outlet position for refugium

cmbspd · 01/19/2010, 06:52 AM

I'm setting up a refugium that will have a gravity fed drain back into the sump. I plan on ~3" of sand and Chaetomorpha with the refugium primarily pulling out nitrates and supplying copepods/amphipods to the display tank. How should I configure the opening of the drain within the refugium to best transport the pods? Should it just be a horizontal section of 3/4" pvc, vertical section, or should I try to make an overflow box with a comb?

Or should I have the drain somewhere in the middle of the water column and control flow with a ball valve? I assume that I'd then need a second "emergency" overflow near the top to prevent flooding.

Thanks!

Daimyo68 · 01/19/2010, 07:25 AM

Some more information would be helpful. Above tank, above sump? I'm assuming it's a separate tank from your Sump, or that it will be sitting above your DT.

Just have a hole drilled where you want the highest level of water to be, install a bulkhead, plumbing back to the tank/sump and let it drain naturally into your DT or return pump chamber. the plumbing can be on an angle, or a 90 degree. Also put a strainer in the bulkhead on the inside of the fuge. This will keep any critters out of the plumbing, yet still allow pods to make it into the plumbing and into your tank. There's really no need for an "emergency" drain.

You can install a ball valve if you'd like so if for some reason you wanted to stop the water completely you could, but you shouldn't try to control the flow on the exit side. The pump you are using to supply the fuge will determine flow. If you wanted to install a ball valve on the pump side, then you can control flow from there.

The spot where it will drain back into the DT will depend on where your fuge is located. If you want to have it drain into the center of the tank, the corner, either is good.

cmbspd · 01/19/2010, 08:00 AM

Thanks. The refugium (20 gal) will be above a basement sump (100 gal) and I'll position the refugium drain's outlet near the sump bulkhead under the assumption that any pods will get sucked into the DT quickly.

BTW, are pods copepods or amphipods (how new can you be!).

Daimyo68 · 01/19/2010, 09:29 AM

Another thought about you emergency drain. You could just install another bulkhead and have 2 drains.

Copepods and amphipods are 2 different organism's but look very similar.

cmbspd · 01/19/2010, 10:24 AM

Thanks, I know the difference between copepods and amphipods. I just don't know which one people refer to when they say "pods". I imagine that amphipods are what everyone is referring to.

bertoni · 01/19/2010, 06:55 PM

People mean all kinds of things when they say, "pods". Mostly they mean small animals, I think.

Daimyo68 · 01/19/2010, 11:11 PM

You can get an idea about your fuge drains here: http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/s...p_model_i.html

His site is loaded with good info.

ucantmakeme · 01/19/2010, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbspd

Thanks, I know the difference between copepods and amphipods. I just don't know which one people refer to when they say "pods". I imagine that amphipods are what everyone is referring to.

+1 with Bertoni. "pod" is a blanket term for all the tinies in the tank.

01/19/2010, 06:52 AM	#1
cmbspd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 253	outlet position for refugium I'm setting up a refugium that will have a gravity fed drain back into the sump. I plan on ~3" of sand and Chaetomorpha with the refugium primarily pulling out nitrates and supplying copepods/amphipods to the display tank. How should I configure the opening of the drain within the refugium to best transport the pods? Should it just be a horizontal section of 3/4" pvc, vertical section, or should I try to make an overflow box with a comb? Or should I have the drain somewhere in the middle of the water column and control flow with a ball valve? I assume that I'd then need a second "emergency" overflow near the top to prevent flooding. Thanks!

01/19/2010, 07:25 AM	#2
Daimyo68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Palm Beach, FL Posts: 2,270	Some more information would be helpful. Above tank, above sump? I'm assuming it's a separate tank from your Sump, or that it will be sitting above your DT. Just have a hole drilled where you want the highest level of water to be, install a bulkhead, plumbing back to the tank/sump and let it drain naturally into your DT or return pump chamber. the plumbing can be on an angle, or a 90 degree. Also put a strainer in the bulkhead on the inside of the fuge. This will keep any critters out of the plumbing, yet still allow pods to make it into the plumbing and into your tank. There's really no need for an "emergency" drain. You can install a ball valve if you'd like so if for some reason you wanted to stop the water completely you could, but you shouldn't try to control the flow on the exit side. The pump you are using to supply the fuge will determine flow. If you wanted to install a ball valve on the pump side, then you can control flow from there. The spot where it will drain back into the DT will depend on where your fuge is located. If you want to have it drain into the center of the tank, the corner, either is good. __________________ 120g, 50g Sump, SRO XP2000i, MP40W x2, DIY Hybrid LED/T5 Fixture, Apex PBMAS VP 2010-11 PBMAS 2017 President

01/19/2010, 09:29 AM	#4
Daimyo68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Palm Beach, FL Posts: 2,270	Another thought about you emergency drain. You could just install another bulkhead and have 2 drains. Copepods and amphipods are 2 different organism's but look very similar. __________________ 120g, 50g Sump, SRO XP2000i, MP40W x2, DIY Hybrid LED/T5 Fixture, Apex PBMAS VP 2010-11 PBMAS 2017 President

01/19/2010, 06:55 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	People mean all kinds of things when they say, "pods". Mostly they mean small animals, I think. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/19/2010, 11:11 PM	#7
Daimyo68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Palm Beach, FL Posts: 2,270	You can get an idea about your fuge drains here: http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/s...p_model_i.html His site is loaded with good info. __________________ 120g, 50g Sump, SRO XP2000i, MP40W x2, DIY Hybrid LED/T5 Fixture, Apex PBMAS VP 2010-11 PBMAS 2017 President

01/19/2010, 08:00 AM	#3
cmbspd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 253	Thanks. The refugium (20 gal) will be above a basement sump (100 gal) and I'll position the refugium drain's outlet near the sump bulkhead under the assumption that any pods will get sucked into the DT quickly. BTW, are pods copepods or amphipods (how new can you be!).

01/19/2010, 10:24 AM	#5
cmbspd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 253	Thanks, I know the difference between copepods and amphipods. I just don't know which one people refer to when they say "pods". I imagine that amphipods are what everyone is referring to.