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help with refuigum

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by fmsill, Jun 7, 2009.

  1. Jun 7, 2009 #1
    fmsill Cedar Falls

    fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0

    Im hopeing for some advice on building a refugium for my 210  with around 140 lbs of live rock. The sump im useing is a all glass megflow 4 with a blueline return pump and a euro reef rs180 skimmer. The reason the skimmer is a little undersized is because a bigger one like rs250 wouldnt fit in the sump, had i known what i know now i would have built my own sump but oh well to late now. I dont want to increase my water volume more than say 15 or 20 gallon because my skimmer is a little small for the system.
    I have a 20 gallon tank im not useing so i was thinking of just sitting  it above my sump since the sump sets beside the tank. I was thinking i would run water from my main tank via siphon into the 20 gallon with a gate valve to control flow and drilling a hole in the bottom of the refugium then let the water siphon into my sump but i dont think i can drill the twenty gallon myself. I would also have to put some kind of baffles in it to correct? I dont want to spend a ton of money on this since i already have quit a bit invested in this setup. Am i on the right track or would their be a better way to do this? any help would be appreciated!
    Thanks Brian
     
  2. Jun 8, 2009 #2
    Waverz

    Waverz Expert Reefkeeper

    3,547
    Ratings:
    +5 / 0 / -0
    If you drill a hole in the bottom of the 20 gallon it won;t hold any water, why not drill a hole in a side towards the top, then when water level of the 20 gallon gets tot he hole it will run out, into your sump.
    To be honest I don't think a 20 gallon refugium is going to do much on a 210. It might be a good place to grow some pods, but the amount of macro algae you can grow will be limited and me even be counter productive as you are reducing your skimmers efficiency by adding more adding more water volume than it's rated for.

    I could be wrong here, but it's something to think about.



     
  3. Jun 8, 2009 #3
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

    8,015
    La Porte City, IA
    Ratings:
    +1,014 / 6 / -0
    I would agree with Jeremy on drilling the hole high on the side. Then just put a bulk head in it & pipe it down to your sump. You want the flow through the refugium to be nice & slow so you can even put a cheap maxi jet in the sump & pump water to it & let it flwo through. Either that or they siphon way you talked about.

    I think any refugium is better then no refugium. I wouldnt count on it for much nutrient export, but more a place to grow pods & critter that will help eat detrius & feed your system.

    Good luck
    Craig
     
  4. Jun 8, 2009 #4
    fmsill Cedar Falls

    fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0

    Good advice guys thanks. The whole reason i want to do a refugium is because my nitrates are higher than i would like to see 20 to 30 so i figured i could put some macro algae in it to help lower them.

    Brian
     
  5. Jun 8, 2009 #5
    Waverz

    Waverz Expert Reefkeeper

    3,547
    Ratings:
    +5 / 0 / -0
    If nitrates are your problem I would do more frequent water changes and monitor your feeding habits. Like Xroads mentioned, a 20 gallon isn't going to be able to hold a large amount of macro algae, therefore it won't do much for nutrient export. Another option would be to just use the 20 gallon to run a larger or perhaps a second skimmer. Just a thought.

     

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