My Refugium

[NanoReefer1]

Im pretty sure it is the "classic" way to do a fuge just wanting some input from others. Any suggestions are welcome! Thks!

[abbott]

this is what i'd like to get started on this weekend as well. What size is your display tank?

[Samper]

You have the idea. If I may make a suggestion here is what I'd do. I would raise the second baffle from the left higher and never install the third baffle. Allow enough room under the second baffle for your sandbed and for you to pile a good amount of rubble up. This will help prevent sand from going everywhere from the water coming down on it. I have had problems in the past with the six baffle design creating dead spots in the refugium section. Most of the water is flowing over the top of that compartment. If you never install the third baffle, the water flows diagonally upwards toward the second set of baffles and circulation in the refugium section is increased. Get some of the plastic grid sold at hardware stores called gutter guard. Roll up some so that you can insert it between the baffles following the refugium. This will catch stray macro algae so it stays out of the display.

Are you wanting to gravity feed your refugium? If so I'd suggest a completely different design.

[Samper]

Another quick suggestion.....if you want this under your display you will need a return pump. Make the section that the return pump sits in as large as possible. As you lose water volume to evaporation or skimming, the return pump section will be where you observe the loss. You should always stay on top of keeping your water level where it needs to be. If you slack up, that section could run dry fairly quickly burning your pump up and causing the salinity to increase. Once you get your salinity set, mark the sump with a water line and keep it at that line by topping off with RO/DI. You may want an auto top off sytem at some point.

Once you get this all set up, cut the power and make sure that your display will stop draining before the sump overflows. If it starts to overflow there are some things that you will need to do like incorporating a siphon break somewhere or lowering the water line in the return section to accomodate the extra water.