Can I fit a refugium in this sump??

glb · Jul 18, 2017

I have a new 40g setup with a 20g tall sump.
Above are the pics. The middle chamber is 10" wide and right now has a gfo reactor, live rock, purigen and chemipure carbon. I could move some of the live rock under the overflow pipe and behind the return pump to make room. I checked out the CPR hang-on models but I need 4.5" in front or in back of the sump, which I don't have. I'm thinking I could put something in the front of the 2nd chamber (inside not hob). It would need to be contained so the algae wouldn't clog the gfo pump. The tank is fowlr now but will eventually be coral so I want an efficient nutrient export method. I run an SCA-301 skimmer in the first section and have a mesh filter sock I clean daily. Any suggestions would be helpful as I know nothing about this!!!

Ashish Patel · Jul 18, 2017

Yes you can definitely fit a refugium, You'll just need to harvest more frequently but its very easy. Probably be good to take your GFO reactor off line and use for emergency or hang it off the back. My Refugium is 8 gallons and keeps my PO at .03-.05 on a 130g system. Tank is overstocked and fed heavy.. Since I have setup the tank I have not had any algae in the display so definitely doing its job.

glb · Jul 18, 2017

Ashish Patel said:
Yes you can definitely fit a refugium, You'll just need to harvest more frequently but its very easy. Probably be good to take your GFO reactor off line and use for emergency or hang it off the back. My Refugium is 8 gallons and keeps my PO at .03-.05 on a 130g system. Tank is overstocked and fed heavy.. Since I have setup the tank I have not had any algae in the display so definitely doing its job.

So is it just a chamber in the sump? I mainly want it to help with nitrates. There will still be some live rock in there. Is that a problem?

Ashish Patel · Jul 19, 2017

glb said:
So is it just a chamber in the sump? I mainly want it to help with nitrates. There will still be some live rock in there. Is that a problem?

I actually have 20LB of Liverock in the Refugium. I added Miracle Mud for trace elements, Chaeto for Phosphate control, MarinePure block for nitrate control, and 20LB of old LR for sponge and bacteria.