How do you control refugium flow?

I'm sure this is probably simple but I don't quite understand it. If your fuge flow is theoretically ideal at about 10x the fuge volume how can you control the flow in a typical left to right skimmer/fuge/return set up?

What about if the fuge is set up in a separate tank from the sump?

 

I have mine setup like this:

From Left to right:

Skimmer chamber -->baffles -->Return <--Fuge

I split (T) my overflow line, and reduced my Fuge side's pipe diameter, and put a ball valve on each line. The one to the skimmer runs full, and the fuge side is toned back a bit to decrease flow. The way you have yours setup, it'll be difficult to control the fuge flow without slowing down your overflow/return flow.

 

Install a ball valve after the return pump, in the return line.

 

This is done by using a valve to control the flow to each section. You put a tee in the line that provides water to the skimmer then below the tee on the line that provides water to the skimmer a valve. You close the valve a little to cause water to flow to the fuge. You use the same design on the modded design in your first example.

 

I know that if the fuge is another tank, then you would overflow it into the return of the sump. But the return from the tank would be used as the input into the refugium and controlled with a check valve. With the skimmer/fuge/returne setup its just natural flow. if you do a skimmer/return/fuge setup then you could tee off the return to the skimmer and fuge and put a check valve leading into the fuge.

 

I see I was to late.

 

Normally you can't control the flow when you have it setup after the skimmer, thats why most people are running either a remote fuge or configuring it so the return is in the middle. This way you can use a ball valve to control the flow. You put a t on the bottom of your downpipe from the DT and run a line with a valve to the fuge separate from the PS giving your fuge unskimmed nutrient rich water to feed your critters, macro and DSB. Here is a pic of mine, you can't see the valve but it's behind the skimmer. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for all of the quick replies! I think I get it now. Now I just have to decide which way to go.