Sump/fuge Questions????Please!!

labragg1 · 08/29/2006, 09:12 AM

Ok--so I have a 75 gal sump that's running great. I run a fairly low flow through it (600-700gph) and I like it this way as I have zero microbubbles and it gives the skimmer plenty of re-action time with the water.

I now want to incorporate a fuge with a DSB and want to use as much space for it as possible as I know the more the better!

I've played around with rigging some dividers, but I don't think they'll stay put without totally draining the system and glueing them properly, .
That let me to do some thinking--I know-dangerous---would it hurt to just use the entire sump as a fuge?

I've seen some sumps that are basically a big fuge with the skimmer and everything all in the same tank.
Is that a problem?

I was thinking about just taking two buckets or plastic containers and cutting them down to size. Then using them for the skimmer pump and return pump. That should keep any sand from getting in to the pumps and make them easier to get into for cleaning, etc.

I was just thinking that having the larger surface area for the DSB and macro algae would be more efficient and beneficial than trying to partition off a small area.
What do you guys think?

Oh--and by the way--my main tank is 220gal.

serpentman · 08/29/2006, 09:20 AM

The biggest issue is that you typically do not want that much flow through your refugium. Other than that, I don't see a problem. It'll be harder to clean, etc.

labragg1 · 08/29/2006, 09:30 AM

I figure with the head-loss, etc, I'm probably closer to the 500gph range or maybe even a little less.
It's seems pretty calm to me--but I'm new to the whole refugium thing--so keep the input coming!!!

As to the cleaning part--I was thinking that if i had the skimmer and return pump in their own little containers like I mentioned--then getting to them for cleaning wouldn't be that big of a deal.
What do you think?

The main thing I was looking at was being able to have more area for the DSB. With the size of display tank that I have, I was thinking that only having a small section for the DSB wouldn't be enough to handle the needs of the larger tank.
Am I wrong?

I'm only running about 1-2 inches of sand in the display--so it is pretty much just for looks as I know it needs to be much deeper to have an filtering capacity.
I have also thought about going BB in the main tank--not sure about that yet-- but possible in the future.

This is the whole reason for my wanting the largest refuge possible as I want the stability of a DSB and macro.

labragg1 · 08/29/2006, 12:29 PM

^

08/29/2006, 09:12 AM	#1
labragg1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Carthage, MO Posts: 360	Sump/fuge Questions????Please!! Ok--so I have a 75 gal sump that's running great. I run a fairly low flow through it (600-700gph) and I like it this way as I have zero microbubbles and it gives the skimmer plenty of re-action time with the water. I now want to incorporate a fuge with a DSB and want to use as much space for it as possible as I know the more the better! I've played around with rigging some dividers, but I don't think they'll stay put without totally draining the system and glueing them properly, . That let me to do some thinking--I know-dangerous---would it hurt to just use the entire sump as a fuge? I've seen some sumps that are basically a big fuge with the skimmer and everything all in the same tank. Is that a problem? I was thinking about just taking two buckets or plastic containers and cutting them down to size. Then using them for the skimmer pump and return pump. That should keep any sand from getting in to the pumps and make them easier to get into for cleaning, etc. I was just thinking that having the larger surface area for the DSB and macro algae would be more efficient and beneficial than trying to partition off a small area. What do you guys think? Oh--and by the way--my main tank is 220gal. __________________ skywalker Current Tank Info: 65gal RR, 29gal Sump, OCT NW-150 Skimmer, T5 Nova Extreme Lighting

08/29/2006, 09:20 AM	#2
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	The biggest issue is that you typically do not want that much flow through your refugium. Other than that, I don't see a problem. It'll be harder to clean, etc. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

08/29/2006, 09:30 AM	#3
labragg1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Carthage, MO Posts: 360	I figure with the head-loss, etc, I'm probably closer to the 500gph range or maybe even a little less. It's seems pretty calm to me--but I'm new to the whole refugium thing--so keep the input coming!!! As to the cleaning part--I was thinking that if i had the skimmer and return pump in their own little containers like I mentioned--then getting to them for cleaning wouldn't be that big of a deal. What do you think? The main thing I was looking at was being able to have more area for the DSB. With the size of display tank that I have, I was thinking that only having a small section for the DSB wouldn't be enough to handle the needs of the larger tank. Am I wrong? I'm only running about 1-2 inches of sand in the display--so it is pretty much just for looks as I know it needs to be much deeper to have an filtering capacity. I have also thought about going BB in the main tank--not sure about that yet-- but possible in the future. This is the whole reason for my wanting the largest refuge possible as I want the stability of a DSB and macro. __________________ skywalker Current Tank Info: 65gal RR, 29gal Sump, OCT NW-150 Skimmer, T5 Nova Extreme Lighting

08/29/2006, 12:29 PM	#4
labragg1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Carthage, MO Posts: 360	^ __________________ skywalker Current Tank Info: 65gal RR, 29gal Sump, OCT NW-150 Skimmer, T5 Nova Extreme Lighting