Refugium Flow

rldcpa · 10/27/2012, 12:22 PM

My Sump has a separate Refugium section that flows directly into the return pump section. It does not flow into or through the skimmer or sock filtration section.

The refugium holds at all times 15 gallons. I am going to run a separate small pump from the return area to the refugium (so the water will be already filtered and skimmed). So the question is "What is the proper amount of flow I need through the refugium."

I do not know why the display size or sump size matters in this situation, but in case it does, the tank is 245 gallons and the sump (not including the refugium) will maintain 34 gallons (with the refugium it would be 49 gallons.

The forum answers say 3 times the DT for the sump but 750 gallons per hour through a 12"x24"x12" refugirum (12 gallons) seem rediculous. And yet most sumps seem to have way too much flow through the refuium to the skimmer section. that is why I designed my sump to have independent flow.

Let me know what you think. Thanks.

ebacon · 10/27/2012, 02:31 PM

for a fuge to truly function it is to be a safe haven for the critters and things you want to grow inside. so I would put enough flow thru the fuge to be useful but not so much that there is a current blowing everything away.

Reefmedic79 · 10/27/2012, 02:49 PM

I try to keep the flow in my fuge pretty slow, that is just my personal preference. My return pump is rated for about 400gph at the tank, but my overflow can only handle about 350gph. So I've go a "T" in my return pipe with a ball valve going to my fuge, and the ball valve is adjusted to give the fuge whatever flow is needed to prevent my DT from overflowing.

rldcpa · 10/27/2012, 03:27 PM

Since the pump will be small and inexpensive, I am choosing to avoid the valve plumbing and cost and just get the small pump. So, I need to buy the right size pump for this very slow flow. What do you think would be the proper flow? 3 times flow would be 36 gallons per hour. 5 times flow would be 60 gph. Is 3 to 5 times about right? Or am I way off base?

ebacon · 10/27/2012, 03:28 PM

sounds about right, if its to fast you can always dial back with ball valve.

Reefmedic79 · 10/27/2012, 03:40 PM

3-5 x's should be plenty enough.

bpcass · 10/27/2012, 04:04 PM

Three to five times turnover sounds reasonable. Are you certain you want to feed your refugium with the already filtered and skimmed water? If you are just interested in nitrate and phosphate reduction I don't think it matters much, but if you want pods it will benefit from the excess food and detritus that you are just skimming out anyways. I'd consider putting the pump ahead of the filtration and skimmer or placing a T with a ball valve off of the overflow and eliminate the pump altogether.

rldcpa · 10/27/2012, 06:57 PM

Do you think the water will be too clean. I was thinking that even with a sock smaller particles still get through and you probably only get about 1/2 of the flow to actually go through the protein skimmer, so there would still be nutrients getting through but without the large particles.

I was thinking that this method would keep the refugium cleaner but would still grow macro algie, chaeto and/or pods. If it does not get the desired results I can take some of the drain water and have it go directly to the refugium.

10/27/2012, 12:22 PM	#1
rldcpa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 498	Refugium Flow My Sump has a separate Refugium section that flows directly into the return pump section. It does not flow into or through the skimmer or sock filtration section. The refugium holds at all times 15 gallons. I am going to run a separate small pump from the return area to the refugium (so the water will be already filtered and skimmed). So the question is "What is the proper amount of flow I need through the refugium." I do not know why the display size or sump size matters in this situation, but in case it does, the tank is 245 gallons and the sump (not including the refugium) will maintain 34 gallons (with the refugium it would be 49 gallons. The forum answers say 3 times the DT for the sump but 750 gallons per hour through a 12"x24"x12" refugirum (12 gallons) seem rediculous. And yet most sumps seem to have way too much flow through the refuium to the skimmer section. that is why I designed my sump to have independent flow. Let me know what you think. Thanks. Last edited by rldcpa; 10/27/2012 at 12:27 PM.

10/27/2012, 02:31 PM	#2
ebacon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Charles Mo Posts: 1,084	for a fuge to truly function it is to be a safe haven for the critters and things you want to grow inside. so I would put enough flow thru the fuge to be useful but not so much that there is a current blowing everything away. __________________ Everybody Loves Bacon

10/27/2012, 02:49 PM	#3
Reefmedic79 Life and Reef Saver Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tavares, Florida Posts: 6,202	I try to keep the flow in my fuge pretty slow, that is just my personal preference. My return pump is rated for about 400gph at the tank, but my overflow can only handle about 350gph. So I've go a "T" in my return pipe with a ball valve going to my fuge, and the ball valve is adjusted to give the fuge whatever flow is needed to prevent my DT from overflowing. __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> How much deeper would the ocean be if it didn't have sponges? P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sid Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, 20L Sump, 10G Fuge, JBJ A.T.O, 4" Reef Octopus, DIY Stand & Canopy, RapidLED Dimmable 36 Kit on 3 6" MakersLED Heatsink, MP10es

10/27/2012, 03:28 PM	#5
ebacon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Charles Mo Posts: 1,084	sounds about right, if its to fast you can always dial back with ball valve. __________________ Everybody Loves Bacon

10/27/2012, 03:40 PM	#6
Reefmedic79 Life and Reef Saver Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tavares, Florida Posts: 6,202	3-5 x's should be plenty enough. __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> How much deeper would the ocean be if it didn't have sponges? P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sid Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, 20L Sump, 10G Fuge, JBJ A.T.O, 4" Reef Octopus, DIY Stand & Canopy, RapidLED Dimmable 36 Kit on 3 6" MakersLED Heatsink, MP10es

10/27/2012, 03:27 PM	#4
rldcpa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 498	Since the pump will be small and inexpensive, I am choosing to avoid the valve plumbing and cost and just get the small pump. So, I need to buy the right size pump for this very slow flow. What do you think would be the proper flow? 3 times flow would be 36 gallons per hour. 5 times flow would be 60 gph. Is 3 to 5 times about right? Or am I way off base?

10/27/2012, 04:04 PM	#7
bpcass Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 22	Three to five times turnover sounds reasonable. Are you certain you want to feed your refugium with the already filtered and skimmed water? If you are just interested in nitrate and phosphate reduction I don't think it matters much, but if you want pods it will benefit from the excess food and detritus that you are just skimming out anyways. I'd consider putting the pump ahead of the filtration and skimmer or placing a T with a ball valve off of the overflow and eliminate the pump altogether.

10/27/2012, 06:57 PM	#8
rldcpa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 498	Do you think the water will be too clean. I was thinking that even with a sock smaller particles still get through and you probably only get about 1/2 of the flow to actually go through the protein skimmer, so there would still be nutrients getting through but without the large particles. I was thinking that this method would keep the refugium cleaner but would still grow macro algie, chaeto and/or pods. If it does not get the desired results I can take some of the drain water and have it go directly to the refugium.