Adding A refugium

[PirateMonkeyReefer]

So id like to add a 20 Gallon Refugium to my 40 gallon sump. Right now there's really just enough room for a skimmer and some live rock in the initial Chamber where the water drains in from the DT. My question is should I cut into the main drain and have a smaller pipe drain into the added refugium or just add a small pump and have that pump water into the added 20 gallon tank then have it just drain right back into the sump?

 

[Deep]

So id like to add a 20 Gallon Refugium to my 40 gallon sump. Right now there's really just enough room for a skimmer and some live rock in the initial Chamber where the water drains in from the DT. My question is should I cut into the main drain and have a smaller pipe drain into the added refugium or just add a small pump and have that pump water into the added 20 gallon tank then have it just drain right back into the sump?

A separate pump gives you better control. thats how I did it. You dont have to turn off your main return pump if you need to do some maintenance on the refugium.

 

[PirateMonkeyReefer]

Thanks for your input! I’m leaning more and more that way. The amount of area for a remote sand bed is way higher as well!

 

[lion king]

I just connected a 40B to my 210g, I did an overlow on the 40 dumping into the sump and a return pump in the sump feeding the refuge. Controlling the flow in the refuge is a plus, 200-300gph works for me.

 

[Deep]

Thanks for your input! I’m leaning more and more that way. The amount of area for a remote sand bed is way higher as well!

Dont forget to add a valve to the flow from the sump to refugium. You will want to control that flow.

 

[PirateMonkeyReefer]

Thanks guys! I got the tank rigged up under the DT today going to use a little 300gpm pump with an overflow and dual drain set up. Probably going to add a few inches of sand and grow Cheato and some LPS frags Down there with an Ocean Revive light fixture I used on my last 40g Breeder DT