RDSB/Refug Pics

[ScallopKing]

Hey everyone,

Thought I'd share some pics of my gravity fed remote deep sand bed sump/refugium. Thanks again to Justin (aka murphreef) for helping me out on this, I couldn't have done it without him. Enjoy!

This is the "T" off one of my drains. One side to the main sump the other to the refugium (I think my camera is tilted here).

This is the drain bulkhead and close up pic of sump. I have a couple things in there now that I haven't found a spot for in my main tank.

Had to build a stand to make the water level higher than my main sump.

Panned out shot of the whole sump. I have the HD special light fixed a top. I have a divider that will cut it in half for cheato.

Return portion back into main sump.

Drain line into sump. Had to cut a whole to keep the downward level.

Pic of water draining into main sump.

Panned out shot again of the whole stand. Lots of stuff now. The other flex pvc lines in the front and back of image are for my chiller that is outside. Those lines run through the wall.

Any questions, let me know. Sean.

 

[818]

Nice I like it!!!. All you need now is my Chaeto!!!

BTW did you build that fuge?

Sam

 

[john37]

nice job, but one question...how deep is your RDSB? looks like about 3" to me. i thought it had to be about 8" just curious.

 

[ScallopKing]

Thanks Sam! It works like a charm now. Some of your chaeto has my name on it for sure.

john37 - Thanks! But, I think you got me here. Not a true deep sand bed, but as deep as I can get it. Notice the drain bulkhead Heck, since I haven't had sand in a while this is pretty deep for me. How about RSB only!!

 

[818]

As long as the fuge has deeper sand then the main tank I call it DSB lol...heck Sean you have a BB tank so 1 inch would be alot

Thats going to be one sweet pod farm...How fast would you say the flow is pusing in there Sean? I know its gravity fed but what type of pump would you say can replace it? MJ400?

O one more thing put a 90 fitting facing down on the drain bulkhead by the pic I can already tell your getting some gurgling action.

Sam

 

[john37]

haha, hey, i think that if you put a 90 elbow, on the return to the RDSB, facing up and another 90 elbow shooting the water at the baffle you can raise the sand level a couple more inches.

also, you should maybe submerse your return to the sump from the RDSB so you dont get as much salt creep.

 

[ScallopKing]

LOL! That's funny Sam...any sand is deep now. I can't wait to see them 'lil pod suckers running around on the sand, since I haven't seen one in a while now (must be the sixline taking care of them). A MJ400 just might be right. I had a pump before gravity feeding it, it was a RIO 1100 and I had that turned down about halfway, maybe a little more.

Good ideas both of you! I will make that change tomorrow, especially if I can add more sand...I still have one more 20lbs bag.

Would it really be necessary to go deeper and add more?

John37, it's funny since we got it working I haven't touched it. My motto, why mess with a good thing. But I do like the idea of pushing it towards the baffle, might get a liitle more flow across the top of the sand too.

Sean.

 

[818]

The deeper the sand the better the de-nitrifying process. Just be sure not so high since your making last minute adjustments now, youll need the Chaeto to tuble around a bit since the flow in there isnt extreme. Chaeto can act as a filter floss media, it can seriously get gunky IME.

All in all your system will benefit from it now "it" being a BB tank.

Sam

 

[SPSFiend]

Awesome! I just found my next project!!

 

[glaudds]

Re: RDSB/Refug Pics

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7807673#post7807673 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ScallopKing

Wow, great job! You even have a built in linen closet!

 

[ScallopKing]

Thanks SPSFiend! If you need help let me know.

glaudds, thanks! LOL, my wife said I should've removed the stuff underneath before taking the pics of the stand. Hence the linen closet, that was funny!

Sam, I still have one more 20lbs bag that I might add now. I'll have to switch the drain fittings around a bit though. Do you clean the chaeto ever if it get gunked?

Sean.

 

[818]

IF you are to thoruoghly clean the chaeto you might just shake off all the life on it. Youll need some decent flow or allow it to spin or roll around in the water wichever works best for you after you add the other bag of sand.

I just kind of shake it around in the fuge when it got gunky, but then u c all the pods running for their life and falling into my other compartment, eventually my fish eat them as they come out the returns

I fixed that by adding a small MJ pump in the fuge.

Sam

 

[jay-cee123]

Is it best to let pure drain water fall into the fuge?
or to filter it with a sock or something before falling to fuge area?

 

[ScallopKing]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7810726#post7810726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by My F1sh R D34D!
IF you are to thoruoghly clean the chaeto you might just shake off all the life on it. Youll need some decent flow or allow it to spin or roll around in the water wichever works best for you after you add the other bag of sand.

I just kind of shake it around in the fuge when it got gunky, but then u c all the pods running for their life and falling into my other compartment, eventually my fish eat them as they come out the returns

I fixed that by adding a small MJ pump in the fuge.

Sam

Thanks for the chaeto Sam! Here's a couple final pics.

Sean.

 

[818]

Now thats some healthy macro right there

 

[ScallopKing]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7811201#post7811201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jay-cee123
Is it best to let pure drain water fall into the fuge?
or to filter it with a sock or something before falling to fuge area?

IMO, I think it should be straight drain water in and out. HTH.