Refugium to Sump

Ok, here is my setup.

I will have a T off the main drain from the tank, from that it will flow into the refugium and to the sump. The flow to the refugium will have a ball valve so I can control the flow. here are the details of my Refugium and sump.

Refugium.
18L x 13.5W x 20H
Plans for bulkheads
Small .5 inch bulkhead in real right corner (see pic)
output opposite corner on 13.5 side 1.5" (see pic)

Sump.

22.5L X 14W x 13H

bulkheads
1" for tank drain
1.5" for fuge drain

Ok now for the questions

Drain from tank to refugium

How should I have the main tank drain into the refugium?
IE>
hook up the drain hose to the bulk head and call it good
Put some PVC to have it drain under the water level?


Drain from Refugium to Sump

Should i have a hole cut as high as possible in the fuge and just put a hose between the two?

Should I do something Like a L drain? And put the hole about 5" down?

Any input is welcome. The reason the tanks are odd shaped is because of my acrylic stand and the room i have to work with.

 

I'd use PVC to make it drain close to or under water level of sump, less bubbles that way. also have it drain into return side of sump rather than near skimmer, better chance of pods making it to the tank that way

 

This is practically how I have mine. I have an acrylic refugium. I drilled a hole about 3" from the rim and took a dremel making it big enough for a 1.5" bulk head. then used some tubing to my sump. Gravity taking effect. works quite well.... Let me go take some pics of my fuge to sump setup

 

Wow! Thanks for the pictures! so this brings up more questions...

my fuge has no baffles Should i add some? I will just have it drain right under the water level in my sump! what size is the drain into the fuge?

 

Beananimal Overflow

With respect to how to hook up to the main tank, you'll need an overflow of some kind.

In addition, in your design, make sure you've accounted for back syphon when the power goes out.... enough exact volume to handle your backflow without overflowing the sump.

M

 

Main tank is a 90 gallon with built in overflow. thanks for the link!

 

that looks like a really solid design.

 

No baffles needed for fuge. this was my original sump that I turned into my fuge.

Inlet to to fuge is 3/4" and my outlet to sump is 1.5". I ovesized my outlet fear of it not being able to keep up with flow and overflowing the fuge and getting water all over the place... Originally started with 3/4" and that wasnt working to well. Bumped up oult size to 1" and that was barely keeping up with flow with the ball valve 1/2 open.

Now the 1.5" outlet to sump keeps up with flow even when inlet ball valve is completely open but that is too much flow for a fuge IMO.

 

Do you have the fuge draining just under water level in the sump? I was worried about the same thing about the drain from the fuge to the sump so i was planning on a 1.5"