Refugium Plumbing

[dugthefish]

Looking at adding a low flow refugium to my 125 build. Will be located under tank, next to sump. Thinking it will be fed from a small pump in the sump skimmer section, and gravity feed back into the sump return section: either over the top (fuge elevated above sump), or bulkheaded fuge-to-sump (fuge next to sump).

Current concerns include return plumbing blockages=fuge overflow, mainline return pump shutdown for feeding=fuge overflow, and bubbles/detritus from fuge clogging mainline return pump.

Any tips welcome, any pics would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Looking at adding a low flow refugium to my 125 build. Will be located under tank, next to sump. Thinking it will be fed from a small pump in the sump skimmer section, and gravity feed back into the sump return section: either over the top (fuge elevated above sump), or bulkheaded fuge-to-sump (fuge next to sump).

Current concerns include return plumbing blockages=fuge overflow, mainline return pump shutdown for feeding=fuge overflow, and bubbles/detritus from fuge clogging mainline return pump.

Any tips welcome, any pics would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance!

Can you draw out a Schematic of what you think it should be and post it?

 

[cracker]

I'd think that if you used a large bulkhead for the drain ,it would be fine. You would have to drill if using a glass refugium tank or use a Plastic bin that Ya can't see into.Please draw up a diagram of your plan.
all the other ideas are fine .

 

[dugthefish]

@cracker @Flippers4pups

 

[Fin]

Yeah, I would definitely set the refugium a little higher than the sump and let it gravity drain back to the sump. That is the way I had my old LifeReef & Refugium sump built. It wasn't set up yet in this pic, but you can see how the drain was set up (never mind the red circle. I was showing something else to somone). I ended up feeding it with a separate pump in the skimmer compartment.

 

[theMeat]

Nice thinking!
Like the second pic better
Maybe run a 2” baffle that a sponge will fit in before fuge drain, and/or a second drain slightly higher as an emergency.

 

[cracker]

Looks good to me !

 

[dugthefish]

Yeah, I would definitely set the refugium a little higher than the sump and let it gravity drain back to the sump. That is the way I had my old LifeReef & Refugium sump built. It wasn't set up yet in this pic, but you can see how the drain was set up (never mind the red circle. I was showing something else to somone). I ended up feeding it with a separate pump in the skimmer compartment.

Great pic, that looks pretty much exactly what I'm after.

 

[dugthefish]

@Fin Just to pick your brain a bit more...

What is your flow rate through the fuge? I was looking at 200-300gph pump through a 20 gal fuge.

Do you have any film algae issues with light bleeding through into your sump? I was planning on painting the sides of the fuge black to reduce that.

Definitely like that modified pvc drain, does that run pretty quiet?

 

[Fin]

@Fin Just to pick your brain a bit more...

What is your flow rate through the fuge? I was looking at 200-300gph pump through a 20 gal fuge.

Do you have any film algae issues with light bleeding through into your sump? I was planning on painting the sides of the fuge black to reduce that.

Definitely like that modified pvc drain, does that run pretty quiet?

That was a couple of sumps ago. I am without a main "running" system presently, but I think I just had a MaxiJet 1200 feeding it with a valve to control the flow. Never measured it actually. I have seen Jeff at LifeReef used that slotted PVC pipe for overflows before. It wasn't noisy. I did get some coralline algae on that one wall of the sump. I have used black needlepoint fabric (plastic grid), doubled up to block light in another sump. This is how I used it in this small sump. Held in place by magnets. Been like this for several years.

 

[dugthefish]

Here's what I came up with. T off main return, will run roughly 100-120gph through about 12-14 gallon fuge. Gravity return back to sump. Thanks for the tips.

 

[cracker]

Good job ! I'm concerned about the slits however, they could clog easily & quickly . Personally I would use wide open, large bulk head to be sure it didn't clog up on Ya .
I really like the ref container !Inexpensive, the cut out lid keeps the tub from bowing . The water enters deep to cause an upwelling effect , nice .
May I ask how long is the power bar?

 

[Fin]

I didn

Good job ! I'm concerned about the slits however, they could clog easily & quickly . Personally I would use wide open, large bulk head to be sure it didn't clog up on Ya .
I really like the ref container !Inexpensive, the cut out lid keeps the tub from bowing . The water enters deep to cause an upwelling effect , nice .
May I ask how long is the power bar?

I just noticed that the picture I posted did not show the complete slotted pipe in my old sump. There was a "backup drain" at the end of the pipe. There was a modified 90° fitting (the 90° was cut and the opening is just a little above the top of the slots) at the end of the pipe. This is a better pic of it. I will say that I never really had any clogging issues with it.

 

[cracker]

I see now, great design . Your good to go with this Dug .

 

[dugthefish]

I didn

I just noticed that the picture I posted did not show the complete slotted pipe in my old sump. There was a "backup drain" at the end of the pipe. There was a modified 90° fitting (the 90° was cut and the opening is just a little above the top of the slots) at the end of the pipe. This is a better pic of it. I will say that I never really had any clogging issues with it.

That's a good idea. I'm gonna redo that pipe as I dont like how sloppy the cuts are. Didnt feel like dragging out the mitre box for that lol. I had to stub up the end of that to keep the whole drainpipe from sagging, maybe I'll get another strainer and use that as well.

 

[dugthefish]

Good job ! I'm concerned about the slits however, they could clog easily & quickly . Personally I would use wide open, large bulk head to be sure it didn't clog up on Ya .
I really like the ref container !Inexpensive, the cut out lid keeps the tub from bowing . The water enters deep to cause an upwelling effect , nice .
May I ask how long is the power bar?

36", 12 outlet power strip. Was like $20 shipped from Parts Express.

Thank you for the kudos!