sump/refugium flow rates????

prow · 02-12-2006, 11:40 AM

hey guys how goes it. i have a few questions about the set up and flow rates. i have attached a crude drawings of the design of my sump/refugium. have not built it yet. anyway the sump is to be made out of a 48X12X18 45gal long tank. i want to use the sump mainly for export. will take whatever pods and things make it but more interested in exporting than anything else. i want to use a 1200gph pump for the sump return. that will give me about 6-700gph(geussing here) through out the sump/refugium. i know most will say i should use a 700gph pump because the 1200 would be to much for effective nutrient export. question is do you think i can get away with using the 1200gph pump? the skimmer is the asm G-3. maintank is 120gal. so what do you think, go for the 1200gph return or do i really need scale that down or redo the sump design? planning on using a 2" miracle mud bed or a 4" fine grain sand bed both with marocalgae as well. thanks in advanced.

prow · 02-12-2006, 11:42 AM

ooppsss forgot the attachment here it is.

Steven Pro · 02-12-2006, 11:57 AM

I have a 120 gallon display tank as well. I use a 50 gallon breeder tank setup very similar to your drawing, but instead of the 1200 gph return pump, I use two 1200 gph return pumps.

I think you will be fine.

prow · 02-12-2006, 12:29 PM

nice thanks, been getting conflicting feedback. this helps, thanks again and thanks for the quick reply. now i can get started on it today.

what do you think about the substrate. just use fine grain sand or would the miracle mud work for my purpose. (not trying to use the MM as ecosystem says/does to me "its just some expensive substrate, but since i have it kinda want to use it, after all it is fine grain for the most part, i think) then would 2" of MM be enough, if not do you think it would be ok to put it MM on top or 2" of fine substrate or of course maybe putting the fine sub on top of the mud? i know i am being difficult, sorry about that. just dont know what is in the MM and how it would work using it as a substrate in my application and intended use.

Steven Pro · 02-13-2006, 07:16 AM

I have and use the true Miracle Mud and it seem unnecessarily expensive to me. A fine grade of sand should work jus as well.

By the way, Miracle Mud only needs a 1-2" deep bed.

02-12-2006, 11:40 AM	#1
prow Citizen Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: california Posts: 243	sump/refugium flow rates???? hey guys how goes it. i have a few questions about the set up and flow rates. i have attached a crude drawings of the design of my sump/refugium. have not built it yet. anyway the sump is to be made out of a 48X12X18 45gal long tank. i want to use the sump mainly for export. will take whatever pods and things make it but more interested in exporting than anything else. i want to use a 1200gph pump for the sump return. that will give me about 6-700gph(geussing here) through out the sump/refugium. i know most will say i should use a 700gph pump because the 1200 would be to much for effective nutrient export. question is do you think i can get away with using the 1200gph pump? the skimmer is the asm G-3. maintank is 120gal. so what do you think, go for the 1200gph return or do i really need scale that down or redo the sump design? planning on using a 2" miracle mud bed or a 4" fine grain sand bed both with marocalgae as well. thanks in advanced. Last edited by prow; 02-12-2006 at 11:52 AM.

02-12-2006, 12:29 PM	#4
prow Citizen Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: california Posts: 243	nice thanks, been getting conflicting feedback. this helps, thanks again and thanks for the quick reply. now i can get started on it today. what do you think about the substrate. just use fine grain sand or would the miracle mud work for my purpose. (not trying to use the MM as ecosystem says/does to me "its just some expensive substrate, but since i have it kinda want to use it, after all it is fine grain for the most part, i think) then would 2" of MM be enough, if not do you think it would be ok to put it MM on top or 2" of fine substrate or of course maybe putting the fine sub on top of the mud? i know i am being difficult, sorry about that. just dont know what is in the MM and how it would work using it as a substrate in my application and intended use. Last edited by prow; 02-12-2006 at 12:36 PM.

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02-12-2006, 11:57 AM	#3
Steven Pro Mayor Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 672	I have a 120 gallon display tank as well. I use a 50 gallon breeder tank setup very similar to your drawing, but instead of the 1200 gph return pump, I use two 1200 gph return pumps. I think you will be fine.

02-13-2006, 07:16 AM	#5
Steven Pro Mayor Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 672	I have and use the true Miracle Mud and it seem unnecessarily expensive to me. A fine grade of sand should work jus as well. By the way, Miracle Mud only needs a 1-2" deep bed.

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