what is down side to using container only refugium - no compartments ?

j-123 · 11/09/2006, 06:20 AM

hi ,,

i have been looking at the commercial refugiums with all the compartments... which are great for the "perfect setup" .

i have limited space in my stand,,, i have not found commericial unit that really fitts well with out getting really small...

but what would i be loosing by just sticking the biggest glass tank in my stand i can fit,,, then putting the return pump on one end ,,, the protien skimmer & water line feed from display tank on the other end.

in the middle,,, sort of have the refugium,,, physically setup some rocks or something to keep water flow down and divide the area's.

also if i run some power heads up top for water flow ,,, wave ect...
then i am presuming i could reduce flow thru refugium...

QUESTION ? ::
what are the pitfalls of this simpler system with no fixed compartments ??

once i get refugium installed in stand i will not be able to get it out again utill i drain the tank and move the stand for access.

thanks

Driftwood · 11/09/2006, 09:34 AM

The only real drawbacks I see are:

1. No bubble traps, lots of people built sumps to hold skimmers and stop bubbles from returning to the tank.

2. Can't have sand in the refuge or it would get in the return pump.

With that said, you should look at the duplexium sump at www.reefvideos.com There are no baffles in this sump and it looks like it would work very well. I'd leave out the aptasia though. It is the second video in the top row on that site.

Good luck!

rudezuk · 11/09/2006, 11:01 AM

Nice video, lots of good information in it.

I am building a sump right now and it has me second guessing some of my ideas now...lol

tkeracer619 · 11/09/2006, 11:16 AM

Put the glass tank in as the sump. Put the tank water in one side with the skimmer. Get a baffle cut to size and silicone it in. Put your return pump behind the baffle. The one baffle sets your sump height. Put your return pump and Auto top off after the baffle.

If you want a refugium in with the sump add one more baffle to make a middle compartment that can grow your cheato. Place a small light over the ref section.

Look at melevs reef to figure out what type of sump you need. http://www.melevsreef.com/

Driftwood · 11/09/2006, 11:59 AM

rudzuk: I really like the duplex idea. I am thinking about removing the sandbed from my fuge and going with something like that instead. I am also building a 75 gallon sump for a friend and am thinking about using half of the fuge space for a benthic zone.

j-123 · 11/09/2006, 04:23 PM

hey thanks for the great info !!

after going thru the duplex design that looks like something to try for me...

in some of the post on this it mentioned you may want to put in the bubble traps.

do most people run without bubble traps in thier sumps ??

if you do end up with bubbles,,, are there other ways to stop them without bubble trap baffles ?

ok, thanks

Driftwood · 11/13/2006, 08:05 AM

It really depends on the skimmer, you may be alright.

rudezuk · 11/17/2006, 01:12 PM

I built a sump last night that fits perfect in my stand

Acrylic is really easy to work with, I cut everything using my table saw.

Driftwood · 11/17/2006, 01:21 PM

Nice! What type of blade did you use to cut the acrylic?

rudezuk · 11/17/2006, 02:26 PM

I used my table saw, with the standard wood blade on there

It cut everything like butter!

I had 3 scraps of acrylic (2) 20x47" long and (1) 20x27" long, so the only thing i had to buy was the acrylic 16 glue.

I used almost every inch of what i had

11/09/2006, 06:20 AM	#1
j-123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: texas Posts: 64	what is down side to using container only refugium - no compartments ? hi ,, i have been looking at the commercial refugiums with all the compartments... which are great for the "perfect setup" . i have limited space in my stand,,, i have not found commericial unit that really fitts well with out getting really small... but what would i be loosing by just sticking the biggest glass tank in my stand i can fit,,, then putting the return pump on one end ,,, the protien skimmer & water line feed from display tank on the other end. in the middle,,, sort of have the refugium,,, physically setup some rocks or something to keep water flow down and divide the area's. also if i run some power heads up top for water flow ,,, wave ect... then i am presuming i could reduce flow thru refugium... QUESTION ? :: what are the pitfalls of this simpler system with no fixed compartments ?? once i get refugium installed in stand i will not be able to get it out again utill i drain the tank and move the stand for access. thanks

11/09/2006, 11:01 AM	#3
rudezuk Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lovettsville VA Posts: 92	Nice video, lots of good information in it. I am building a sump right now and it has me second guessing some of my ideas now...lol __________________ 300dd coming soon

11/09/2006, 11:16 AM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Put the glass tank in as the sump. Put the tank water in one side with the skimmer. Get a baffle cut to size and silicone it in. Put your return pump behind the baffle. The one baffle sets your sump height. Put your return pump and Auto top off after the baffle. If you want a refugium in with the sump add one more baffle to make a middle compartment that can grow your cheato. Place a small light over the ref section. Look at melevs reef to figure out what type of sump you need. http://www.melevsreef.com/ __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/17/2006, 01:12 PM	#8
rudezuk Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lovettsville VA Posts: 92	I built a sump last night that fits perfect in my stand Acrylic is really easy to work with, I cut everything using my table saw. __________________ 300dd coming soon

11/17/2006, 02:26 PM	#10
rudezuk Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lovettsville VA Posts: 92	I used my table saw, with the standard wood blade on there It cut everything like butter! I had 3 scraps of acrylic (2) 20x47" long and (1) 20x27" long, so the only thing i had to buy was the acrylic 16 glue. I used almost every inch of what i had __________________ 300dd coming soon

11/09/2006, 09:34 AM	#2
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	The only real drawbacks I see are: 1. No bubble traps, lots of people built sumps to hold skimmers and stop bubbles from returning to the tank. 2. Can't have sand in the refuge or it would get in the return pump. With that said, you should look at the duplexium sump at www.reefvideos.com There are no baffles in this sump and it looks like it would work very well. I'd leave out the aptasia though. It is the second video in the top row on that site. Good luck!

11/09/2006, 11:59 AM	#5
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	rudzuk: I really like the duplex idea. I am thinking about removing the sandbed from my fuge and going with something like that instead. I am also building a 75 gallon sump for a friend and am thinking about using half of the fuge space for a benthic zone.

11/09/2006, 04:23 PM	#6
j-123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: texas Posts: 64	hey thanks for the great info !! after going thru the duplex design that looks like something to try for me... in some of the post on this it mentioned you may want to put in the bubble traps. do most people run without bubble traps in thier sumps ?? if you do end up with bubbles,,, are there other ways to stop them without bubble trap baffles ? ok, thanks

11/13/2006, 08:05 AM	#7
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	It really depends on the skimmer, you may be alright.

11/17/2006, 01:21 PM	#9
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	Nice! What type of blade did you use to cut the acrylic?