Adding a refugium - return pump replacement

damonbrodie · 12/11/2011, 12:10 AM

I'm looking for advice on a couple of related topics. First off here is a view to my current sump design. The refugium is planned - doesn't exist yet:

The sump setup is in my basement, and feeds a 120G DT on the floor above it. There is about 11' of head from the pump to the DT.

My current return pump is an Iwaki MD-100RLT that I bought used, and it works great. I have to valve it back because it is so powerful. The issue is that the pump is CRAZY loud. I have done what I can to isolate vibration etc, however it is loud enough that it makes the room beside the sump room unusable. Time for it to go.

The Iwaki is plumbed with a 1" flex line from the sump to the DT. I can change the bulkhead and line from the sump to the pump, but the line from the pump to the DT will have to stay 1" - it is plumbed inside the wall.

I'm looking for advice to replace the Iwaki. The two key criteria are - quiet and the 11' head pressure. My DT currently also has two Tunze 6055s and a CL fed from an Iwaki MD-20. I feel as though the the DT has a lot of flow from these.

I've looked at the Reeflo Dart and Dart Gold - they review as being silent, but I think the head is too much for these pumps.

My second question is around the refugium. My plan is to make that about 40-60G and have it fed from the same return pump "tee"ed into the return line. Given that the DT will be about 9' higher than the refugium, I'm worried that all the flow would go to the refugium and very little would get to the DT. Would placing ball valves as shown allow me to split the flow between the refugium and the DT above it?

Feedback is appreciated!

thegrun · 12/11/2011, 09:04 AM

You shouldn't have any problems with using a gate valve to adjust the flow into the refugium. My concern is the lack of flow into your DSB and live rock sections. They both should be paced between the skimmer section and sump section where your pump draws water from.

Palting · 12/11/2011, 10:13 AM

Yes, putting a valve on the line to the refugium will let you control flow well. No issues there.

I also echo thegrun's concerns about lack of flow. Or, did you just forget to put a line and the drain actually goes into the left most section (DSB) first?

With this set-up in the basement, there should be a floor drain there. Route the water change line to it rather than to a bucket. Or, have a drain put in. Your back will thank you.

I would also suggest an additional storage bin for RODI water, if you don't already have one. There will always be an occasional need for a large amount of RODI quickly.

I have no suggestions on a return pump. Sorry.

damonbrodie · 12/11/2011, 12:04 PM

Here is an overhead view of my sump design to make it more clear about the water flow:

All of the return water flows through the live rock and then the DSB sections before going to the return valve.

Good point on the RODI storage. I had another 30G tank in my design over top of the salt water mix tank, but for space reasons I had to remove it. I think I need to come up with an alternate location though for that.

I'm still looking for pump suggestions - I wish there was a site that listed pumps by their dB ratings. For example, I've found reviews on the Reeflo dart that list that pump as being "dead quiet" but a lot more reviews that list it as being very noisy with a persistent hum. I guess the search continues for the perfect pump...

12/11/2011, 12:10 AM	#1
damonbrodie Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 72	Adding a refugium - return pump replacement I'm looking for advice on a couple of related topics. First off here is a view to my current sump design. The refugium is planned - doesn't exist yet: The sump setup is in my basement, and feeds a 120G DT on the floor above it. There is about 11' of head from the pump to the DT. My current return pump is an Iwaki MD-100RLT that I bought used, and it works great. I have to valve it back because it is so powerful. The issue is that the pump is CRAZY loud. I have done what I can to isolate vibration etc, however it is loud enough that it makes the room beside the sump room unusable. Time for it to go. The Iwaki is plumbed with a 1" flex line from the sump to the DT. I can change the bulkhead and line from the sump to the pump, but the line from the pump to the DT will have to stay 1" - it is plumbed inside the wall. I'm looking for advice to replace the Iwaki. The two key criteria are - quiet and the 11' head pressure. My DT currently also has two Tunze 6055s and a CL fed from an Iwaki MD-20. I feel as though the the DT has a lot of flow from these. I've looked at the Reeflo Dart and Dart Gold - they review as being silent, but I think the head is too much for these pumps. My second question is around the refugium. My plan is to make that about 40-60G and have it fed from the same return pump "tee"ed into the return line. Given that the DT will be about 9' higher than the refugium, I'm worried that all the flow would go to the refugium and very little would get to the DT. Would placing ball valves as shown allow me to split the flow between the refugium and the DT above it? Feedback is appreciated!

12/11/2011, 10:13 AM	#3
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Yes, putting a valve on the line to the refugium will let you control flow well. No issues there. I also echo thegrun's concerns about lack of flow. Or, did you just forget to put a line and the drain actually goes into the left most section (DSB) first? With this set-up in the basement, there should be a floor drain there. Route the water change line to it rather than to a bucket. Or, have a drain put in. Your back will thank you. I would also suggest an additional storage bin for RODI water, if you don't already have one. There will always be an occasional need for a large amount of RODI quickly. I have no suggestions on a return pump. Sorry. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

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12/11/2011, 09:04 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You shouldn't have any problems with using a gate valve to adjust the flow into the refugium. My concern is the lack of flow into your DSB and live rock sections. They both should be paced between the skimmer section and sump section where your pump draws water from.

12/11/2011, 12:04 PM	#4
damonbrodie Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 72	Here is an overhead view of my sump design to make it more clear about the water flow: All of the return water flows through the live rock and then the DSB sections before going to the return valve. Good point on the RODI storage. I had another 30G tank in my design over top of the salt water mix tank, but for space reasons I had to remove it. I think I need to come up with an alternate location though for that. I'm still looking for pump suggestions - I wish there was a site that listed pumps by their dB ratings. For example, I've found reviews on the Reeflo dart that list that pump as being "dead quiet" but a lot more reviews that list it as being very noisy with a persistent hum. I guess the search continues for the perfect pump...