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Sump setup help. Algae scrubber vs. refugiam

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by got2lb, Jan 5, 2014.

  1. Jan 5, 2014 #1
    got2lb Clarksville, IA

    got2lb Well-Known ReefKeeper

    540
    Clarksville, IA
    Ratings:
    +19 / 0 / -0

    I need some some help on figuring out how to setup my sump. On my old tank I only had one overflow which dumped into the skimmer area then into the fuge then into the return area.


    I have 2 overflows on the new tank so I was going to dump one into the skimmer area and was going to dump the other one into other end of the sump and have the return area in the center section.


    Now the million dollar question do I go with a conventional refugiam or do I go with an algae scrubber in that area? I've done just a little bit of reading on the scrubber and looks like people either have great luck with them or they don't have luck at all. Can I run one just off the overflow from the tank? I see most people have a pump running them.


    Was just curious was everyones opinions are and how people are doing things.


    Thanks


    Edit: Sump will be more than likely setup like the picture below. Return area is the middle section.





    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jan 5, 2014 #2
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    3,985
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    thing about a refugium being used for nutrient control, it needs to be about 15% of your water volume to do much.
     
  3. Jan 6, 2014 #3
    got2lb Clarksville, IA

    got2lb Well-Known ReefKeeper

    540
    Clarksville, IA
    Ratings:
    +19 / 0 / -0
    Hmmm, 45 views and no comments?

    So what are most of you running? Or nothing maybe, just a skimmer and return?
     
  4. Jan 6, 2014 #4
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

    6,044
    Cedar Rapids, IA
    Ratings:
    +738 / 5 / -0
    You typically see both overflows dumped i the same section, but that doesn't mean you can't go against the grain and try something different.If you had success with the last set up I would say stick with what you know works.
    I run an algae scrubber, and IMO it needs a pump. Once they build up with algae they could be a big restriction on a drain, and may cause problems with your overflows. Tuning them to stay quiet more than anything, but there could be potential for worse problems.
     
  5. Jan 6, 2014 #5
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

    8,015
    La Porte City, IA
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    Love refugiums myself. Think of them as a pod farm, which will keep everything in your tank happily fed.
     
  6. Jan 6, 2014 #6
    jazzybio13 Ames

    jazzybio13 MBI Breeder

    718
    Ames
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    +1 on refugiums as well, I can regularly shake a wad of macro algae into any tank and feed a nice chunk of live pods/reseed any tank! I think Macro's do a great job of exporting nutrients as well.
     
  7. Jan 11, 2014 #7
    Fence13 Des Moines

    Fence13 Experienced Reefkeeper

    1,226
    Des Moines
    Ratings:
    +300 / 1 / -0
    +1 on the scrubber. Like mentioned above your refugium needs to be large or it wont do any good. The scrubber can be any size as it just fits into sump. Recommend that if you run a skimmer and scrubber (as I do) that you run the path of Overflow > Skimmer > Scrubber > GAC (if you use any) > return.

    If you still want pods, throw some live rock in the sump, but I'm sure you'll have plenty up above.
     
  8. Jan 12, 2014 #8
    tbraz Marion, IA

    tbraz

    168
    Marion, IA
    Ratings:
    +10 / 0 / -0
    +1 on the scrubber, I ran a typical fuge for awhile but always had problems with nuisance algae, 2 weeks after installing the scrubber not a bit of problem algae and my nitrates always stay very low, and when I clean the scrubber I take the algae dehydrate it and feed it to my fish
     

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