Above display tank refugium

reefboy23 · 07-20-2007, 03:46 AM

What does everyone think about placing a refugium above the display tank and having it drain directly into the display tank and then of course the display draining into the sump? the tough part for me is controlling the draining flow from the fuge to the display and also from the sump back into the above tank fuge. What would be the most effective setup to tackle these problems? Any advice would be highly appreciated.

Otty · 07-20-2007, 04:00 AM

You need to control the amount of water you are putting into the fuge. You can do this by putting two T-valves in your return pump line. Come off your return pump to a T then on each side of that T put a valve on each line that way you can regulate how much water you are putting in the fuge. The second valve that would go to your display tank would be there in case you needed to close it a little so you could get the amount of water you wanted in the fuge. Is that clear as mud...

reefboy23 · 07-20-2007, 04:42 AM

thanx dude... another question is where would my skimmer come in to all of this i guess i would put it in the sump where the water drains from an overflow???? i dont know this gets confusing and im tryin to get it right the first time cuz im not a big fan of modifications once things are in motion unless i have no choice in the matter. Also i still want to keep ample return flow into the display tank how would i accomplish all of this a diagram or pic of this type of setup would be cool.

Tangster · 07-20-2007, 05:39 AM

There is no advantage of putting the fuge above the tank.. For Some reason the guys who just have to rethink everything came up with it .. The reason is they thought/said that the fauna washing out of the fufge would be safer then running through a pump LOL It makes no difference at all then they went a developed a bellows pump so as not to harm the fauna LOL

If it hits the main tank it gets eaten.. I can tell when something is flushing out from the fudge in the basement as I can see the fish holding tight in front of the return pipes. The pump does not harm the little pods and such.. They get around the system no problems and if a few do get chopped up its just chum.. And mine pass through a dual 1 hp SAS dolphin pumps 9700 GPH They still tend to find there way to the tank we have fat food specific fish to prove it (: But if its somthing you just want to try have at it.. But don't expect it to make the food supply any better if thats your main reason ? Good luck

reefboy23 · 07-22-2007, 04:11 AM

thanks for the advice. What would be the best way to setup a refugium and what would ensure a good food supply besides the obvious.

Tangster · 07-22-2007, 08:16 AM

I always go 10 % fuge should be 10% of the tanks volume its serving and then perk 10% of the fuges total volume through the fige per hour. I set mine up next to the sump and on a platform so its just higher then the sump I drill the top of the fuge for a 1. inch drain bulkhead then I feed the fuge from the drain from main tnk to the sump I run that feed line to the bottom on the oppsite end add some Ells on the feed to make a U so the water goes up and not disturbing the sand bed and use eough sand or kitty litter/clay to be about 4 to 5 inches deep for that bed. Let the drain from the fuge dump bacl in neat the main pump back to tank so all that blows trough will be sent up to the tank. If you use Kitty litter/clay or interested in that ask me and I'll tell you how thats one..