My external fuge is complete (pics)

[pcurry18]

Well I have completed the addition of my fuge and the move of my sump to the closet on the other side of the living room. Here are some pics.

This is what i started with!

This is how it wound up!

These are my set-ups in the new house

92 corner

BC 29, LOOK AT THE FACE ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT! UNREAL

I am pleased with the way it turned out. I set aside in the fuge to put frags if need be. NO LEAKS so i think i did something right!


Paul

 

[jtarmitage]

Looks good. I really like the rockwork. That's an awesome cave setup.

 

[yoboyjdizz]

Do those reflectors help at all with the lighting? I took mine off and have been wondering if that was a bad move?

 

[pcurry18]

Honestly, i tried both. I dont know for a fact that it helps but it seemed to me that it helped target the light dispersion. It seemed there was less internal refraction with the light but its not like i can hook up a refractometer to it. I like the reflector and its working like a champ so i left it on. Hope the helps.

Paul

 

[D&KSac]

I'm curious i was looking at the pictures of your set up. It looks to me that the water running through your fuge then goes down to the sump? I thought you werent suppose to have the water from a fuge skimmed? It removes the benificial little guys and stuff? I could be wrong but i was just currious.

 

[bored4long]

What pump are you using to supply water from your sump to fuge? I like the setup. It was confusing looking at the pictures at first since each pic of your fuge is at a different time with the fuge setup differently.

 

[pcurry18]

There is no pump going from fuge. Its all gravity fed. The only pump in the system is my return pump and the pump on the skimmer.

David,
The water being skimmed is just a small portion of the beneficial water compared to what actually gets though. I think this set up will work fine the way it is. I mulled over many design plans and for everything involved i think this one works best.

 

[pcurry18]

David,
After thinking about it and looking over the system, i decided to try what you eluded to. I moved the gravity feed from the fuge so it flows into the far left chamber of the sump and hits the return. Im wandering if there is a large benefit to this and im hoping some peeps weigh in and give me their opinion.

Should the fuge empty into the right side of the sump or should it empty into the left, after the skimmer?

Any comments?

Paul

 

[bored4long]

OH, ok. I was looking at the diagram and assumed that is the design you ended up with (Display -> Sump -> Fuge -> Sump -> Display). Gravity is much easier to work with. It looks great.

One recommendation: move your sand that is in the fuge into its own container so you have the option to remove it or replace it much easier. Did that make sense?

 

[yoboyjdizz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11011964#post11011964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pcurry18
Honestly, i tried both. I dont know for a fact that it helps but it seemed to me that it helped target the light dispersion. It seemed there was less internal refraction with the light but its not like i can hook up a refractometer to it. I like the reflector and its working like a champ so i left it on. Hope the helps.

Paul

Thanks i think i should put them back on. Everyone that i see that has it has them on but i've been the only one who took them off. As a result my cheato hasent been doing well. Im guessing its the lighting or that my tank readings are 0 cross the boards. But with good lighting it still should grow no?

 

[pcurry18]

You are correct. With good lighting it should grow. How old is your bulb. I replace mine about every 3-4 months. They are only a few bucks and my chaeto seems to double in size ever week. I only run my lights on fuge at night in an attempt to keep the PH balance the same. Dont know if it does cuz my lazy *** wont get up in the middle of the night to check it. Hope this helps. GL mate!

 

[yoboyjdizz]

Yeah i probably need new bulbs and to put the reflectors back on. I also only run my fuge lights at night.

I also notice you have power head in there maybe i need more flow as well?

 

[Justin74]

Very few people are in a position where they can gravity feed their fuge into the display. Quite a few split the return, one pipe feeds the skimmer, the other the fuge and they meet in the middle to be returned to the display.

In my opinion for this type of setup, it is ideal. The fuge gets the raw water where it can be utilized by the critters in the fuge and will have a constant food source. Then to further 'polish' the water with the skimmer getting any waste the fuge cannot utilize, then lastly should be any filter media GAC and GFO before going to the return.

This however will not feed the display with pods due to the potential efficiency of the filter media or floss, hence the reason why some split the return(so the return from the fuge is unobstructed). If no floss is used and any GAC or GFO is passively used pods will get back into the display.

If the concern is the return pump slicing up your pods before they hit the display, dont be. All the ones we care about are much to small to get ground up(though some may get their arms or legs broke or may come out a lil cross-eyed ) and will be quickly sucked up within the water column, if the fuge is thriving.
My 2 pennies



-Justin