Refugium Plumbing help.

tdubrow · 10/03/2010, 08:31 AM

My stand cabinet is pretty cramped for space so I'm having a problem setting up my plumbing to my refugium. It's a seperate 10 gallon tank that I was planning on putting next to my sump. I was going to T-off the return pump from the sump and have it feed the refugium but theres just not enough room to do this.

So I was wondering if its a good idea to use 2 pumps. My mag 9.5 for my return pump and just a tiny pump to feed the refugium? The refugium is a little higher than the sump so I have it set to gravity feed back to sump. Will a 2 pump system cause problems? Been trying to figure this out in my head and I cant think of anything that could be wrong with this but I just want to check.

Thanks.

jeff@zina.com · 10/03/2010, 08:56 AM

Two pumps works fine.

Jeff

mfinn · 10/03/2010, 09:22 AM

I agree, 2 pumps will work.

kalapnath · 10/03/2010, 09:30 AM

the only issue with running two pumps is more heat generated to the tank but that's only if your running big pumps if you have a chiller that should take care of it.............

tdubrow · 10/03/2010, 01:24 PM

Thanks all.

tdubrow · 10/23/2010, 09:47 AM

Question about flow through my refugium. Its going to be about 12 gallons and I was thinking about going with about 150 -200gph. Is that too much flow?

Reverend Reefer · 10/23/2010, 11:54 AM

2 pumps would work but, if its slightly higher than your sump, then why not just have the display drain into your refugium and then from there drain into your sump and then T off the return pump back into your refugium? just an option. is it going to be a display refugium? i love watching my refugium so i designed my sump to have the refugium section be the front part facing my living room and then sectioned the two back compartments (that are uglier) for return and skimmer sections. in the end, if you do go for the 2 pump option, the only problem i see is that you need to make sure there is enough room in your sump to handle the overflow from your display and the overflow from your fuge. i.e., if there's a power outage or if, god forbid, both pumps fail, your sump should be big enough to not overflow onto the floor with both overflows from display and fuge.

tdubrow · 10/23/2010, 12:55 PM

I shouldn't have a problem if the power or pump goes out. As you can see in the pics, I have the refugium draining at the top. Very little water will flow back into sump. The only problem I guess would be if the refugium drain got clogged. Thinking about drilling another whole as a backup just in case.

Reverend Reefer · 10/23/2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdubrow

I shouldn't have a problem if the power or pump goes out. As you can see in the pics, I have the refugium draining at the top. Very little water will flow back into sump. The only problem I guess would be if the refugium drain got clogged. Thinking about drilling another whole as a backup just in case.

very nice! i can see that problem happening since the fuge will have macroalgae in it. maybe another drain would be a good contingency plan given that scenario. are you planning on having snails in the fuge as well? the pump yer getting should be fine for flow to it, are you putting only cheato in the fuge? are you going to try to tumble it with a power head inside or just let it be?

tdubrow · 10/23/2010, 01:54 PM

Going to do some live rock and chaeto in the fuge. Not sure if I'm going to tumble it or not. Ive done it both ways in the past and not sure if its really needed. Probably will keep a few snails in there as well so best bet would be to drill a backup drain. No reason not to as the fuge isn't setup yet.

muttley000 · 10/23/2010, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reverend Reefer

...why not just have the display drain into your refugium...

Good way to catch a lot of detritus in the fuge, a problem if a sand bed is going to be employed there. I personally like the idea of pumping into the fuge.
JMO

10/03/2010, 08:31 AM	#1
tdubrow Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 30	Refugium Plumbing help. My stand cabinet is pretty cramped for space so I'm having a problem setting up my plumbing to my refugium. It's a seperate 10 gallon tank that I was planning on putting next to my sump. I was going to T-off the return pump from the sump and have it feed the refugium but theres just not enough room to do this. So I was wondering if its a good idea to use 2 pumps. My mag 9.5 for my return pump and just a tiny pump to feed the refugium? The refugium is a little higher than the sump so I have it set to gravity feed back to sump. Will a 2 pump system cause problems? Been trying to figure this out in my head and I cant think of anything that could be wrong with this but I just want to check. Thanks.

10/03/2010, 09:22 AM	#3
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I agree, 2 pumps will work. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

10/23/2010, 11:54 AM	#7
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	2 pumps would work but, if its slightly higher than your sump, then why not just have the display drain into your refugium and then from there drain into your sump and then T off the return pump back into your refugium? just an option. is it going to be a display refugium? i love watching my refugium so i designed my sump to have the refugium section be the front part facing my living room and then sectioned the two back compartments (that are uglier) for return and skimmer sections. in the end, if you do go for the 2 pump option, the only problem i see is that you need to make sure there is enough room in your sump to handle the overflow from your display and the overflow from your fuge. i.e., if there's a power outage or if, god forbid, both pumps fail, your sump should be big enough to not overflow onto the floor with both overflows from display and fuge. __________________ - Rev. Tank: 65G glass 48" long tank; Sump/Fuge: 30G. Lighting: LEDs+single T5 strip. Maintenance: ATO Kalkwasser + 10% weekly WC, daily feedings LPS+Softies dominated.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
refugium plumbing pics with refugium placed above the display tank	855012 reefer	Do It Yourself	2	05/27/2009 06:00 PM
Refugium plumbing question	Kluver	Reef Discussion	5	05/03/2006 07:54 AM
Refugium plumbing question	Kluver	Arizona - Fish & Reef Aquarium Group (FRAG)	3	05/01/2006 10:29 PM
Refugium plumbing	irisheyes	Reef Discussion	5	03/21/2006 08:03 PM
refugium plumbing	speedingredline	Reef Discussion	3	01/27/2006 03:07 AM

10/03/2010, 08:56 AM	#2
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	Two pumps works fine. Jeff

10/03/2010, 09:30 AM	#4
kalapnath Moved On Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 69	the only issue with running two pumps is more heat generated to the tank but that's only if your running big pumps if you have a chiller that should take care of it.............

10/03/2010, 01:24 PM	#5
tdubrow Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 30	Thanks all.

10/23/2010, 09:47 AM	#6
tdubrow Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 30	Question about flow through my refugium. Its going to be about 12 gallons and I was thinking about going with about 150 -200gph. Is that too much flow?

10/23/2010, 01:54 PM	#10
tdubrow Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 30	Going to do some live rock and chaeto in the fuge. Not sure if I'm going to tumble it or not. Ive done it both ways in the past and not sure if its really needed. Probably will keep a few snails in there as well so best bet would be to drill a backup drain. No reason not to as the fuge isn't setup yet.