Need Help Setting Up a 46 gal Display Fuge

[john.m.cole3]

I want to start off by saying you guys are great! I recently had an epiphany about how to let a reef keep itself thanks to @WetWhistle and @saltyfilmfolks . Since removing the chem filtration, new growth has taken off. Not only coral, but all of these critters on my rocks and glass. I know they are responding to the increased nutrients in my system and I am letting things run their course to eventually find equilibrium.

I've decided to add a refugium. No room in my sump. I got the approval from my fiance to add a display refugium right next to the DT using my old 46 gallon bowfront and stand! Her only clause is that it has to be "pretty".

I'm resealing the tank right now and have so many questions about its setup. I plan on drilling the tank for overflow and return.

How many gph should I be running through this DR (display refugium) for the macro algae to perform its best? It will be set up next to a 72 gal DT w/ a 29 gal sump (80 gal total volume). I want to run a separate return pump for this fuge that will be located in my DT's sump. I'm looking for suggestions on overflow kits and return pumps that would coincide w/ each other. Also, what kind of powerheads would be needed in this tank?

Substrate and macroalgae suggestions are needed as well. @Wiz and @twilliard have nice refugiums and I would like their advice.

Finally, lighting. I have a 36" Orbit LED. Is that sufficient, or is an upgrade in order?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Oh ho ho ho ho yessssssss. I love a display fuge. Yea the lights fine. Play it warmer but keep the blue ramp, esp cuz you need red algae in there for it to look reeeeel Good. Dragons tongue does pop. I have some if you need it.

I got the approval from my fiance to add a display refugium right next to the DT using my old 46 gallon bowfront and stand! Her only clause is that it has to be "pretty".

Marry her NOW.



5x return rate in the sump imo, more if you dont want to add a power head. the flow in the tank need to be even. Fast or slow is species dependant, the importance is even flow in a big plant tank like that IMO.

Good luck.

XOXO
Jason

 

[Wiz]

Nice. I can't say enough about my fuge. Best piece of "equipment" I have.
I am only going on my experience and sense. I think a slower turn over is better. Give the macros and bacteria time to work. I do like a strong flow in my fuge though. So I use a maxi jet 1200 to feed the fuge and another in fuge for flow. Or did when mine was side by side like you are doing. Now mine is in line. So it gets fed the full overflow. I don't like the higher turn over but love the idea that display water with all its large debris is flowing directly to my pods for food. this is not the case with a recirculated fuge. Most large debris was filtered out before being pumped to the fuge.
The light should work. If it grows coral it should grow macros.
As far as macros, I love a variety. I get all I can. I am in need of dragons breath and havnt been able to find it @saltyfilmfolks ;-) let me know if I can be of anymore help @john.m.cole3
Oh yeah I also support a dsb with baseoolitic sand and some regular live sand on top. IF done right it works quite well.

 

[john.m.cole3]

I have an eheim compact+ 2000 and 2 maxi jet 1200s laying around. the eheim is the same one I use on my display (about 300-500 gph). I think the eheim will get me in the ball park for return flow and I'll have to look up some youtube videos on how to set up the maxijets, I had them for the reactor, I no longer need

 

[WetWhistle]

Since this is an add-on and not in the sump and if you want to I would do at least a few inches of substrate. A bed of substrate is very productive. Anything from 3 to 6 inches or more will work. I myself like slow flow into my fuge with no powerheads in the tank. I like low flow to help settle out particulate matter like detritus. It will settle on the caulerpa's roots and be used as an instant fuel source. I like a mixture of Chato and caulerpa in mine. The red macro is fantastic but is rare in my area.

 

[john.m.cole3]

Since this is an add-on and not in the sump and if you want to I would do at least a few inches of substrate. A bed of substrate is very productive. Anything from 3 to 6 inches or more will work. I myself like slow flow into my fuge with no powerheads in the tank. I like low flow to help settle out particulate matter like detritus. It will settle on the caulerpa's roots and be used as an instant fuel source. I like a mixture of Chato and caulerpa in mine. The red macro is fantastic but is rare in my area.

Do you have any experience with Miracle mud? I was also considering adding some rock to this tank.

 

[WetWhistle]

I have used it yes. It is good for short periods of time but you do need to replace portions of the bed as time goes on. That alone stopped me from using it. That being said if you don't mind replacing portions of bed the med works very well. The corals seem to like something in the mud and they get great color and PE for me. My sump\fug is a 110 so replacing mud yearly gets costly. In a smaller tank like yours you cold consider it. The macro really like growing in it. You can even get fancy and add a underwater heat strip in the bed and plant some mangroves. The heat gently warms the roots and simulates a mangrove swamp biotope that the trees love. You could turn it into a lagoon or mangrove biotope that would blend your macro algae quite well turning it into its own display. Just keep fish and other predators out. As that defeats the purpose of a refugium. (A refuge where food web can breed without predation.)

 

[Salty1962]

There are many macros that are colorful. As long as the flow is good, with Chaeto good enough to tumble, then you should be good.

 

[john.m.cole3]

I picked up some second hand live rock. 20 bucKS for 20 pounds. I have it in a bucket of saltwater with 2 powerheads. Can anybody tell what kind of rock this is?

 

[Wiz]

Not sure. Heavy or light?

 

[john.m.cole3]

Very light.

View attachment 20160912_235717.jpg

 

[Wiz]

Maybe pukani

 

[john.m.cole3]

This guy has a pretty refugium plumbed together the same way I'm planning. Thanks saltyfilm!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chronzze-macro-lagoon-120g.256644/

 

[john.m.cole3]

well, I resealed the 46 with Momentive RTV-103. I laid down 5/8" silicone beads which was actually quite hard. I taped the joints and marked them previously with a sharpie . I like the look of the width, but the silicone isn't perfectly smooth like it would come from a manufacturer, so I'll be careful when running my flipper around those corners. we've got a vacation to meet my parents and go to the hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque coming up, so this project will be on hold until after that. I really like the Momentive line of silicone and plan on using it from now on when resealing my tanks. I'll throw some pics up tomorrow. Night y'all.

 

[john.m.cole3]

@joshkirkland83 here it is. not much right now