Split my return to fuge, or separate pump?

[20 20]

I'm setting up my 125 gallon as a reef. I've got a 30 gallon sump that will hold an ASM G3 skimmer. I'm going to have a separate fuge, only 6 gallons, may get a bigger one later. The fuge will drain into the return section of the sump. The return pump is a Mag 9.5, with 4' of head.

The question I have is how should I feed water to the fuge? Is the Mag 9.5 going to provide enough flow through the sump if I divert 200 gph to the fuge? With that pump putting out about 800 gph at 4' head, that would leave about 600 gph actually flowing through the sump/skimmer section. Is that enough, or should I run all 800 gph from the Mag 9.5 back to the main tank and use a separate powerhead to feed the fuge?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Yinger]

i'm setting up a 120 soon and I'm splitting the drain from the tank. One to the skimmer and one to the fuge. going to have a valve on the fuge section so most of the water goes towards the skimmer mainly because a fuge shouldn' thave such a high turnover. I'd also recommend changing the mag 9.5 to an eheim 1262 if that's an option.

 

[Yinger]

one quick question... are you trying to feed the fuge from your return? because feeding it from the drain would be much more beneficial, then have it flow into your return. I've been researching and people say to have your fuge and skimmer on opposites sides if possible with the return in the middle.

 

[20 20]

I've seen fuge's set up both ways, fed from the return line, and fed directly from the drain, and have heard arguements for both methods. I was planning on having it fed from the return, based on ease-of-plumbing. I guess my question had more to do with the gph returned to the main tank. Is 600 gph running through the sump/skimmer enough for a 125 gallon mixed reef tank? Keep in mind that I'm also using a calfo-style closed loop manifold driven by a Barracuda pump (4500gph). What gph is the Eheim 1262? The 1260 is about 600 gph, if I recall correctly. I already have the Mag 9.5, so unless there's a REALLY good reason to switch, like needing more flow through the sump/skimmer, I'm going to stick with it.

 

[tkeracer619]

your plan sounds fine. i use my return pump to feed my fuge.

I don't think that it matters were the water comes from as long as it gets there. Personally I would rather the dirtyiest water cleaned up by baffles the skimmer and then the fuge. That way all water has access to the skimmer, and the fuge can work on taking things out that the skimmer can't or didn't

i have about 600-800 per hour running through my 150 and it is more than enough water flow for the sump.

 

[bergzy]

i had my return pump feeding my fuge on my 180g reef as well.

the ideal situation is a great thing to strive for but a lot of the times it just doesnt work in real life. rarely do i ever see anything set up to 'ideal' specs. that is why 'ideal' cut diamonds are the rarest and most expensive!

i have since taken my fuge down on my 180g reef since going full zeovit but still have one on my 125g fowlr. the config doesnt allow me to have my return pump feed my fuge though this is what i would want it to do.

why didnt anyone tell me that life was supposed to be so hard!