anDew 55gal w/ new sump/refugium

Got this tank as a gift in January, 2011.
Didn't really think about posting in a forum until I built my own overflow box and modified a Euro-fil sump into a sump/refugium.

This is my first year with a salt water setup. My previous was a 10 gallon freshwater.

Setup:
216 watt Catalina T5 Hood w/ splash guard
Coralife Superskimmer 65 (currently not running)
25lbs Live Rock
Circulation Fan
Canister Carbon Filter
DIY Overflow Box complete w/ Ball valves.
Modified Euro-fil sump to be used for a refugium/sump. (Eventually will house dwarf sea-horses)
2x 15watt standard florescent hoods for refugium algae growth.
2x 150 watt heaters
1x Return pump
80lbs live sand in tank
15lbs kitty litter as substrate in refugium
1x Yellow Tang
1x Firefish
1x Fairy Wrase
1x 6-Line Wrase
1x Maroon clownfish
1x Bubble Tip Anenome
2x Skunk Shrimp (cleaner shrimp)
1x Peppermint shrimp
6x hermit crabs
3x Mexican turbo snails
1x Reg. turbo snail
2x Astria snails
2x Feather duster
5x Mushrooms
1x star polyps
1x Tree coral
1x Frog spawn
1x Damsel (in refugium. I'm aware your not supposed to have fish in there)
1x Chocolate-chip starfish (In refugium. See previous)

Been running stable since my move nearly 3 months ago.



Sump/Refugium


DIY Overflow box (on right side of tank)


Another shot of the refugium/sump. (I drilled holes to let water through slowly into the refugium which then overflows into the returnbox)


My fish tank and sump/refugium



Hope you enjoyed it.

 

How does your overflow work? Specifically, what is the pipe coming back up at the back of it? Is it a vent or some type of siphon break?

 

I followed this guide on how to make my own overflow box
DIY Overflow Pipe.Take Two - YouTube

The tube sticking straight up is to let air enter the overflow box.

After parts its about $20 or so.

 

My skimmer will not fit under my tank however it will fit on top of the tank. Having the tank on top takes away from the tanks elegance considering you can still see the gross skim it creates.

My next project will be hiding the skimmer away in a old table with cabinet doors. I'll place the table to the right of the tank. A hole will be cut in one of the sides to allow for pvc piping.
I'll post a picture when I acquire the furniture.

 

Decided to remod my overflow box by using a dremal to make teeth in the PVC pipe instead of the small drilled holes already there. I did this so it could skim the surface better and handle more flow.

The last picture shows the increased waterflow into the refugium.

 

Is your starfish doing alright? He is huge

I really like you sump/refugium. I too have a 55 gallon and the same coralife skimmer. I keep mine in the sump but it seems like you almost use yours as a second display tank?

 

The starfish is doing fine. Thx for the refugium/sump compliment.

Are you talking about the skimmer? I do not use it as a second display tank. It is hanging on the back because I haven't built my dresser mod to hide the skimmer.

If you are referring to the sump/ refugium then yes. The acrylic construction is to elegant too leave without some type of fish or starfish. Besides damsels are aggressive and the chocolate chip starfish will eat everything in the main DT.

 

Decided to axe the furniture idea to hide the skimmer. Currently Constructing PVC pipe so I can use the Skimmer on the side of the tank.

 

I don't think your skimmer is going to work very well plumbed up like that. The pump will be doing less flow now.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk

 

What do you mean? Why would there be less flow? Please elaborate.