what is down side to using container only refugium - no compartments ?

[j-123]

hi ,,

i have been looking at the commercial refugiums with all the compartments... which are great for the "perfect setup" .

i have limited space in my stand,,, i have not found commericial unit that really fitts well with out getting really small...

but what would i be loosing by just sticking the biggest glass tank in my stand i can fit,,, then putting the return pump on one end ,,, the protien skimmer & water line feed from display tank on the other end.

in the middle,,, sort of have the refugium,,, physically setup some rocks or something to keep water flow down and divide the area's.

also if i run some power heads up top for water flow ,,, wave ect...
then i am presuming i could reduce flow thru refugium...

QUESTION ? ::
what are the pitfalls of this simpler system with no fixed compartments ??


once i get refugium installed in stand i will not be able to get it out again utill i drain the tank and move the stand for access.


thanks

 

[jgoodrich71]

I run only a sump, no refugium. It is just a tank like that, no partitions. If you were to try to run a refugium in this manner, it is possible that sand and your macroalgaes could get pulled into the return pump and clog it. It is a simple enough matter to add partition to a tank to stop this from happening if you do want this as a regugium.

 

[Dubbin1]

As easy as it is to put baffles in the tank then you will be much better off doing that. Lowes sells the glass (cheap) and cuts it for free. They also sell the silicone that you will need to put the baffles in. Without baffles there is a good chance that you will have a mess with micro bubbles in your display tank.

 

[j-123]

hey thanks for the post,,,

i will go ahead and put in baffles,,,

do most also go ahead and put in the extra baffles to stop the bubbles ??

or most of the time bubbles are not an issue ?

thanks

 

[Dubbin1]

Bubbles always seem to be an issue when a sump does not have baffles.

 

[dc]

I just have my return in a tupperware container, in a 30 gal. tank