Bigger Intake or Bigger Fuge???

gibson981 · 03/20/2009, 01:32 PM

if I have limited space for a sump, which would be better? A bigger fuge? Or bigger intake section? I figure I can get away with a not so big return section because I have an auto top off pulling water out of a five gallon jug.

luther1200 · 03/20/2009, 01:42 PM

I would say bigger fuge, as long as you have enough room for all your pumps or whatever you want in your intake section.

Kenmx10 · 03/20/2009, 01:51 PM

Fuge.

Rouselb · 03/20/2009, 07:43 PM

Fuge, but not for export, only for breeding. For a fuge to function properly you would need it to be extremely large and well lit (not a shop light). Most fuge setups are only good for pod breeding. They simply are not large enough to provide ample nutrient export.

luther1200 · 03/20/2009, 07:48 PM

I have a 10G fuge on my 65, and only about half of that has cheato in it. And about 1-2 weeks after installing it my nitrates went down from 20 to 0. So I don't think they have to be huge like som epeople say. At least in my case it didn't have to be. I do have a 96w PC light over it, which is much more light than most people use. Maybe thats why.

Rouselb · 03/20/2009, 07:54 PM

You have to export the nutrients some how. If you filled the container with macro then trimmed and removed half you would be exporting nutrients. It sounds like you may have a combination of things that you did. You added more water to the sytem, maybe a water change, maybe something else?? I can tell you that i had a 35 fuge on a 200 gal tank, it didnt do much, i changed to a 100 gal with (4) T5 bulbs and started removing half of the macro a month and it helped some (not enough to justify using it as a nutrient export). A really good skimmer will go a long way. cleaning a skimmer collection cup and neck each day will go a long way.

luther1200 · 03/20/2009, 07:57 PM

I already had the sump, just converted it into a fuge. Didn't change my WC routine or anything else. I do harvest it about evey 3-4 weeks. I cut out about half of it at a time.

03/20/2009, 01:32 PM	#1
gibson981 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: west side of Indianapolis Posts: 451	Bigger Intake or Bigger Fuge??? if I have limited space for a sump, which would be better? A bigger fuge? Or bigger intake section? I figure I can get away with a not so big return section because I have an auto top off pulling water out of a five gallon jug. __________________ Gerald Current Tank Info: 90g, built in overflow, 2 Reeflux 20k 250w, 2 Ice Cap 250w elec ballasts, 2 Hydor Koralia's 3 and 2, 29g sump, RIO 3100 return, AquaC EV180 w/Mag 9, GEO 612 Ca Reactor, 85# live rock (half Fiji, half Kalieni), 180# live sand.

03/20/2009, 01:42 PM	#2
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	I would say bigger fuge, as long as you have enough room for all your pumps or whatever you want in your intake section. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

03/20/2009, 07:43 PM	#4
Rouselb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Michigan Posts: 1,238	Fuge, but not for export, only for breeding. For a fuge to function properly you would need it to be extremely large and well lit (not a shop light). Most fuge setups are only good for pod breeding. They simply are not large enough to provide ample nutrient export. __________________ Larry Current Tank Info: 425g Mixed Reef, (6) Orphek LED mods, (4) MP60s, (2) Bubble King SM250 Skimmer, LMIII for Dose & ATO

03/20/2009, 07:48 PM	#5
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	I have a 10G fuge on my 65, and only about half of that has cheato in it. And about 1-2 weeks after installing it my nitrates went down from 20 to 0. So I don't think they have to be huge like som epeople say. At least in my case it didn't have to be. I do have a 96w PC light over it, which is much more light than most people use. Maybe thats why. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

03/20/2009, 07:54 PM	#6
Rouselb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Michigan Posts: 1,238	You have to export the nutrients some how. If you filled the container with macro then trimmed and removed half you would be exporting nutrients. It sounds like you may have a combination of things that you did. You added more water to the sytem, maybe a water change, maybe something else?? I can tell you that i had a 35 fuge on a 200 gal tank, it didnt do much, i changed to a 100 gal with (4) T5 bulbs and started removing half of the macro a month and it helped some (not enough to justify using it as a nutrient export). A really good skimmer will go a long way. cleaning a skimmer collection cup and neck each day will go a long way. __________________ Larry Current Tank Info: 425g Mixed Reef, (6) Orphek LED mods, (4) MP60s, (2) Bubble King SM250 Skimmer, LMIII for Dose & ATO

03/20/2009, 01:51 PM	#3
Kenmx10 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Charleston S.C. Posts: 771	Fuge.

03/20/2009, 07:57 PM	#7
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	I already had the sump, just converted it into a fuge. Didn't change my WC routine or anything else. I do harvest it about evey 3-4 weeks. I cut out about half of it at a time. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.