Refugium Flow

[Editour2]

My Dart return pump is split to feed my Orca 200 skimmer and my 20 gal frag tank....the frag tank overflows into my refugium which in turn overflows back into my sump. Is this enough flow to properly utlize the refugium? OR Do I need greater turnover?

I am fighting major phosphates and diatoms in my tank....I removed ALL of the rock rubble in my refugium. I removed it in steps over about a month, (I had about 2 to 3" of rubble in there which was a haven for detrius....I removed at least a 1inch layer). I'm trying to clean everything up. In the process of changing all my RODI filters. I scrubbed both of my brute water storage bins down.

I just doubled the flow inside the DT....had 2 Tunze 6105's and just added an additional 2 Jebao WP40's......didn't seem to help.

I want to make sure I'm taking full advantage of the refugium to help with these issues.

 

[Monkeyfish]

You don't want a lot of flow in the refugium - macros need time to suck up the nutrients.

 

[homegrowncichli]

the water speed in the refugium should be almost still, but not stagnant. This can be done if you shield parts of it from current.
For example, in my sump/refugrium, where my mag 7 moves 300 whateverwhoknows gallons of water at 3' of height, that would flush whatever copepod/amphipod out the other end very quickly. However though the water gushes in, it is directed by my bubble traps spread and forces the water flow to enter at the surface of the refugium. Then at the other end of the refugium, the water flows into another bubble trap with the pump intake is behind it, but also near the surface, so there is a current at the surface, but just below that, the water moves slower than an inch per second.