Is My Sump Design Correct?

Slow flow is not for macro it's for the fuge. If all you want to do is grow macro, then all you need a compartment. If you want a fuge, then controlled flow is best so the whole sump flow does not flow through the fuge.

 

Slow for the organisms in the fuge? I am confused as to why you would want the flow to be slow except for giving the algae as much contact time with dirty water as possible. I see all sorts of pods in my fuge even with it getting my entire water flow through the sump.

 

This is the new revised plan? What do you guys think?

 

You will need 2 valves on the intake to the sump to make sure water makes it to the fuge. Water travels the path of least resistance.

 

so id need two separate over flows right?

 

Because a fuge is a REFUGE for pods to populate and grow. It is not a garden for macro. Now obviously a refugium is a good place to grow macro, but you have to give the best conditions fror what you are trying to accomplish. Pods don't need a river, they need a nice quiet place free of blenders and predators to grow and populate and supply the DT with food.

Macro dose not need high flow either. It will only grow to the amount of lights it is given. It will only take out nitrates that are there. Contact time implies dwell time not flow through. Even if a fuge is 1/10 of the display and it get 10x flow.... that is still cycling the the Display tank volume one time an hour. Plenty.

A fuge is also a good place to have a DSB. A fuge also needs raw tank water to feed everything. But high flow rates delivers too much waste and can choke off a sand bed. Add live rock or rubble to it and it is even worse.... making a DSB worthless.

There are plenty of reasons to do thing. Everything has a purpose and everything has a place. For all a fuge can provide and support... slow flow wins every time.