Fluval 404 to refugium

Hi everybody, I was recently introduced to saltwater by a friend because I've been stuck on freshwater for so long. I converted my 20g planted tank into my first saltwater tank about a month ago and it's been cycling ever since. I currently have a fluval 404 and an emperor running to help speed up the cycling. I'm thinking of adding a refugium once the cycling is done. I'm thinking of using my fluval as a "pump" for my refugium, which I just simply connect the outflow of the fluval to the intake of the refugium. Then let gravity do its thing for the outflow of the refugium. Will this work? Does the copepod or any other microorganism need food particles directly from the tank to live because the fluval will remove most of that. Thanx in advance

 

That should work very well. I believe pods feed mostly on algae and macro algae. Gravity to the DT is always better as apposed to gravity from the DT.

 

I wouldn't suggest you do that. the Fluval is pushing 300 or 400 gph right? a sucessfull refugium wants slow water - much, much slower than what you have in mind.

I'd look to run no more 4-7 gph through the refugium

 

I reckon you could T off some of the flow from the Fluval and direct it to the refugium
and then direct the balance to the DT - you would need an extra set of taps and a T piece
then you could open fully the tap on the return to the DT and partially close the tap to get the flow rate you want for Fuge -

Sounds possible and I know I did branch off from my Fluval external some time ago in order I could have water returning to opposite ends of tank whilst being collected from the middle

Welcome to 3 reef by the way

Steve

 

Thanx for the comments. I already have a pretty complex PVC plumming system so I'll just add a ball valve to T off some outflow to the refugium. Glad to be part of the saltwater community now