Single 1" drain on fuge enough?
- Thread starter Bent
- Start date
uncleof6
Active member
How are you feeding the "fuge?" Put simply, with a single drain, you are limited to an open channel drain (for safety reasons) aka durso. 1" pipe may flow 50 gph before it starts acting up, perhaps a tiny bit more. Since the concept that a "fuge" (excluding seahorse as occupant) requires low flow is completely false, that does not seem like a really good plan.
You would get better performance out of a 1.5" drain, open channel, at around 350 gph before the problems start.
"Operate" is a rather ambiguous term, and I think the term you are looking for is "effective." Considering how most folks run them and what they put in them (more of what is in the tank,) they are effective for creating more production, (nitrate factories) and not much export. Couple that with low flow rates, and they are even more effective as nutrient sinks.
No reason to not put the full flow of the system through, but all in all, the system will not do better with it, and it won't do worse without it.
There are reasons to run a fuge, keeping seahorses, culturing more exotic macro algae species (gracilaria, caulerpa, halimeda, etc) that you don't want nibbled on...
Bent
I got nothin'
Sorry I guess I should have been more specific.
In my 30g fuge I drilled a single 1" open channel bulkhead. I plan to tee off from the return line and feed it that way. Here's how it looks:
I didn't use an overflow box, because it's just a fuge and I'm not too worried about how it looks.
Should I use another bulkhead?
In my 30g fuge I drilled a single 1" open channel bulkhead. I plan to tee off from the return line and feed it that way. Here's how it looks:
I didn't use an overflow box, because it's just a fuge and I'm not too worried about how it looks.
Should I use another bulkhead?
uncleof6
Active member
A separate "fuge" should be plumbed exactly the same as a DT. Overflow, and adequate drain capactiy for the flow rate. The same things that apply to DTs, apply to separate fuges. Surface skimming, surface renewal, water movement, the whole shooting match.
E.G. that means install an overflow, and a drain system with a 300 gph capacity, that is trouble free. For 1" pipe, that means a two-pipe siphon system.
E.G. that means install an overflow, and a drain system with a 300 gph capacity, that is trouble free. For 1" pipe, that means a two-pipe siphon system.
Bent
I got nothin'
K done deal! Thanks
I guess I can install another oveflow and use the already drilled hole as an emergency.
SGT_York
New member
The overflow keeps the algae out of the refuge drain. Best to add something in or you will have a maintenance issue with flooding if you don't keep it clean.
1" is too small for my tastes as well, but certainly will work if you need it to.
(I'm a fan of do it right once rather than constantly working it)
1" is too small for my tastes as well, but certainly will work if you need it to.
(I'm a fan of do it right once rather than constantly working it)
IowaReefer
New member
I would add an emergency drain. I once had a fuge return become clogged and ended up with about 20 gallons of water on the floor. Not fun.
