refugium flow

[SPARKY1]

I decided to set up refugium with a deep sand bed after a long battle with nitrates. I plan on using Chaeto & Mangroves. my question is what kind of flow are folks running thru there systems that are set up for the same purpose. and if they are working to any degree. the system currently is 600 gallons total with the main display being 300 gallon/ 3" sand bed/350 lbs of live rock, heavy bio load ( tangs / triggers ) 150 gallon grow out/ 100 lbs of live rock/1" sand bed /light load, 100 gallon sump / ER- cs-12/2 skimmer. also run 3 reactors ( 5" x 24" upflow ) with purigen, matrix carbon & phosban. circulation is on the good side with 2 closed loops with darts, and a hammerhead for sump return. any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. thx

 

[snorvich]

I run both of my refugiums at 300 gph and then run the flow across a remote deep sand bed.

 

[KyleO]

Slow flow in refugiums is better (IME)

 

[SPARKY1]

Snorvich, are you using any chaeto or the like in the sand bed or the refugium? if so what types? were you having any nitrate issues before going to refugium or remote deep sand bed? thx

 

[SPARKY1]

KyleO, slow meaning? (gph) roughly?

 

[KyleO]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12003135#post12003135 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SPARKY1
KyleO, slow meaning? (gph) roughly?

Yes.........less than 300 gph

 

[snorvich]

I have chaeto in both refugiums but none in the deep sand bed. The flow is a compromise between ideal for the refugium and ideal for the deep sand bed. For the RDSB I need to keep detritus from accumulating on the sand, hence the faster than desirable flow rate.

My nitrates were not high by measurement but measurement can be deceiving if the nitrate is all taken up by undesirable algae. The combination of the two makes my nitrates undetectable.

 

[SPARKY1]

Thanks guys!

 

[KyleO]

Look up deep sand beds in 5 gal buckets. There are some very interesting threads about these. I am very seriously considering as the results seem to be positive (and then you don't have to have deep sand in your fuge and sacrifice nothing)