Refugium flow rate

[dstall]

I just set up a new refugium for my existing 90 gal reef tank and the flow rate thru the refugium is very very slow. Please advise my about flow rates in refugium? Below is the set up i purchased which has a skimmer comparment and a small refug section about 14 in long and 4 inches wide. The water flows into both sections but the flow is not more then a trickle thru the refug section.



http://www.eshopps.com/advance.php?PHPSESSID=2b66c5d086ddb119d65da4cbc889e705

 

[OranguTang]

3-5x is the general guideline for gph through your sump/fuge.

Edit: I see you are asking about the fuge specifically, that I am not sure about.

 

[dstall]

sorry for the dumb question but when you say 3 -5x gph i'm not sure what your reffering to? Is that he capacity of the refugium section?

 

[dstall]

Also how deep should the mud be in the refugium? I may have to much mud, probably about 3 - 4 inches in this small refug.

 

[OranguTang]

3-5x the volume of your display. IE 5x 60g = 300gph.

 

[dstall]

the sump it self is probably getting that much moving through it but the refugium section is getting a fraction of that, not sure why as its a pre-made sump/refugium, but bulk of movement goes thru the skimmer compartment.

 

[aquawolf]

You really do not need very much flow going through the fuge portion, just enough to cause Chaeto to roll a little if you have some of that in there. The skimmer section gets the most flow because it needs to skim as much of the water as possible before allowing it to pass to the other sections. If the water is going over and under baffles, then it may look like less flow than what is actually running through your system, but I would expect it to be fine.

 

[dstall]

thanks aquawolf that makes me fell better about my set up. Is 3 to 4 inches of mud ok or is that to much? I have not added any chaeto yet.

 

[aquawolf]

I don't think that is too much mud for the fuge. Most of us put deep sand beds or mud in the fuge and 3 - 4 inches sounds fine to me. Check the selling forums on here to get some Chaeto for it at a good price.

Good luck!

 

[KMP]

hmmm...just curious. are you sure the narrow portion is the fuge? that sump allows water to flow behind the black wall and into the larger section. if you look at the "front view" (which i thought was the back) in that picture you can see two acrylic pieces on the floor to elevate a skimmer.

ok - so the reason i say this is i bought the same sump a few days ago. my deltec mc500 fits in the rear section like a glove. i intend on using the large section for the fuge, remove the filter pad and bio balls and fill that section with live rock rubble on the bottom and put the egg crate on the top shelf as a frag rack.

 

[KMP]

hmmm...now you got me wondering. if you go to the link you posted and look at the refugiums they have the small acrylic pieces on the bottom also. maybe i have it backwards but i don't see why it would not work either way.

did yours come with an instruction manual? mine did not.

 

[dstall]

KMP,
i'm not sure i follow. per the LFS the narrow section is the fuge, thus the 2 light stands that come with over that section. And my ER RS100 fits perfectly in the back skimmer section which provides a static water level for the skimmer. I pulled the bio balls out and use the filter pad tray for larger particles and can put carbon under neath on top of the egg crate.

 

[KMP]

now that you describe it that way - i'd say you are right.

i'm going to run mine backwards; skimmer in narrow chamber. fuge in large section. remove the bio balls in large section and fill with live rock.

 

[dstall]

My skimmer will only fit in the one section. I have the 24" x 14" x 16" so not very big. I like your idea though

 

[KMP]

i have the same sump (size), but the deltec mc 500 is only 8.5L x 3.5W x 16H. we'll see how things work out. hope it works as planned.