Problems with refugium

SassyAngel111 · 04/20/2015, 07:53 PM

About the tank it is a 72gl pentagon with about 70lbs total of combined dry and live rock, with about 20lbs of sand, the equipment a Koralia 1500gph, a
R100 Eshopp refugium which the dimension is 24x12x16, the overflow box is the PF-800 600-800gph and good for a tank up to a 100gl and the return pump is a aquatop 740gph.

My question is the return pump to much for this setup? I had started the refugium yesterday it was running great, but today the water in the return section was fluctuating to above the water line mark to just above the intake on the return pump.

Thank you in advance for the help on this.

fishresponse · 04/20/2015, 10:38 PM

I personally would take out the sponge you have between the fuge and return section. That's just another spot to worry detritus will accumulate. And you already have a sock so you really don't need more mechanical filtration. Most likely removing the sponge will help with the flow over/in your fuge. Give that a try and see if it helps. If no, then always easy to put it back. The pump is just fine. Not too big. General rule of thumb is you want 8-10x the turnover of your system. But then again that depends on what you want to keep in your tank.

SassyAngel111 · 04/21/2015, 05:34 AM

fishresponse, thank you for the response. I will remove the sponge between the fuge and return section and see if that helps.

fishresponse · 04/21/2015, 11:17 PM

Did that help?

SassyAngel111 · 04/22/2015, 05:59 AM

I need to setup more water for top off before I can start it again

One other quick question how long can I leave the water set before using it? Say I make the topoff water today can I use it all week long?

fishresponse · 04/22/2015, 06:06 AM

Are you using RO water? You can let that sit all the time. I have a garbage can full of RO/DI water with a heater and pump so the water is heated and somewhat aerated. It's good habit to have RO water (freshwater) available all the time so your salinity doesn't get too high.

LeakyZ · 04/22/2015, 06:29 AM

I have a plastic drum I fill once every 3-4 weeks. No issues

SassyAngel111 · 04/22/2015, 07:01 AM

fishresponse yes I am using RO/DI, well here in Phoenix, AZ I have noticed that I really dont need to have a heater in the water, and thank you for the quick response.

LeakyZ, thank you for the quick response.

SassyAngel111 · 04/22/2015, 08:07 PM

Ok got the fuge started again I thin the water in the display tank was low, but I'm not sure how low I can put the box inside the tank to?

fishresponse · 04/22/2015, 11:25 PM

Good to know you're using RO/DI. If you have a sump, how is you water level dropping in your display rather than the water level dropping in your sump?

SassyAngel111 · 04/23/2015, 05:57 AM

about a gl every few days

Rustyprop · 04/23/2015, 07:45 AM

My 300 gallon system evaporates almost 2 gallons daily

fishresponse · 04/23/2015, 10:40 AM

I go through a couple gallons per day as well. Less in the summer months and more in the winter months.

SassyAngel111 · 04/23/2015, 08:12 PM

ok I just don't remember when I had a 90gl that we had that much evaporation and this was here in Phoenix AZ as well.

pillar coral · 04/26/2015, 04:31 PM

90 gallon tank with R-300 refugium running at 1 gallon of evaporation a day here in Florida.

SassyAngel111 · 04/30/2015, 08:18 AM

thanks pillar coral. Although on my 90gl we just did not have a sump or a refugium for it, so maybe just did not notice the evaporation like I am now.

Captain smoke · 05/20/2015, 07:32 AM

I just picked up a Eshopps 300 overflow and running a Aquatop-1600 (600 gph) pump. the pump can not keep up with the overflow so I added a gate valve on the overflow to slow it down to stop the toilet effect. I'm going today to up a 8-900GPH pump. Eshopps overflows flow more than what they say.

04/20/2015, 10:38 PM	#2
fishresponse Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 644	I personally would take out the sponge you have between the fuge and return section. That's just another spot to worry detritus will accumulate. And you already have a sock so you really don't need more mechanical filtration. Most likely removing the sponge will help with the flow over/in your fuge. Give that a try and see if it helps. If no, then always easy to put it back. The pump is just fine. Not too big. General rule of thumb is you want 8-10x the turnover of your system. But then again that depends on what you want to keep in your tank. __________________ –Andy 265g w/ 20" synergy overflow box Hamilton Cebu MH/T5 fixture w/ 250w Radium bulbs SPS/LPS mix \| 30g (long) refugium with cheato \| 40g sump

04/21/2015, 05:34 AM	#3
SassyAngel111 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 167	fishresponse, thank you for the response. I will remove the sponge between the fuge and return section and see if that helps. __________________ I can resist anything but temptation Current Tank Info: 56gl. column tank, around 45lbs of rock, 2 1/2" sand, lights Oceanrvive 120w LED's, Maxi-jet 900, Eshopps PF800 overflow box, Eshopps R-100 refugium, skimmer Eshopps s120

04/21/2015, 11:17 PM	#4
fishresponse Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 644	Did that help? __________________ –Andy 265g w/ 20" synergy overflow box Hamilton Cebu MH/T5 fixture w/ 250w Radium bulbs SPS/LPS mix \| 30g (long) refugium with cheato \| 40g sump

04/22/2015, 05:59 AM	#5
SassyAngel111 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 167	I need to setup more water for top off before I can start it again One other quick question how long can I leave the water set before using it? Say I make the topoff water today can I use it all week long? __________________ I can resist anything but temptation Current Tank Info: 56gl. column tank, around 45lbs of rock, 2 1/2" sand, lights Oceanrvive 120w LED's, Maxi-jet 900, Eshopps PF800 overflow box, Eshopps R-100 refugium, skimmer Eshopps s120

04/22/2015, 06:06 AM	#6
fishresponse Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 644	Are you using RO water? You can let that sit all the time. I have a garbage can full of RO/DI water with a heater and pump so the water is heated and somewhat aerated. It's good habit to have RO water (freshwater) available all the time so your salinity doesn't get too high. __________________ –Andy 265g w/ 20" synergy overflow box Hamilton Cebu MH/T5 fixture w/ 250w Radium bulbs SPS/LPS mix \| 30g (long) refugium with cheato \| 40g sump

04/22/2015, 06:29 AM	#7
LeakyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 60	I have a plastic drum I fill once every 3-4 weeks. No issues

04/22/2015, 07:01 AM	#8
SassyAngel111 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 167	fishresponse yes I am using RO/DI, well here in Phoenix, AZ I have noticed that I really dont need to have a heater in the water, and thank you for the quick response. LeakyZ, thank you for the quick response. __________________ I can resist anything but temptation Current Tank Info: 56gl. column tank, around 45lbs of rock, 2 1/2" sand, lights Oceanrvive 120w LED's, Maxi-jet 900, Eshopps PF800 overflow box, Eshopps R-100 refugium, skimmer Eshopps s120

04/22/2015, 08:07 PM	#9
SassyAngel111 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 167	Ok got the fuge started again I thin the water in the display tank was low, but I'm not sure how low I can put the box inside the tank to? __________________ I can resist anything but temptation Current Tank Info: 56gl. column tank, around 45lbs of rock, 2 1/2" sand, lights Oceanrvive 120w LED's, Maxi-jet 900, Eshopps PF800 overflow box, Eshopps R-100 refugium, skimmer Eshopps s120

04/22/2015, 11:25 PM	#10
fishresponse Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 644	Good to know you're using RO/DI. If you have a sump, how is you water level dropping in your display rather than the water level dropping in your sump? __________________ –Andy 265g w/ 20" synergy overflow box Hamilton Cebu MH/T5 fixture w/ 250w Radium bulbs SPS/LPS mix \| 30g (long) refugium with cheato \| 40g sump

04/23/2015, 05:57 AM	#11
SassyAngel111 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 167	about a gl every few days __________________ I can resist anything but temptation Current Tank Info: 56gl. column tank, around 45lbs of rock, 2 1/2" sand, lights Oceanrvive 120w LED's, Maxi-jet 900, Eshopps PF800 overflow box, Eshopps R-100 refugium, skimmer Eshopps s120

04/23/2015, 07:45 AM	#12
Rustyprop Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 54	My 300 gallon system evaporates almost 2 gallons daily

04/23/2015, 10:40 AM	#13
fishresponse Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 644	I go through a couple gallons per day as well. Less in the summer months and more in the winter months. __________________ –Andy 265g w/ 20" synergy overflow box Hamilton Cebu MH/T5 fixture w/ 250w Radium bulbs SPS/LPS mix \| 30g (long) refugium with cheato \| 40g sump

04/23/2015, 08:12 PM	#14
SassyAngel111 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 167	ok I just don't remember when I had a 90gl that we had that much evaporation and this was here in Phoenix AZ as well. __________________ I can resist anything but temptation Current Tank Info: 56gl. column tank, around 45lbs of rock, 2 1/2" sand, lights Oceanrvive 120w LED's, Maxi-jet 900, Eshopps PF800 overflow box, Eshopps R-100 refugium, skimmer Eshopps s120

04/26/2015, 04:31 PM	#15
pillar coral Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Miami Florida Posts: 16	90 gallon tank with R-300 refugium running at 1 gallon of evaporation a day here in Florida.

04/30/2015, 08:18 AM	#16
SassyAngel111 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 167	thanks pillar coral. Although on my 90gl we just did not have a sump or a refugium for it, so maybe just did not notice the evaporation like I am now. __________________ I can resist anything but temptation Current Tank Info: 56gl. column tank, around 45lbs of rock, 2 1/2" sand, lights Oceanrvive 120w LED's, Maxi-jet 900, Eshopps PF800 overflow box, Eshopps R-100 refugium, skimmer Eshopps s120

05/20/2015, 07:32 AM	#17
Captain smoke Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: somewhere in the midwest Posts: 227	I just picked up a Eshopps 300 overflow and running a Aquatop-1600 (600 gph) pump. the pump can not keep up with the overflow so I added a gate valve on the overflow to slow it down to stop the toilet effect. I'm going today to up a 8-900GPH pump. Eshopps overflows flow more than what they say.