My Refugium

These are pics of my refugium that I built out of a 10 gallon aquarium.

Aquarium-$8 @ Flea Market LPS
Plexiglass-$10 @ Home Depot
Silicone-$4 @ Home Depot
6lBs LS- ~$6 @ LFS
small LR tied with calerpa-$5 @LFS
Aqua-C Urchin Skimmer with MJ1200-$145 (Captivereefs.com)
Rio2500 Return-Free with free 46 gallon tank someone gave me.(I'm so lucky)
Coralife mini-aqualight 2x9watt on timer-Light$25 on ebay, timer $5 at Home Depot

I cut plexiglass for 1 partition for drain from tank approx 3.5" from tank edge, and cut 1" oval holes 3" from bottom every 2" across, and did the same 6" from the bottom. This piece goes to the top of tank.

The second piece is solid, 8" high and approx 2.5" from first partition. this is the side wall for the refugium chamber and a bubble/current inhibiter from the inrush from tank.

the last partition is also solid and 8" high. and i custom placed it based on the dimensions of my intended sump skimmer and return pump size.

This seems to be doing the trick so far, and I got a ton of good info whilst researching. Now I have the basis for a good working knowledge, and and understand better the reef chemistry.
Any way, I thought I would share.

 

Have you turned everything off to see if it over flows?.You may want to test that.
What is your return head made of?
If PVC pipe and 90 degree connection the drill a small hole into it just above the water line of the tank. Drill upwards so the water comes out and hits the surface water.
Doing this will stop the siphon back into the sump.

 

Very cool, Ben. The one I am working on is very similar. I've acquired a 20gal aquarium for just such a job.
Great lookin' fuge there!!

 

Oh and it looks great... you can now add another 10 gallon later if needing room for equipment etc.. can connect them with a bilk head or a standard overflow box.

 

The power outage test is the first thing i checked, with the sump water as high as it will go during normal operation. I know what you are talking about Dave for the little hole to stop siphon, however my return is a flexible PVC used for sprinkler systems and the loc-line adapter is screwed directly into that and the loc-line recedes behind overflow dam, so no help there. What I did is just adjusted the height of my outlet nozzle about 1.5" below surface when running and then siphon breaks when exposed, and I have adjusted this to leave me about 2" around the top of my refugium. works out good.

How do I insert a picture here off of my computer if I'm not starting a new thread???

 

DX7, I also have a 20 short tank that is going to be the refugium for my (when I build it) 75 gallon tank. this was my proto type and I learned alot with this venture. and as Nautilus said, for the 10, I can add more sump. the 20 will give me a much needed extra capacity in the sump dept. Thanks for the compliment on my design though, both of you. Karma to those who help and praise. Thanks guys.

 

Karma appreciated Oh Ben Doverkenobi...Do you have a float valve on the return pump as well? I'm looking at a $12 rig from Grainger that is a liquid switch the solenoid runs at 30 watts. I have to check the specs on the MAG 5 return pump I want.

 

[quote author=Ben Dover link=board=Refugium;num=1086000621;start=0#4 date=05/31/04 at 06:22:21]
How do I insert a picture here off of my computer if I'm not starting a new thread???[/quote]

On the last post you will see "reply" click this and you will be sent to a new window.
a text window will pop up and you will see right below that a browse button. Click browse and search your hard drive for the photo and click it and click ok... wala your done,

 

Thanks Dave. This was the window I was looking for. It's great when the system works. Any way this is the pic I wanted to show for my return to tank.

 

No I don't DX7. But you bring to me a good point, and another idea. Thanks for both. The idea is that is a good price for a switch that could also control a topoff pump. Karma to you again dude. Please send me the P/N when you get it. muchas gracias, as they say in Chulajuana. LOL (I was stationed at Ballast Point for 3 1/2 years.)