In tank acrylic fuge?

Knox_Legend · Aug 28, 2011

I'm looking at building an in tank fuge for my 135 as I don't have a sump set up right now and don't plan on taking the tank down to drill it anytime soon. So my thoughts are I would like to add a large in tank fuge for some nutrient export and a place to grow some macro for my tang as he eats anything as soon as I put it in there.

I'm wondering if there is a place in town I can get acrylic cut or where I can buy sheets and build it myself. I'm looking at 24" long 12" high and 4" deep. Thoughts comments or suggestions are always good.

macclellan · Aug 28, 2011

that sounds expensive and time consuming for a temporary setup.

just an idea: what about a small aquarium like a 10g tank with a lid cut just for the inlet and outlet of a small powerhead to keep the tang out? A 10g is $10 something at Walmart. Or check craigslist for cheap formed acrylic tanks like stuff for bettas or those 'critter carrier' thingies.

Knox_Legend · Aug 28, 2011

I'm pretty much wanting it to cover a big section of a back wall in between my two rock rock islands. I want it to be large enough to grow a decent amount of macro for pods and tang food plus to help remove excess stuff since I'm running no skimmer at the moment. I have a 30g tall I wonder if there is a way to plumb them together side by side without drilling them?

spscrazy · Aug 28, 2011

could you use a CPR hang on unit & just turn it around so it's inside instead of outside?

Knox_Legend · Aug 28, 2011

The large CPR fuge may work but it is way to pricy if I could find a used one for a good price that I can drill holes in then I may try it. I think I could buy the acrylic and cut and glue it myself for under what a CPR costs.

Engloid · Aug 28, 2011

Why not get an overflow box and a return pump, with a 10g tank in the floor?

My setup has a 220g display, with an overflow box. The two drains from the overflow are split. one goes to the basement where I have 55g drums for sumps (with skimmer, etc). The other one goes down into the stand where I have a 55g tank setup as a refugium. Another overflow from it drains into the main drain (meets drain direct from tank(, and goes to the basement.

You could do a similar setup, just without the drums in the basement.

macclellan · Aug 28, 2011

Knox_Legend said:
I have a 30g tall I wonder if there is a way to plumb them together side by side without drilling them?

Surely there is a way, and adding 30g has to be better than an in tank refugium. I can't guide you from the setup, but surely someone can.

Engloid · Aug 28, 2011

It is possible to plumb two together, at the same elevation, if that's what you want. You need a U pipe like what overflows have but you still have to have a pump to return water from the second one back to the first, since the U pipe can only flow one direction.

That said, you might as well put the fuge under the display, unless there simply isn't space to do that.

Knox_Legend · Aug 29, 2011

I have about 40" in length and 15" wide by 16" tall under the stand. I dont really want to cut a hole in the side of the stand so if I could find a tank that would fit in the dimensions I may have a return pump I could use. Any overflow suggestions?

Engloid · Aug 29, 2011

Knox_Legend said:
I have about 40" in length and 15" wide by 16" tall under the stand. I dont really want to cut a hole in the side of the stand so if I could find a tank that would fit in the dimensions I may have a return pump I could use. Any overflow suggestions?

Is it possible to run the hoses into the back of the stand?

Overflows are all pretty much the same, unless you want to go with a really high flow rate.