Refugdes9

FAQs about Refugium Designs 9

Will It Work?? DIY Refugium with Graphic. 2/6/07 Good evening Crew!! <Hello Jeff, Mich is your crew member tonight!> I come to you yet again for your priceless help! I am wanting to build a refugium for my FOWLR 55 gal DT. I am currently using an old wet/dry system that has live rock in place of the bio balls. My tank parameters are normal - 0 ammonia - 0 nitrites - 5.0 ppm or less nitrates - 8.2 ph - 1.025 SG - temp 78 - calcium is running about 325 - .5 or less phosphates in tank and water supply (no RO/DI unit yet...but want one real bad) <It's a beautiful thing!> My biggest problem in hair algae and BG Cyano...I can't seem to get rid of it. Another problem is that the coralline algae just will not spread well. I am hoping the addition of a refugium will help out on both parts. <Hopefully!> I have attached a drawing of a possible refugium for you to ponder over. Do you think this will work? <Yep. Looks good to me!> I designed it to fit under my DT as that is about the only place I have to put one. Like most, I have a limited budget to work with, but still want to do the best I can for my tank. <Understandable.> As always...your input is valued and appreciated. Thank you! Sincerely,
Jeff

External Sump Design 2/4/07 Hello to all the crew, <Greetings, Kevin. GrahamT here tonight.> I have recently found your web site and it is amazing. I am reading like mad and just scratching the surface of your wide ranging information. I've been a marine/reef keeper for 18 years, but I am getting loads of great new information from your site, many thanks. <That's good to hear, K.> I have just started to build a new display aquarium (380 Litres / 83.5 UK Gallons / 100.38 US Gallons) and it will have an external sump. The display tank and stand are in situ and the bare tank for the sump has arrived. So before I proceed with the sump fit out I would really welcome your views on its design, especially as this is my first attempt at a refugium. Please see attached diagram. <I see it, and I wanted to start with a congratulations on the completeness of your design and mastery of the program you use(d) to create this wonderful diagram! I like a lot of this setup, including the overflow protection, and the provision for easy water-changes. I have a few notes for you, though I don't see a need for changes of any sort. The first note regards regular use of the skimmer in conjunction with the mud in your refugium. There is information available ( http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mudfiltrfaqs.htm )that lends support to the theory that skimming reduces planktonic organisms that inhabits the mud. If the mud is being employed in this system as just a beneficial substrate in the refugium, then this is not a concern. My other note involves the absence of a macro-algae of some sort in your refugium. Is this a deliberate omission, or were you as yet undecided as of the "publish-date" of the diagram? This system looks like a truly envious home-approach for reef-keeping, and rivals some of the service accounts I help maintain in very well-off people's homes. Congrats, and good luck! P.S. I will send this through Bob for any additional comments (For example: possible omission of UV with the use of mud, etc). -GrahamT.> Any and all views welcome. Thanks again
Kevin Cheshire, England

P.S. I will send this through Bob for any additional comments (For example: possible omission of UV with the use of mud, etc). <Mmm, nothing really to add that you haven't addressed Graham. I definitely would add the macroalgae as mentioned, and I would not be concerned re running a skimmer in conjunction with the Mud... Years back Leng Sy and I had quite a few discussions re fractionator use and his MM... he now sells such together. BobF>

External Sump Design (Follow-up) 2/5/07 Graham, Bob, <Kevin...> Thanks for the quick reply and the positive comments. <You are welcome, Kevin. I really *DO* love that diagram!!!> As you probably guessed, the refugium is additional filtration to the display tanks live rock and I will definitely be using macro algae as you suggest. <Excellent. [Steepled fingers...]> Re the skimming, experience shows me that it really does remove significant amounts and so I wanted to keep it in my system. I had read that it could impact the refugium, but decided that the benefits outweighed the downside. I did move it to before the refugium instead of after, i.e. it was originally to be installed alongside the circulation pumps, my idea being that it will now not directly remove any beneficial micro organisms until after they have circulated round the display tank. Do you think this makes any difference? <I totally agree, though some folks still cycle it on/off, I think the efficiency of the skimmer at its best when used constantly. Furthermore (Susan), I think your idea of installing the skimmer pre-'fuge will keep the fauna-skimming to an acceptable minimum.> Thanks again Kevin Robson Cheshire, England <Good work, Kevin. FYI: Bob may still chime in here, so check the dailies for this post -GrahamT>

Re: External Sump Design 2/5/07 Graham, Bob, Thanks for the quick reply and the positive comments. <Welcome> As you probably guessed, the refugium is additional filtration to the display tanks live rock and I will definitely be using macro algae as you suggest. Re the skimming, experience shows me that it really does remove significant amounts and so I wanted to keep it in my system. I had read that it could impact the refugium, but decided that the benefits outweighed the downside. <Agreed... better to run on at least a punctuated (periodic) schedule> I did move it to before the refugium instead of after, i.e. it was originally to be installed alongside the circulation pumps, my idea being that it will now not directly remove any beneficial micro organisms until after they have circulated round the display tank. Do you think this makes any difference? <Yes, I do. BobF> Thanks again Kevin Robson Cheshire, England

Re: External Sump Design (Final thoughts) 2/6/07 Greetings, Kevin. I forgot to elaborate about the use of your U.V. sterilizer after the mud. If you are concerned about the skimmer removing the micro-fauna before they get a chance to migrate to your system, you should also be concerned about their travel through your U.V. sterilizer. I have been flip-flopping on this one in my head over the past few days, and I think it might make sense for you to either, A) truncate your schedule of operation to allow some downtime when the creatures can pass through unharmed, or B) plumb the pickup to a spot before the 'fuge. Naturally, we aren't talking about a huge percentage of the population being rendered DOA, rather a "more than desiraable quotient." (How's that sound? ) As always, Good luck and keep innovating! -GrahamT (in 5-degree Maine, brrrr!)

Re: External Sump Design (Final thoughts pt.2) 2/7/07 Graham, <Kevin,> Thanks for the advice, I kick myself for not considering this earlier as it aligns directly with the skimmer positioning argument. <I was in the same boat, admiring your diagram and it hit me like a ton of LR. Funny how that works, eh?> I have adjusted the design accordingly and updated the attached diagram. <Man, you truly are proficient at diagram-ing! Good show, sir.> On my website RobsonOnline.com, I have a section on my previous tank and on the journey of creating my new aquarium <Tried to view, but got the ol' 404-error. Feel free to send some pics, as long as multiples are kept below 200K and a single below 500K. Thanks for the follow-up, as I'm sure these diagrams will be very useful for others when they find them here on WWM! -GrahamT> Best Regards Kevin Robson Tel: XXXX

External Sump Design (Final thoughts pt.3) 2/7/07 Graham, <K-man! How *DO* you do?> I will send some pictures as I proceed with the build. <Excellent. will look forward to. I suggest quoting some of our correspondence to help me remember you.> For now try http://www.RobsonOnline.com - it might help now I've provided the right format for the address (Doh!) <The site is up now, I see it. One final final-thought: The current location of your skimmer will also help minimize the little bubbles that may otherwise end up returned to the main system. (Bonus) > Thanks again. <You are most welcome, Kevin. My pleasure.> Best Regards <And to you, GrahamT> Kevin Robson

Refugium baffles 1/27/07 <Hello, Ed. GrahamT with you today.> I cant seem to locate the EPDM Foam Rubber Weather Stripping that was used in creating baffles that can be later moved. By Joshua McMullen. Can you help me ? Thanks Ed <I just Googled "EPDM foam" and found: http://www.rubber-gaskets.com/foam-tapes.html among others... GrahamT.>

Upgrading Reef Tank and Adding Refugium 1/16/07 Hi WWM crew. Excellent web site! Many hours of great reading and wonderful information. I have a 65 gal. fish and reef tank that has been up for about 6 yrs. and would like to upgrade it to provide better water quality and move into some more difficult corals. Currently it has 70 lbs. of live rock with about 1 in. of crushed coral in the front portion of the tank. It has a 10 gal. sump with an old protein skimmer in it that I plan to upgrade. Currently 2 fish (clown and Pseudochromis). I also have an old 35 gal. tank directly below the display in an unfinished basement. <Mmm, possibilities...> I've been using the 35 gal. for mix water to do water changes by opening a valve from the display to drain to the sewer and then pumping new water up from the basement to the display. I would like to convert the 35 gal. in the basement to a refugium and have a couple of questions. Your help would be greatly appreciated. <Okay... in what way? A good deal of design, plumbing, pump input is posted...> Would it be better to leave the skimmer in the 10 gal. sump in the stand and add the refugium to the 35 gal. thereby having 2 circulation systems and reducing the flow rate through the refugium (I have read that a gentle flow is better), or do the skimming in the 35 gal. with a higher flow rate through the refugium? <I'd have it in both, the former choice> If I add a relatively large refugium to the 35 gal., say 2' long, 11' wide and 6' deep, what, ideally, would you do with the substrate in the display? <Mmm, leave it as is... at the about 1" depth> Should I beak down the display and add a DSB, leave it as is, or break it down and add maybe Â½' of sand for sifters? <I'd place the DSB in the refugium below> In the refugium if I want to have some variety in the substrate and macro algae, such as some oolitic sand and some miracle mud, some Chaetomorpha and some Gracilaria, would it be better to separate compartments in the refugium with a vertical divider between them, or mix them in layers in one section? <If the sump/refugium can be made large enough, I'd leave all mixed together, with the exception of the mud... which should be somehow arranged to not have "too much" flow about it... in a sectioned off area. Bob Fenner>

Good Idea? Bad Idea?... Refugium des. Well let me know what you all think of the picture attached. <Not easy to make out> All equipment is of the "hang on type accept for the sump pump. I have no idea where to buy the overflow box or what kind. <Please read WWM re> Heard of making one from two Lees specimen cups but cant find those. <Made in San Diego... but not a good idea here> A LFS had a overflow he said was $80.00 . NO WAY for plastic and tubes? <Yes way> I was a department head at a nationwide home improvement store in charge of kitchen cabs an plumbing. I know there's a way around spending all this cash at LFSs. <Mmm, to back you up a bit... I would not go the overflow box route if you can/could avoid it... Through-hull fittings are what you really want> Heck, I just figured out the Southdown sand thing too late LOL. I think we should all start homemaking things and watch the costs of simple items start to cost like simple items. <Agreed> I realize starting with an empty and dry tank would be the easiest way to make a Refug but I've had all those lil amphys an coeppies growing for 3 years. Does anyone think the Refug would benefit from having the whole bottom attached to its compartment this way? <Don't know if I understand what you're getting at here> Thanks All Dave <Time to send you to take the long read Dave... Here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marsetupindex2.htm the files on Refugium Design... below on Pump Selection... Bob Fenner>

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