Refugium Setup

[Editour2]

I currently have a 40 gallon refugium in my system. The water source for the refugium is as follows: I have a Dart return pump connected to my 120 gal sump....this feeds the returns in my 215 DT, the skimmer, Calcium reactor and finally my 20 gal frag tank. The frag tank overflow empties into the refugium while the refugium overflow empties back into my sump. I have NO flow in the refugium other than the overflow from the frag tank.

My refugium has rock rubble covering the base with chaetomorpha macro and about 5 mangroves in it.

Here are some questions:
1) Is the rock rubble beneficial or should I eliminate this, (due to detrius buildup), and go bare bottom? (I am having major phosphate issues...not to say that this is directly attributable to the refugium).

2) Should I add flow, (powerhead), to the refugium?

3) Does anyone use a filter sock on the feed to your refugium?

thanks,
Frank

 

[mbg75]

Rubble does accumulate detritus. You could use a buckethead and get it all out during water changes.

I use a buckethead for my water changes. Takes the water and junk from my skimmer and return section

 

[Editour2]

Rubble does accumulate detritus. You could use a buckethead and get it all out during water changes.

I use a buckethead for my water changes. Takes the water and junk from my skimmer and return section

What's a buckethead?

 

[mbg75]

$20 vac from Home depot that goes on a bucket. Great for water change. Leave my display full and drain the sump

 

[hoganrj1]

Mbg. That is a great idea!

 

[MIKE NY]

Frank my fuge is BB and I siphon out the detris with every W/C which is done weekly. I don't use a sock on the feed, but have them on the exist going into my sump. It keep detris and chaeto bits from getting into the sump and all the pumps, but the drawback is no critters get back into the tank, but I do try to save some when I clean the socks and put them in the display.

 

[Editour2]

Frank my fuge is BB and I siphon out the detris with every W/C which is done weekly. I don't use a sock on the feed, but have them on the exist going into my sump. It keep detris and chaeto bits from getting into the sump and all the pumps, but the drawback is no critters get back into the tank, but I do try to save some when I clean the socks and put them in the display.

Mike,.....you have the sock on your return to the sump? (Return from the DT or from the refugium?) Do you run any powerheads in the refugium or just the feed?