Sump/Refugium Idea for 55gal

[whitec221]

I have had my 40 Ga FOWLR tank for a few years and loved it. The wife, knowing I've wanted to start a reef tank, recently purchased a 55 Gal tank and stand for me. I am in the process of cycling it right now, and since I'm new to reefs, wanted to run the sump design I came up with past you guys. I have never run a sump before and knew very little about them. I have spent hours and maybe even days reading about them for the past week or so. This is the sump design I would like to use...just wanted to make sure it makes sense to those with more experience and hopefully you guys will have some advice for me. Thanks for your help.

-Chris

[scubadude]

Hi Chris

Glad your taking on a reef tank now!

If you have not bought the sump or biowheel then I would redo a few things on your setup. First off I wouldnt even buy a biowheel/powerfilter and would spend that extra bit of money on a better skimmer and bigger sump. Next I would try and incorporate your sump and refugium into one tank (make it a bigger sump and just put in another baffle or two for the refugium section. Other than that I would say your heading in a good direction

[radar]

That will definitely work. Any fuge is better than none Imo. I'm sure there's many opinions but I like to really slow down the turnover In the fuge. So I would try to put tee in overflow divert some water to fuge let rest go directly to sump. then try reenter fuge water past skimmer. Also remove bio wheels they wont be nesassary.

[whitec221]

Thank you so much for the quick reply and advice. The bio wheel filter came with the aquarium so i didn't have much choice with it. I don't mind using it if it will help at all. Is it completely useless considering the best filtration will occur underneath the tank?

My stand prevents a larger sump...the only thing I know that fits the width is the standard 10 ga tanks and I already have one just laying around. I suppose I could try and modify two of them to become one 20 ga wide tank if it would be more beneficial.

Once again...thanks guys...i really appreciate the help.

-Chris

[scubadude]

I'm sure there's many opinions but I like to really slow down the turnover In the fuge.

Every fuge that I have seen that has some age on it that has real low flow has usually had a problem with flatworms. Flatworms seem to thrive on low flow. Not that its usually that big of a deal cuz the flatworms generally are in the fuge not the display, however hindsight sure can help. With that being said if you organize your waterlevel and baffles correctly where the water is flowing near the top of the refugium but lower flow in the lower section of the baffled area it leaves for a more calm area but yet a good flow. JMO take it for what you will Fuges can be just as interesting as a display tank and support a whole new level of life.

[Samper]

I have a few questions for you. Are you going to drill the display and the refugium or do you plan to have two external overflows running that setup? Most have moved away from the external overflows...not that there aren't some good ones out there because there are. I prefer the peace of mind knowing everything is contained with a drilled tank. If you had two external overflows that would cause me to worry a little bit about the possibility of the siphon breaking or something getting clogged and you having a huge flood on your hands. Like Rocky said the power filter won't be used in the display but you could find a use for it with a hospital tank or something along those lines. He also mentioned that a refugium can be a neat display. I agree 100% and if possible I think it's better to have the refugium sit above the display so that it gravity feeds back down. This way your pods don't have to go through a pump to make it back to the display. I run mine this way and believe it or not the fuge gets a lot of attention when I have company. If that isn't an option then I would skip two seperate tanks under the display and combine the sump and refugium into one larger one. What are the dimensions inside of the cabinet? Your idea will work there is no question but...ten gallons don't add much water volume to the entire system and they don't give you much room to work with equipment wise. If we could find a larger one to take the place of the two I think you will be better off. The macro algae you want to keep in the fuge will determine what kind of flow you will need. Chaeto prefers to tumble around so higher flow is best for it. Caulerpa seems to do better with lower flow for me. I keep two kinds so I'm running two maxi jet 1200's in my refugium. One pumps water from the display 1' up to it and the other sits inside it blowing towards the front glass. There is an overflow inside that just drains back into the display.

I hope this helps.