Help me DIY a refugium with hang on filter

[Dana]

Looking for some simple ideas on how to make one of these. I'm recently getting away from my canister filter and trying something better so let's see whatcha got. Thanks

 

[Reefing Madness]

Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums
This will give you an idea how to get what your looking for. But just for kicks, my sump is a xmas tree storage container (45g) I got at Wallyworld. I don't have any bells or whistles on it, no baffles or bubble walls, intake is on the left, skimmer is on the left and the return is on the right, with Cheato in the middle, the Cheato is separated from the equipment via egg crate, from Home Depot.

 

[NanaReefer]

CPR Aquafuge medium. 3.3g

 

[Dana]

Anyone have any thoughts on the aquaclear hob filter mod to refugium?
I don't really have the room to build a sump system under my tank

 

[beaslbob]

Well let's just keep this really really simple all you need is some area for the macro algae and light.

HOB filters with a light and some way of preventing the macros from returning to the tank are one option.

An even simplier option IMHO and what I did for my 55g is just cram in a partition to form an in tank protected area.

I used 1/4"square plastic egg crate from building supply stores that cost $11 for a 4'x2' section. Used for lighting in drop ceilings.

All I did was cram it in 3" from the back glass and hold it off the glass with rocks at the bottom and power heads at the top.

And of course moved all the rocks and fish forward in front of the egg crate.

I then added 2 4' 2 tube cheapie utility shop lights behind the tank pointing forward.

The macors and pods thrived in the area between the back glass and eggcrate and the fish in front were constantly picking at the macros that poked through and the pods being generated.


nitrates droped from 80PPM+ to unmeasureable (api test kit) in three weeks.

So if you can figure at some area of you tank like the back wall, corner, or whatever, just add a partition, macro algae and lights, you can get all the benefits of a big expensive, complicated sump/refugium without out much effort or expense.


my .02

 

[Dana]

I like the idea, unfortunately real estate in my tank is at its limit. There is much rock in there.
While looking at aquaclear filters today, I noticed that 10g tank are smaller than I thought and could possibly fit under my dt. Now for the price of the ever clear , I could buy a 10g tank and pump. That being said I would need to fabricate some sort of hang on overflow and dividers for the refug. Could I divide with the eggcrate stuff or similar? Or would I need to use glass dividers? And would acrylic work to divide? All I really need is a place to keep the cheato and maybe a piece of rock correct? And just need to keep it from getting sucked up? A clamp on light and 6500k bulb should work too?
Sorry I'm still new to all this. I know my questions are rather entry level. Thanks

 

[Dana]

Also, if the 10 wouldn't fit, would a smaller 5.5g tank work for my needs? Or is that just wasting time, and hang on filter at that point make more sense

 

[impur]

Here is a pic of the AC 70 HOB filter I turned into a fuge when I had a 10gal nano. I just siliconed a piece of acrylic in there that was a couple inches shorter than the normal water level in the filter. This cut down on some of the flow in the fuge section. Once I added macro I used some gutter guard to help keep it from flowing into the tank

 

[Dana]

Thanks! From what I've seen people just cut up the filter basket and silicone them in there to keep the stuff in. I'm gonna either do basically what you did, or try to build a simple refuge for under my dt. Still researching

 

[Dana]

Anyone got some plans for a refuge sump setup? There are so many different designs online with the baffles I'm baffled

 

[Bartmmackey]

My sump

I use a 20 gal long with a plastic tub inside (holes drilled in the sidesaddle plastic) I use a CPR to feed off my undrilled 75. (Buy the optional pump that setup is awesome). The skimmer is a aquamaxx HOB and the return pump is feeding two returns. I had a crappy marineland led which I use on a timer that turns off noon-4pm. Just added small air pump to avoid any still water at top of plastic bin (fuge). If any of this needs to be changed.,.the only thing I've altered is a $7plastic tub. No micro bubbles and is growing macro like crazy.

 

[beaslbob]

I like the idea, unfortunately real estate in my tank is at its limit. There is much rock in there.
While looking at aquaclear filters today, I noticed that 10g tank are smaller than I thought and could possibly fit under my dt. Now for the price of the ever clear , I could buy a 10g tank and pump. That being said I would need to fabricate some sort of hang on overflow and dividers for the refug. Could I divide with the eggcrate stuff or similar? Or would I need to use glass dividers? And would acrylic work to divide? All I really need is a place to keep the cheato and maybe a piece of rock correct? And just need to keep it from getting sucked up? A clamp on light and 6500k bulb should work too?
Sorry I'm still new to all this. I know my questions are rather entry level. Thanks

I think you're thinking correctly and encourage you to do so. Your ideas will probably be much better then mine.

Look at your tank closer. I thought like you I didn't have the space but the partition was so simple and effective it didn't make much difference.

I also used a plastic container for sump/refugium. What I did was cram in the container with the long measurement for and aft instead of left/right. That allowed for a much larger container plus the part sticking out the back of the stand provided a straight shot for the hob overflow.

You might also look up DIY pvc overflows. Vvery effective yet only cost $15-20 or so.

And I would recommend the two container or baffled one container refugium/sump system. (And remember that a smaller container in a larger container performs the same function as a baffle). That way the refugium section can run continuosuly at a much higher level and the smaller sump container has a faster moving water level (with display changes) so is easier to adjust. I.E. a gallon drained from the dispaly moves the sump water level more with a sump that has a smaller footprint.

Also with the external sump/refugium be sure to test and adjust so that 1) power out does not flood the sump, 2)power return results in normal operation, and 3) (the one I forgot) that a overflow/drain failure does not result in a display tank flood.

But in the meantime enjoy speculating and thinking things over for your initial design.

my .02

 

[Dana]

Thanks man, I plan to put a ball valve on the return so I can adjust the amount of flow. My brother, who is a very clever individual, is fabricating me an overflow, based on a design that allows it to retain a siphon if the power goes on. I will wait to see what he comes up with before I move along any further.

 

[Dana]

While I'm deciding on what I'll be doing, I've looked at several sump designs. I took a minute to draw out a couple.
Ex 1 shows a typical sump design I find , but it seems like the flow of water will just go over the top of the refuge.
Ex 2 shows another I found where it appears that the water flow will go more thru the refuge.
Ex 3 shows one I didn't find anywhere but just made up where the water enters the refuge from the bottom. Any thoughts on these?
I realize I could go much simpler than this and just drill holes in a bucket, but I enjoy building things. Nothing crazy, just some baffles.
Here's my crude drawings. Thanks

 

[Bakapuma]

Nice! This is a 55 gallon stock tank that I converted to a sump/fuge. Not exactly a HOB, but you get the idea.