Realistic plan? - Page 2

kjord97 · 10/01/2009, 10:34 AM

I think your plans are great, you know many of use in the club have spare items laying around we could help you get something going.

Honestly all you really need in a tank is flow..... Look at my 24 gal nano, i have no heater, no skimmer, nothing in the chambers but rock, and I do 5 gals every 2 weeks. Tank has been running for 3 + years great....

iwishtofish · 10/01/2009, 10:41 AM

Thanks, kjord97! Now that I'm getting back in the hobby, I'll probably be in touch soon!

iwishtofish · 10/04/2009, 06:11 PM

Ok, so my Eshopps HOB skimmer has arrived, and now the only final hardware hurdle is my refugium that I have decided to add. It's looking like it is going to be a project, but no hurry here, right? I still plan to use the 20g long for the DT (which should enable me to avoid the expense of new lighting). However, I think I need a place for extra water volume, lots of macro algae, and for micro fauna (pods, etc) to proliferate.

I'm thinking of placing the refugium (another 20g long) on a platform that is elevated slightly higher and behind the DT, and where it will get sunlight through the window. It will contain lots of macro algae, additional live rock, and perhaps a DSB. It will have slow flow through it, pumped up from the DT by a small pump. It will be drilled to drain back to the DT.

I'd like to treat this more as a "show" refugium than a sump.

Can anyone help me with a couple of questions about the refugium?

a) Should I have baffles in the refugium to catch detritus at the point where water is pumped up from the DT, where I can easily siphon it out? (Should I maybe consider hanging my skimmer here, instead?)

b) Should I have a powerhead circulating in the refugium?

c) As through-flow will be slow, do I need a heater here as well?

d) How should I configure the overflow bulkhead and drain hole?

iwishtofish · 10/04/2009, 08:59 PM

Ok, I just spent a couple hours trying to make a diagram of what I'm thinking. I know it is kind of a backwards plan - I guess most people have the sump or refugium down below their tank, but I've been getting weird ideas lately, or so it seems! I think I can get enough sunlight through my window to help fuel the macro algae, and I like the idea of being able to see the refugium at a glance.

Anyway, I hope I'm not missing some really important element here!

10/01/2009, 10:34 AM	#26
kjord97 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Chaptico, Md Posts: 248	I think your plans are great, you know many of use in the club have spare items laying around we could help you get something going. Honestly all you really need in a tank is flow..... Look at my 24 gal nano, i have no heater, no skimmer, nothing in the chambers but rock, and I do 5 gals every 2 weeks. Tank has been running for 3 + years great.... __________________ 180 Gal Deep Reef 40 gal sump, Octopus 200 Skimmer, 3 x 250 MH XM 10K 150 Gal 31" Tall Reef 35 Gal sump, Octopus 150 Skimmer, 3 x 250 MH Radium 20K, 58 Gal Reef Tank in the wall next to fire place 28 Gal JBJ 150 HQI 24 Gal JBJ Nano

10/01/2009, 10:41 AM	#27
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Thanks, kjord97! Now that I'm getting back in the hobby, I'll probably be in touch soon!

10/04/2009, 06:11 PM	#28
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Ok, so my Eshopps HOB skimmer has arrived, and now the only final hardware hurdle is my refugium that I have decided to add. It's looking like it is going to be a project, but no hurry here, right? I still plan to use the 20g long for the DT (which should enable me to avoid the expense of new lighting). However, I think I need a place for extra water volume, lots of macro algae, and for micro fauna (pods, etc) to proliferate. I'm thinking of placing the refugium (another 20g long) on a platform that is elevated slightly higher and behind the DT, and where it will get sunlight through the window. It will contain lots of macro algae, additional live rock, and perhaps a DSB. It will have slow flow through it, pumped up from the DT by a small pump. It will be drilled to drain back to the DT. I'd like to treat this more as a "show" refugium than a sump. Can anyone help me with a couple of questions about the refugium? a) Should I have baffles in the refugium to catch detritus at the point where water is pumped up from the DT, where I can easily siphon it out? (Should I maybe consider hanging my skimmer here, instead?) b) Should I have a powerhead circulating in the refugium? c) As through-flow will be slow, do I need a heater here as well? d) How should I configure the overflow bulkhead and drain hole?

10/04/2009, 08:59 PM	#29
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Ok, I just spent a couple hours trying to make a diagram of what I'm thinking. I know it is kind of a backwards plan - I guess most people have the sump or refugium down below their tank, but I've been getting weird ideas lately, or so it seems! I think I can get enough sunlight through my window to help fuel the macro algae, and I like the idea of being able to see the refugium at a glance. Anyway, I hope I'm not missing some really important element here!