Refugium, supplied by overflow or return pump

rogerrgr · Oct 20, 2015

I have a 150g tank with a 55g sump. The refugium is currently supplied with one of the overflows with a gate valve inline to adjust the flow. I have a Tunze powerhead in there to keep anything from settling. I also have chaeto and ulva in there with a reef breeders LED refugium light. Everything grows well.
My question is, I have the option to set it up with a T off of the return pump or keep it the way I have it now. Is one way any better than the other? Thanks!
Picture of sump when first set up

Original Plan to T off of the return and overflows both to left skimmer chamber.

143MPCo · Oct 20, 2015

think your fine the way it is, how noisy is it now or do you have other concerns?

rogerrgr · Oct 20, 2015

Original Plan to T off of the return and overflows both to left skimmer chamber.

TheEngineer · Oct 20, 2015

That looks to be a long way down from the fuge (which I'm assuming is on the right side?) to your return chamber. You might have some issues with bubbles. I used to have a fuge setup with the return pump putting some water back into the fuge for "longer contact time" but I ultimately turned it off.

rogerrgr · Oct 20, 2015

143MPCo said:
think your fine the way it is, how noisy is it now or do you have other concerns?

It's not noisy at all. A little algae grew on the glass that it runs down on into the return chamber and really breaks up the turbulence. My concern is that I'm trying to lower phosphates better and I'm wondering if somehow the way I'm setting it up is correct or not.

rogerrgr · Oct 20, 2015

icecool2 said:
That looks to be a long way down from the fuge (which I'm assuming is on the right side?) to your return chamber. You might have some issues with bubbles. I used to have a fuge setup with the return pump putting some water back into the fuge for "longer contact time" but I ultimately turned it off.

I don't have any problem with bubbles, luckily. I have a pretty good flow going through there too.

143MPCo · Oct 20, 2015

the way you have it in the first picture will allow for a slower refugium turn over allowing you to slow the flow and cascade the water over so as to minimize the introduction of micro bubbles, that will also feed particulate matter (food, poop, etc.) into it and help nourish whatever macrofauna you intend to grow there... the rest of the water will back up and make it way over to the socks and ultimately the skimmer... if you're overly concerned you can add a 2nd set of baffles to burst off the microbubbles from the refugium. another option you can try is to add a foam pad if you notice too many microbubbles getting into the DT.

143MPCo · Oct 20, 2015

rogerrgr said:
It's not noisy at all. A little algae grew on the glass that it runs down on into the return chamber and really breaks up the turbulence. My concern is that I'm trying to lower phosphates better and I'm wondering if somehow the way I'm setting it up is correct or not.

...everyone will have a difference of opinion on how to setup and achieve that goal but, I think how you have it will work out just fine.

rogerrgr · Oct 20, 2015

143MPCo said:
the way you have it in the first picture will allow for a slower refugium turn over allowing you to slow the flow and cascade the water over so as to minimize the introduction of micro bubbles, that will also feed particulate matter into it and help nourish whatever macrofauna you intend to grow there... the rest of the water will back up and make it way over to the socks and ultimately the skimmer... if you're overly concerned you can add a 2nd set of baffles to burst off the microbubbles from the refugium. another option you can try is to add a foam pad if you notice too many microbubbles getting into the DT.

Ok, thanks, I'll leave it like it is!
I like how it's set up now, I can Isolate the refugium with the tank still running with the gate valve. I have a pump in there to pump out water, and a line coming into there from a pump in my new salt water barrel to pump water back in. Easy water changes, just 2 valves to turn!

zemuss · Oct 20, 2015

NIce setup..

Where to you get the sock holders from?

rogerrgr · Oct 20, 2015

zemuss said:
NIce setup..

Where to you get the sock holders from?

Thanks!
They are 4'' CPR SOCKIT 4” SOCK-it Filter Sock Holders from Bulk Reef Supply. They work really well and were worth the money. I don't use filter socks all the time, only when I stir up some of the sand or the day before I'm having people over. They really clean up the water!

Harold Green · Oct 20, 2015

I think either way will work well but the method you use depends on a lot of factors. How dirty is the tank water going into the sump, do you plan to clean the sump, how deep is the sand bed in the sump, how much flow runs through the sump. I have mine running off the return chamber. Water is filtered first before going through the fuge and the flow is very slow allowing the macros to remove any nitrates and phosphates that make it through a gfo/carbon reactor ahead of the fuge. Macros are growing well, pods and clams are growing well over a deep sand bed. With all the drain water going through the filter socks and skimmer chamber first the fuge remains relatively clean except for the macros growing there and the pods seem to feed off that with no problems, even clams and feather worms are growing in the fuge. It did take awhile to get the tank aged enough to get good macro growth in the fuge.

rogerrgr · Oct 20, 2015

Harold Green said:
I think either way will work well but the method you use depends on a lot of factors. How dirty is the tank water going into the sump, do you plan to clean the sump, how deep is the sand bed in the sump, how much flow runs through the sump. I have mine running off the return chamber. Water is filtered first before going through the fuge and the flow is very slow allowing the macros to remove any nitrates and phosphates that make it through a gfo/carbon reactor ahead of the fuge. Macros are growing well, pods and clams are growing well over a deep sand bed. With all the drain water going through the filter socks and skimmer chamber first the fuge remains relatively clean except for the macros growing there and the pods seem to feed off that with no problems, even clams and feather worms are growing in the fuge. It did take awhile to get the tank aged enough to get good macro growth in the fuge.

I don't have any sand in the sump and the macros are growing really well.
What kind of clams do you have in your sump?