Sump / refugium questions

[Jon0807]

In doing research on building a 40 gallon breeder sump, I noticed quite a few variances. With that I belive I'm set on having my refugium to one side of the sump. One of my questions is that I've noticed some people feeding the refugium through a tee coming from the return pump. And some others have a drain from the DT going into the refugium. What are the benefits of either and cons if any?

Also I had planned on using a filter sock in the same chamber as my skimmer and then having the flow go through a bubble trap, but making the first chamber wide enough to run some carbon, filter Floss and gfo if needed. Would this be overkill since I would be using a filter sock and a refugium? Or is it better to run without a sock and just the filter Floss?

 

[motocrf450176]

I have my return pump tee'd to the refugium, this is to get enough flow to keep the chaeto tumbling. It might be possible to get that much flow with your overflow going straight to your refugium, but it wasn't in my set-up.

IMO filter socks clog and need constant attention, in my set-up they get forgotten about so I don't run them any longer. Everyone's system and requirements are different so don't be scared to experiment and see what works best.

 

[billdogg]

^^^What he said about feeding the refugium.^^^

I don't bother wiht filter socks for the same reason. As for carbon or GFO, you will be way better served using a reactor of one type or another. I use both a TLF 150 (GFO) and a BRS single (carbon) for my 120DT, for the frag system I use 2 x BRS singles.

I wouldn't even consider filter floss in a bubble trap - it will get clogged faster that a sock would and will just make a mess, not to mention the PIA it will be to change it pretty much daily.

 

[Jon0807]

Thanks for the info guys! If you guys don't run socks or filters, what do you use as mechanical filtration?

 

[DePinchGonze]

None, biological filtration from rock, and organic removed via skimmer

 

[madweazl]

I like using the socks and just wash and replace them a couple times a week (have four that I cycle through). Takes all of a couple seconds to remove and replace.

 

[motocrf450176]

I've also read that mechanical filtration traps a large amount of Pods, which are extremely helpful in a reef system and are also food for several other living things in our tanks.

 

[Greybeard]

Another vote for no socks, floss, etc. Live rock, sand, and a good skimmer.

I do put a sock in place when I'm doing a water change... catch some of what I'm stirring up. Doesn't stay there for longer than a couple of hours.

 

[ericarenee]

I have a basement remote sump setup. The water from my display tank drops down into a small box that is 12x8 inches thru a 2 inch pvc pipe. it then goes thru a manifold where a small amount of water 300 ghp goes into my refugium tanks. (a 55 gallon barrel split connected together with 2 inch bulkheads . The rest of the water drops into (guppy land) a 4 foot long 12 inch tank where detritus and other waste products settle to the bottom. then thru baffles where it meets up with the water leaving the refugium tanks into my skimmer sump . then into the return section of the sump used for water control in case of pump failure.. then out to the reef-flo to push back to display. there is also a manifold on the output of the reeflo that pushes some water thru a carbon filter

So . ONE Pump to run everything.
settling tank or sump settling area (no filter socks)
manifold to control water and only use one pump

I Think i posted some pics on here or in my profile of the setup. you can do the same on a small scale i am sure...
anti filter socks all the way