Need some refugium advice.

[Weege]

Hey everyone...I need your expertise. I have a 75 gallon reef tank, with a 20 gallon refugium under it. Right now the plumbing is very simple. The overflow dumps into the 20, and I have a pump, to pump it back up. Here's my problem. My mangrove trees are outgrowing the area under the 75 gallon tank, in the stand. They are now touching the bottom of the 75 gallon tank. The refugium is pretty cool to look at. I'd like to move it out from under the main tank, back onto it's own stand. The problem is the plumbing. I HATE plumbing. I need suggestions on how I could run the plumbing if I were to try to do this. Please be detailed. I can do pretty good with wood/construction type stuff, but this plumbing stuff sucks. I hate it.

Also, on a side note...the directional check valve that I have on the return line, going from my refugium back to my tank has failed. It's 3/4" PVC line that is being used for the return. Now the water will run back down into the refugium, and flood everything. I can't find, in all of my searching, where I got this fitting from. If anyone can help me find a replacement check valve, I'd much appreciate that too.

Thanks again for all of the help, guys...and girls

Dan

 

[jbrunken]

Regarding the check valve, the simple fix is to drill a small hole in your return outlet just below the waterline. This causes the siphon to break when the water line lowers to the hole. Just be careful how you drill the hole. You don't want it spraying out of the tank when there is water pumping through it.

As for your refugium, you could do something similar to what I have:

1) Add a sump and move both your overflow return(s) and your return pump to the sump.

2) Have your refugium tank drilled (Probably about a $30 operation including the bulkhead you will need to add).

3) Move your refugium to wherever you want it as long as it's ABOVE the sump.

4) Plumb the return line with a "T" and a couple of ball valves so that the return pump feeds both the display tank and the refugium (you can use the ball valves to control how much flow goes to what).

5) Have the refugium gravity feed back to the sump.

The plumbing for this is fairly simple... If I can pull it off, anyone can.

Hope that helps!

-JB

 

[Atticus]

I agree with JB. Pump water into the fuge and gravity feed it out.

 

[eshook]

Wouldn't it be more beneficial to have the refugium dump into the display? Thats generally the point of the refugium is to dump pods and good water into the display, or am I wrong?

 

[overanalyzer]

not sure what your setup is like - but if it is not 100% enclosed on the top then maybe get a hang on back refugium and put it to the side of your tank and put the mangroves there ..... and leave the 20 in place ....

 

[jbrunken]

In order to have the refugium dump back into the main tank, you either have to have the refugium above the main display tank or you need to have multiple pumps (which is a recipe for disaster).

Most of the pods will survive the trip through the return pump anyway, so as long as they are getting exported from the refugium, a lot should make it back to the display tank.

-JB

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8402685#post8402685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eshook
Wouldn't it be more beneficial to have the refugium dump into the display? Thats generally the point of the refugium is to dump pods and good water into the display, or am I wrong?

 

[Weege]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8401534#post8401534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jbrunken

As for your refugium, you could do something similar to what I have:

1) Add a sump and move both your overflow return(s) and your return pump to the sump.

2) Have your refugium tank drilled (Probably about a $30 operation including the bulkhead you will need to add).

3) Move your refugium to wherever you want it as long as it's ABOVE the sump.

4) Plumb the return line with a "T" and a couple of ball valves so that the return pump feeds both the display tank and the refugium (you can use the ball valves to control how much flow goes to what).

5) Have the refugium gravity feed back to the sump.

The plumbing for this is fairly simple... If I can pull it off, anyone can.

Hope that helps!

-JB

JB, correct me if I'm wrong...the drilled hole will be the "gravity feed" back to the sump, from the fuge?

I think that I can do this. Only problem is that I don't have a nice wall, like some of you to hide all of this plumbing. Tank is sitting right out in the open, in the living room.

Only other problem is that I will probably need a larger return pump. Currently have a Mag 9.5 Anyone have a used "return" pump that they want to part with?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[jbrunken]

That's right, the water should flow from the refugium back to the sump through the hole (which needless to say should be drilled near the top of the tank).

I would think that a Mag 9.5 would be enough (at least in the short term). I use a "Quiet One 4000" on my 125 and it's only a couple 100gph more than the 9.5.

-JB

 

[Weege]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8404236#post8404236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jbrunken
That's right, the water should flow from the refugium back to the sump through the hole (which needless to say should be drilled near the top of the tank).

I would think that a Mag 9.5 would be enough (at least in the short term). I use a "Quiet One 4000" on my 125 and it's only a couple 100gph more than the 9.5.

-JB

So...something like this??? Black shows existing. Color shows proposed changes.

 

[jbrunken]

Yep, that's exactly how mine works.

-JB

 

[Atticus]

INstead of Teeing the return I would just feed the refugium with a maxi-jet 1200. Less expensive and easier to maintain.

 

[Atticus]

Also, if anyone is reading this and would like a 20 gallon that is already drilled I have a couple left. PM me for details.

 

[Weege]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8405017#post8405017 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Atticus
INstead of Teeing the return I would just feed the refugium with a maxi-jet 1200. Less expensive and easier to maintain.

That seems like a good idea...and I actually have an extra maxi-jet 1200.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I have a question. I am planning a similar upgrade. My concern is, what happens if the overflow opening of the fuge gets clogged with cheato? Won't the fuge overflow all over the place?

 

[Atticus]

Use a strainer and keep an eye on it. You can also extend the drain with a piece of pvc with slots cut into it. That makes it less likely to overflow due to clog.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Hubby did suggest a drain like that. I do want to make sure pods get through freely. I was thinking of making a baffle out of eggcrate to hold back the cheato but still allow pods to get thru. Maybe a long pipe w/lots of holes in it, is the way to go.

 

[Atticus]

It would be a cheap and easy peice of mind. It would also add more area for pods to enter.

Are you Pufferpunk from Wetwebmedia?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Yup, that's me! Whittled down my puffer collection (still have 5) & getting into reefing for the past 2 1/2 years. Also have a 90g planted discus tank.

 

[Weege]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8455447#post8455447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
I have a question. I am planning a similar upgrade. My concern is, what happens if the overflow opening of the fuge gets clogged with cheato? Won't the fuge overflow all over the place?

If you look at the illistration that I have posted....the verticle lines that you see in the tank are pieces of glass that I had cut ($7.50 for all 4) and then I used some silicone to glue them in place. I keep all of my macro in the middle section. As the water flows through the fuge, it has to go between the glass baffles. So far, I have never had an issue with any macro making it to my overflow (or return pump in my current set-up). It just never gets through the baffles. But if you were concerned, you could put your eggcrate between the glass baffles, before the overflow. But the pods and such flow right through.

Just a thought...

 

[Atticus]

Weege that is a perfect solution.