Flow in a refugium

BeardedReefer · Jan 2, 2014

mfinn said:
The refugium is separated from the rest of the sump with bubble traps.
I have relatively slow flow through the sump with a powerhead in the refugium area.

I know this I have a built a few.
Think for a minute. If you have a power head in the fuge. It pushes water that has to go somewhere. Henceforth more flow then desired in the fuge IMO.

mfinn · Jan 3, 2014

This is the way I have been doing it for a few years now. It works for me.
Feel free to do it any way you want to.

BeardedReefer · Jan 3, 2014

mfinn said:
This is the way I have been doing it for a few years now. It works for me.
Feel free to do it any way you want to.

I never said it didn't. I'm simply stating that I feel putting a power head inside the fuge is going to Increase water flow.

Don't take it personally.

CastAway · Jan 3, 2014

Just a thought, but consider the natural marine environment where one finds a lot of macro algae; tidal zones, surge areas & surf breaks. I personally wonder if the low flow approach to refugiums was not more for the sake of the micro-fauna as opposed to the alga itself, and a desire not to "blow out" creatures and/or mud. It is possible to have a more turbulent refugium, yet with relatively low "flow" or throughput. What may be difficult, or at least subjective, is discerning the advantages and disadvantages associated with different degrees of turbulence compared to flow through. In my own ignorance and inexperience, my own goal is slow throughput and higher turbulence. Thus, I think the addition of a power head can be beneficial in some setups.

mfinn · Jan 3, 2014

BeardedReefer said:
I never said it didn't. I'm simply stating that I feel putting a power head inside the fuge is going to Increase water flow.

Don't take it personally.

I simply said it's what I do.

As far as having too much flow, helps to keep my chaeto from turning into a detritus trap.

ShawnSaucier · Jan 3, 2014

Well, in my thought, it would be the same as your display. I push just over 10,000 gph in my display, but I average 1200 or so through my sump. I'm looking to just keep the top of the water in my fuge clean, and the thought of adding a bit more flow was the idea. I could turn my input up, but that causes the sump to be loud (ie the sound of pouring water). Also this would effect my return to the display. The return pump feeds my fuge, and then the fuge pours back into my return area.