my system sketch could use some expert help

T

TheCheat

New member
i'm trying to figure out the logistics of plumbing and flow for my new system. if you can offer any suggestions or advice on how to arrange my system, i'm all ears!

i have an overflow (with 2 drains) that handles 1600gph, and a return pump that is putting out ~1000gph.

obviously, i'd like to have flow through the refugium be fairly slow. so i thought i could divert half to the 'fuge, and half to the sump with the skimmer in it.

but then what do i do with the water from the sump?
can you help out my sketch with some ideas for how this system should function and where all the flow should go?

thanks!
~B
942a3e00.jpg
 
I take it that all of this is going to be either in another room or below the tank in the basement? Have you looked at the pics of fade's setup? He has a big tank with plumbing going back to a large tub. Last weekend when I was there they were putting together a 75 gal fuge that was sitting on a stand next to the sump tub. He redirected some of the flow from his return pump into the fuge which then drained back into the sump tub. One way to do it.
 
i will have a fairly spacious "fish room" to work with. it's about 9x9. when i build this all next week, i'll have the freedom to set it up however i want within that room, but i don't plan to use the basement.
i'm going to want all the flow that my return pump can handle, to go up to the tank.
here's the thing: i can have the sump somehow drain to the refugium after the water has been skimmed, but then that defeats the purpose of having a low flow 'fuge. so do i need to have another return pump going from the sump to the display?
hmmm...
thanks!
~B
 
nice looking plumbing job!
haha.. wow. you've got more pipes than me. :)

i'm still having a hard time seeing how i should divert my flow so that I get a simple, yet effective use of my space and equipment.

by the way, where would i aquire one of those bigass Rubbermaid sumps?
 
With regards to the plumbing, with the application you're talking about, all you have to really look at is the pipe that is coming off of that bank of ball valves and going to the 75 gal on the right, then you see the two pipes that drain out of it and into the sump. That's all the plumbing there is on that fuge.

To me, you put your skimmer where your main drain water comes into the sump. You can then do either a "T" off your return line, like in fade's application, and run it back into your fuge which would then drain into the sump on the opposite end from the skimmer and next to the return pump, OR if you didn't want to lose part of your return pump power by doing that, you could put a separate pump in the sump to send the water to the fuge and then have it drain in the same area I described above to be returned to the tank.
 
Can you put the refuge above the tank then feed the Main tank to the Sump, then on the return pump put a "T" - 1 to the tank and 1 on a valve going to the refuge. Or put a small pump in the sump like a Mag 6-7 going to the refuge and have the refuge over flow back to the main tank too.
 
This is how I have mine setup. It is fed from my sump so I don't have another pump in my main tank. Plus having the refuge above the main tank, allows the pods to flow from the refuge to the main tank, with out having to go through a pump.

10122Refuge.JPG


HTH
 
Interesting ideas Lon. I'll consider getting the fuge above the tank.
But as it stands now, my 55g fuge is drilled near the bottom, and has the connection for the pump there.
I'm really having a hard time figuring this out now. Getting nervous!
here's what I did the other night.
Before...
fe848aa4.jpg

After...
fd2a64cc.jpg


Anybody else have ideas or methods of how I should connect this stuff?
thanks as always!
~Brandon
 
Okay, here we go again.
systemsketch2.jpg

This seems doable.
I can use a gravity feed from the rubbermaid tub filled with rubble and macro. The other drain line will feed directly to the 55g glass sump that will house the skimmer and some baffles to eliminate bubbles. then the good 'ol Gen-x will send it ALL back into the display.
what say you??

Question: will a 1" bulkhead with a cone filter handle approx ~500gph through the rubbermaid, or will I need a 1 1/2" ? Do they make Spaflex that big?

Thanks,
~B
 
Given where your picture shows the drain of the big tub, gravity will cause the whole thing to drain on you.

If you put the drain up higher it would help. Thing is, with that setup you'll be skimming your fuge water as well.
 
okay. it was a quick sketch. i would intend for it to be up higher on the tub.
otherwise, this is a fundamentally sound starting point?
the only thing that bothers me is that the water doesn't go thru the skimmer before cruising through any macro, which seems to be out of order.
but will it be a negative thing? probably not.
 
Looks like your on your way!!

You could just run the over flow from the refuge past the skimmer section and then your set.
 
~B,
Have you considered switching the positions of the 55gal and the Rubbermaid. Display 1/2 to 55g refuge and 1/2 to 100g Rubbermaid.
Have the refuge drain passively to Rubbermaid. The Rubbermaid would contain LR, and skimmer (skimmer could be separate container in Rubbermaid that receives flow from display) then pump from Rubbermaid to display. Just a thought.
Tim
 
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