My separate tank fuge

I just typed a 10 minute description on how I incorporated a separate 10gal fuge into my 30 gal sump and there was a server error that deleted it! I am in a rush to work now but will retype the post when I get home!

 

That's really cool! I have a little 5.5 Gallon with a ton of Chaeto, and about 4" of sand. But I use it as my mantis tank It's got about 200% more pods than my 20 gallon. maybe I can find a way to combine them!

 

OK...back from work. Let me try this again-


I just wanted to show how I incorporated a separate 10g refugium into my 30g sump under my 55g display tank in hopes that it helps out another 3 reefer one day!

To start- I had to build a small stand to elevate my 10g above the sump. My son helped me and we simply screwed 3 2x4s on top to
3 2x4s on bottom by 3 2x4s in the middle on each side. This was nice as it provided a little shelf too!
Second- I simply "T"d off my return pump. Part of the 'T' goes back up to the display tank and the other part of the 'T' goes to the fuge. I added a PVC flow control valve on this part so I could change the rate of flow (as you generally want a slow flow through your refugium). The water enters the 10 gallon tank through a plastic tube that I drilled various holes in. I placed the tube in vertical as to provide flow at different elevations through the tank. The water flows through the tank (slowly) and is returned to the return side of the sump through an overflow tube that I rigged with a strainer (to keep algae out) and a control valve (to control amount of water leaving the fuge). The beautiful thing is that this is gravity fed. Gravity is the only thing in our hobby that is free and I chose to take advantage of it! The important thing is to ensure that both flow control valves are set so that the same amount of water being sent to the refugium is the same amount leaving the refugium.

After all seemed to be well, I tossed in a bag of live sand, a peice of live rock from my display tank, and a ball of Cheto algae from my local fish store(definitely the most expensive part).

Then I simply bought an $8 workmans lamp with a clip and threw in a 5000K compact flourescent light. (This is the energy saving bulbs most similar to daylight).

Hope this helps at least someone someday.

 

Definitely seems possible Chance! Just use gravity to feed from one tank to another.

 

A possible flaw

It has occurred to me that there may be a flaw in my design. :If the overflow from the fuge clogs or slows, there may be a chance that the 10g overflows as more water is being emitted than is being depleted. Any ideas on a solution to remedy this possibility? I was thinking maybe I could drill a small hole above the waterline for an airline hose that would lead back into the sump- like you see on collection tanks of protein skimmers. However, I have never drilled a hole in glass. How hard would this be? Is it possible to complete without taking the fuge down?

Any input on this idea or any other ideas in mind would be greatly appreciated..:-/:::-/

 

That's how I set my sump up. One flows into another. You'll have to empty the tank to drill it. Here is a shot from when I first set it up.

 

My first thought about this when I looked was that you'd want to drill your fuge. It looks like the return relies on a siphon, which I would be worried about someday breaking.

Drilling holes is really easy (just be sure you have a template to hold the drill steady, the bits like to try and walk). I'd highly recommend it!

 

Wow Barbianj! Love the amount of space you have to work with! Looks look your design may be in a basement or something. I like the idea of the horizontal PVC as an overflow return that would also serve as siphon break. Is this quiet? I have my system in my main living room and the quieter the better.

Zechenia, what type of drill bit would I use? Is there designated bit for glass?

 

Mmm, I wouldn't say it's loud, but it's in my basement, so I don't really care. It makes more noise with the slit PVC overflows. I took those off because they are not needed in the sump. A large open pipe with a filter sock is fairly quiet.