hello, I'm a newbie with a 90G tank waiting to be set up on my first floor with a sump in my basement below. I'm trying to learn by reading various things on the web. It seems the more I read the more questions I have.I'll ask a few here in hopes of getting some complete answers that have reasons why. I want to use LR along with a refuge for a FOWLR. I'm trying to figure what capacity pump I'll need for this system. I understand head. What I can't seem to find is: can LR go in the same compartment as the macroalgae(sp). If not what flow rate is recommended for the LR. I seem to read agreement on the fuge flow at about 10X the fuge compartment capacity. Is the fuge for the algae better to be deep or shallow and why. I'll probably use that most common algae "ball". Should water entering the fuge area be baffled so the water flows from the top down through the area or from the bottom up or doesn't it matter. Entering the top & existing the top be OK? I've read the arguments on skimmer placement. Not having any experience I can't comment, but will ask you all..... What if I take some of the water from my display tank to the skimmer & the the rest directly to my sump. The water coming from the skimmer would also go to the sump in the same location. Would I not have a "diluted" mixture of water now to flow across the fuge area. Would this not put me in the "middle" of this skimmer placement argument? Thanks for your help, Curt
Questions, Questions, Questions
- Thread starter nube
- Start date
OK, I'll see what I can do to answer your questions as best I can.
- Yes, live rock can go in the refugium. I generally don't advise this, however, unless you have a specific purpose for it. Live rock tends to trap detritus, which can produce excess nutrients, and there is generally enough live rock in the main tank to make more rock in the sump unnecessary.
- I'm uncertain where you're going with the question on the flow for the live rock. Are you planning on putting live rock in your refugium? Either way, your rock is generally not a driver for your flow rate, so I don't think this is something you need to worry about.
- You say you're going to use "ball" algae. I don't believe I've ever heard an algae referred to as "ball", but the moste common is chaetomorpha, and it tends to clump in a ball like shape, so I'll assume that's what you're talking about. It does fine in anything from fairly low to moderate flow, so 10x your fuge capacity should be just fine.
- It really doesn't matter whether your refugium is deep or shallow, as long as whatever macro algae you're using remains submerged. I can't really think of any advantages of one over the other, unless it's really deep, in which case light attenuation could possibly be an issue.
- It really doesn't matter whether the water is entering the refugium from the top or bottom. The top is usually the easiest, and therefore the most common.
- I think many people make the whole skimmer before or after the refugium issue far too complicated. I simply don't think it makes much of a difference. No skimmer is 100% effective, so there are plenty of nutrients in the water for the algae regardless of where the skimmer is in the chain. I really wouldn't worry about that when you decide how to plumb your system. Go with whatever is most convenient.
- Yes, live rock can go in the refugium. I generally don't advise this, however, unless you have a specific purpose for it. Live rock tends to trap detritus, which can produce excess nutrients, and there is generally enough live rock in the main tank to make more rock in the sump unnecessary.
- I'm uncertain where you're going with the question on the flow for the live rock. Are you planning on putting live rock in your refugium? Either way, your rock is generally not a driver for your flow rate, so I don't think this is something you need to worry about.
- You say you're going to use "ball" algae. I don't believe I've ever heard an algae referred to as "ball", but the moste common is chaetomorpha, and it tends to clump in a ball like shape, so I'll assume that's what you're talking about. It does fine in anything from fairly low to moderate flow, so 10x your fuge capacity should be just fine.
- It really doesn't matter whether your refugium is deep or shallow, as long as whatever macro algae you're using remains submerged. I can't really think of any advantages of one over the other, unless it's really deep, in which case light attenuation could possibly be an issue.
- It really doesn't matter whether the water is entering the refugium from the top or bottom. The top is usually the easiest, and therefore the most common.
- I think many people make the whole skimmer before or after the refugium issue far too complicated. I simply don't think it makes much of a difference. No skimmer is 100% effective, so there are plenty of nutrients in the water for the algae regardless of where the skimmer is in the chain. I really wouldn't worry about that when you decide how to plumb your system. Go with whatever is most convenient.
Your assumption on the "ball' algae was correct. Thanks for the answers. Am I right in thinking my display tank water should turn over between 3 to 5 times an hr as long as I'm going to use power heads to suppliment water flow? I think from what i've read that my 1" bulkhead in the bottom of my RR tank will pass upwards to 600GPH in a non siphoning situation. This based on an oversized tank drain tube and oversized drain pipe plumbing to the sump. is that right? If this is the case do I want to use a pump that will be real close this 600GPH (after head is figured) or do I want to oversize the pump and vavle it back? Thanks agian
stingythingy45
New member
How much height will you be pushing the water up back to the display?Sorry if I missed this.
You may want to check out my gallery.I have a 90 gallon RR that has a basement sump.
You may want to check out my gallery.I have a 90 gallon RR that has a basement sump.
stingythingy45
New member
Sorry just added them to my gallery.
Anyways,I use a GenX pcx-40 for my return pump.
Anyways,I use a GenX pcx-40 for my return pump.
stingythingy45
New member
Sorry,I can't really get a whole picture of the plumbing as the room is too small.
I've been running my Gen-X for about 2 years now.It's a work horse,but I'm going to pull it this weekend and run it in vinegar/hot water.
I've read that deposits on the impeller and in the vollute can slow a pump down after 6 months.
I'm pushing water up 11 ft. now problems.
How's the noise level on that Gen-X. I had one awhile back, and it was so loud I finally couldn't take it anymore and bought an Iwaki. Actually, I sent it back to the manufacturer first, but the replacement was just about as loud. I think it may have been the particular model I had, though.
Anyway, for nube, if you're running 3-5x your tank's volume through your sump each hour, that should be good. That's the rule of thumb I've always heard. There are definitely some "it depends" clauses attached, but it's a good starting point. You're also right about your drain. A 1" pipe will siphon gravity feed up to 600 gph. Obviously, once you start putting twists and turns, that number will go down, but I don't believe it's anything very significant under most circumstances, and it sounds like you should be able to count on the full 600gph. When selecting a pump, be sure to check out the head loss calculator on the homepage to make sure the end result is going to be what you're looking for.
Anyway, for nube, if you're running 3-5x your tank's volume through your sump each hour, that should be good. That's the rule of thumb I've always heard. There are definitely some "it depends" clauses attached, but it's a good starting point. You're also right about your drain. A 1" pipe will siphon gravity feed up to 600 gph. Obviously, once you start putting twists and turns, that number will go down, but I don't believe it's anything very significant under most circumstances, and it sounds like you should be able to count on the full 600gph. When selecting a pump, be sure to check out the head loss calculator on the homepage to make sure the end result is going to be what you're looking for.
That's going to be kind of a tough question, since despite the rules of thumb out there for live rock, it's almost impossible to say exactly how much you really need in any given tank. Theoretically, I'd say yes, as macro algae is also going to be a nitrate exporter. It does nothing for ammonia, though (I don't think so, anyway), so you still need enough live rock, live sand or other bio filter to handle those needs. I think most of our tanks have far more than enough rock to handle basic nitrification of ammonia, though.
