HOB Refugium vs. basement Fuge setup

firemountain · 05/19/2014, 04:25 PM

I am looking a Refugium for my new 65g setup. I have 2 options...either buy a large HOB fuge to produce copepods and for cheato growth, or to use a spare 30g tank with a canister filter and set it up in my basement. While the 30g would be more suitable, I would need to figure how to pump the water up to the 1st floor, as well as maintaining the proper water level in both the fudge, as well as the sump that is located under the DT.

Also....I have heard that the HOB's are better and more gentle for the transportation of copepods into the main tank, whereas when the water is pumped up from the sump (esp. a basement sump) it can be detrimental to them.

Since I am new to this, any advice would be appreciated.

Bent · 05/19/2014, 09:06 PM

I'm setting mine up in the basement.

Going to buy a big return pump and rip up the drywall and run it through the wall up to the Display tank then fix the wall.

Going to be quieter that way.

Here's the map if you want the details:

firemountain · 05/19/2014, 09:31 PM

Wow...now that is what I call detailed. Thank you...it's giving me some ideas. There are certain fish I want to buy, that need the copepods, so I have to do some planning. Something tells me that the HOB is not going to suffice.

Thanks again!!

Colorado1 · 05/19/2014, 09:46 PM

I love my basement sump. Right now my house is 80 degrees, my basement is 70 degrees. In the winter my basement sump area is 80 degrees, and the house is 67. Works well. All eater changes and maintenance out of sight.

Bent · 05/20/2014, 05:57 PM

No problem.

I think the best way to go is a seperate tank all together. Drain the tank to the sump, run the return pump from the sump to the display tank, tee off before the display with a ball valve to the fuge.

You can control the fuge flow with the ball valve and only have one pump.

firemountain · 05/21/2014, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent

No problem.

I think the best way to go is a seperate tank all together. Drain the tank to the sump, run the return pump from the sump to the display tank, tee off before the display with a ball valve to the fuge.

You can control the fuge flow with the ball valve and only have one pump.

Ok.....cool. Thanks. I am assuming that you would put the return on the fuge into DT? Since I will be using a HOB skimmer, I don't have to worry about the return of the fudge going into the skimmer...it will be on the opposite side of the tank.

Bent · 05/21/2014, 07:20 AM

Well I wouldn't put the return in the fuge personally.

I'd have the fuge drain into the sump and pump it from there.

05/19/2014, 04:25 PM	#1
firemountain Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 1,033	HOB Refugium vs. basement Fuge setup I am looking a Refugium for my new 65g setup. I have 2 options...either buy a large HOB fuge to produce copepods and for cheato growth, or to use a spare 30g tank with a canister filter and set it up in my basement. While the 30g would be more suitable, I would need to figure how to pump the water up to the 1st floor, as well as maintaining the proper water level in both the fudge, as well as the sump that is located under the DT. Also....I have heard that the HOB's are better and more gentle for the transportation of copepods into the main tank, whereas when the water is pumped up from the sump (esp. a basement sump) it can be detrimental to them. Since I am new to this, any advice would be appreciated.

05/19/2014, 09:06 PM	#2
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	I'm setting mine up in the basement. Going to buy a big return pump and rip up the drywall and run it through the wall up to the Display tank then fix the wall. Going to be quieter that way. Here's the map if you want the details: __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

05/20/2014, 05:57 PM	#5
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	No problem. I think the best way to go is a seperate tank all together. Drain the tank to the sump, run the return pump from the sump to the display tank, tee off before the display with a ball valve to the fuge. You can control the fuge flow with the ball valve and only have one pump. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

05/21/2014, 07:20 AM	#7
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	Well I wouldn't put the return in the fuge personally. I'd have the fuge drain into the sump and pump it from there. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

05/19/2014, 09:31 PM	#3
firemountain Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 1,033	Wow...now that is what I call detailed. Thank you...it's giving me some ideas. There are certain fish I want to buy, that need the copepods, so I have to do some planning. Something tells me that the HOB is not going to suffice. Thanks again!!

05/19/2014, 09:46 PM	#4
Colorado1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 32	I love my basement sump. Right now my house is 80 degrees, my basement is 70 degrees. In the winter my basement sump area is 80 degrees, and the house is 67. Works well. All eater changes and maintenance out of sight.