refugium

[1Jesusfreak]

Hello all, I have a 55 gallon fish only tank, we found a refugium with a protein skimmer at a flea market for a great deal, it is a 40 gallon refugium made by Ecosystem, big issue is it doesn't have all of the water lines and such to go with it, what is the best way for us to figure out how to get this going for our tank? Thank you so much.

 

[hotelbravo]

well do you have a drilled tank or do you need a hang on back overflow box??

 

[1Jesusfreak]

Sorry, we have a pump and the overflow that hangs on the back of the tank.

 

[frey]

you will need a pump that is rated for less than what your overflow box is rated for at whatever head height your tank is sitting at. From the pump you will then need to plumb (I like to hard plumb with PVC) a return line from the sump to your tank. If your return line is at or below water level in your tank make sure you drill a anti-syphon hole. the anti syphon hole I used to drill at an angle pointing down into the main tank just above the water level. you then need to plumb from your overflow to your sump. if you do not have the original parts that came with the overflow I would suggest testing all of this stuff outside. if the syphon breaks your pump will keep pumping and will overlow your tank with whatever it can take out of the sump. this is why I never liked using overflow boxes and prefer drilled tanks. hope this helps.

 

[1Jesusfreak]

Thank you so much Frey. It does help us.