it just sent sand everywhere. i put it in the first chamber with the drain and skimmer and seem to be pushing more water into the fuge. we will see how this works.

fingers crossed.

 

[TangingOut]

Is your return bulkhead in the overflow or drilled into the black glass? If it's in the overflow, you can convert it to a drain and send your return over the top.

 

[strobel113]

TangingOut - Can you send me a message so i can get some information from you.

Nick - 602-451-5523

Thanks

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I have a 90 gallon tank with a eshopps r‑200 2nd generation sump.

I am draining into the first chamber where i have my skimmer, and the refuguim (sand/rock & chaeto) is in the middle and return in the last chamber. (single drain and 3/4" return with submersable return pump 400-500g per hour)

2 issues i am having:

1) drain has alot of bubbles into the first chamber. i have a 1" drain and have tried draining into a filter sock (is fine for a bit than creates bubble to the top of the sock) and also set up a reverse durso and it kinda helped but not enough. seems like still alot of bubbles.

2) cynobacteria in the refugium. Seems i cant control this. there is not much going into the display tank but i can see some developing. i have a grow light on for about 12 hours reverse of the display tank light for the algae.

With the skimmer on it seems to slow flow down going into the second chamber.

I was wondering following:

Should i put a circulation pump in the first chamber with the skimmer to help push water into the refugium to help with flow? will that help eliminate the cyno?

Would putting a T in the drain line and running a line into the refugium help add some flow into that chamber, as well help with the bubbles?

This is the first sump i have set up. i had just regular filters on my 55g years go when i last did saltwater.

Any information would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks.

Couple things that I would focus on is the grow light that is on for 12 hours. Do you need it on that long? have you been having issues with nitrates and phosphates to warrant the light to be on that long? If you're only doing it because you want it to be opposite your tank lights, I would probably cut back on the "on" time. Is the light a red grow light? if so, that can help fosters the growth of cyano and just by reducing the "on" time might help with that problem. However, there can be a whole host of reasons why you're seeing cyano but usually light and flow pay a big part in allowing it to take hold.

Second, adding a T to your drain can split the amount of water flowing to the first chamber which will help reduce micro bubbles, you were on the right track with adding a filter sock as well, just keep in mind that filter socks can trap a lot of the micro fauna such as pods that scurry around your tank. A couple other things that can be incorporated into your sump is a series of baffles before the return pump to create a "bubble trap". That will limit the amount of micro bubbles into your main display. Another measure that can be added is putting a sponge in between the bubble trap to virtually limit all micro bubbles into the display.