sump/refugium question

[dolphinfan213]

my return is in the center of my sump----which would be better?, split drain to refugium, or split return to refugium?

 

[mr_bigl]

It's up to u. My drain was in the middle but I ran flexible hose to the left then it was my return section and the pump feed the tank and the fuge. Then fuge drained back into the return section.

Sent from Da Bolt!

 

[redfishbluefish]

I’m assuming you have skimmer to one side, refugium to the other side, with this return section in the middle. I would split the drain so that the refugium gets that nutrient rich water directly from the DT. By splitting the return, you’re giving the refugium partially “cleaned” water.

I also have a center return, with two drains......in a 40B:

 

[ReeferBob]

I’m assuming you have skimmer to one side, refugium to the other side, with this return section in the middle. I would split the drain so that the refugium gets that nutrient rich water directly from the DT. By splitting the return, you’re giving the refugium partially “cleaned” water.

I also have a center return, with two drains......in a 40B:

With that design, can the 40B hold the tank water that would drain if the return pump failed? I am designed a 40B sump right now but I was going to use 1/2 the volume (20 gallons) as a buffer "just in case".

 

[redfishbluefish]

Simply calculate the “backwash” volume coming from your DT if and when the pumps are turned off. Determine the siphon break point and measure how many inches this is within your DT. Determine this volume. That’s the minimum volume you will need to have in your sump. When my pumps are turned off, the volume in the sump only fills that area in the return section, up to the level of the baffles. It was all calculated. And FYI, my DT is a custom five foot 90 gallon tank.

 

[D311]

Just split return to fuge. Cleaner imo.