Anyone with a Refugium in a 20g sump with skimmer?

[dougchambers]

So I've decided to look at adding a refugium to our system. I've read all the benefits as a nutrient export etc. but I'm having difficulty figuring out where to put it.

We have a 20 gallon sump under our 75RR with a MAG 9.5 and EuroReef CS6-1. There just doesn't appear to be much room for a refugium. I've though of pulling the baffles out of the front end of the sump and trying to put a new divider at that end of the sump, but with our return rate, I see everything getting blown out.

My other thought is to build a custom container over the sump area to the left of the skimmer and pump into it and let it gravity drain back into the sump. It couldn't be very deep and still have light over the top. Sound simple until I want to add water or do any maintenance...

Here is an old picture of the cabinet area I have to work with. Ignore everything to the right of the cabinet as there is CA reactor there now. http://dougc3.home.mindspring.com/Re.../sump_view.JPG

Anyone else have pictures of their system I can steal ideas from?

Thanks,

Doug

[Reefland]

I have the exact same set-up and opted against a refugium (at least for now) for the same reasons as you. The space in my 20gal sump is not enough and there isn't enough room under the stand (above the sump) to add one.

For me, the option is to add another 10gal tank under the stand, split the drain so some of it flows into it and have another return pump in the refugium.

Scott Z.

[dougchambers]

Scott,

I'm looking at the same option. I could put a small fuge above my existing sump and either pump to it or try and split off my sump inlet.

I used to have calurpa in my sump on a egg shell crate divider. You can see it in the previous picture. It did well until the calurpa went sexual and I pulled it all out. I'm betting the flow was too much.

Thanks for the feedback,

Doug