Refugium Connection to existing system

I would like to run my plan by all your fellow reefers to get some feedback to make sure I am doing the right thing (or nearly so ).

I have a 120 DT that has been up and running with a 40BR sump for 8 months now. I have no significant algae problems, diatom, or cyano issues. Nitrates are only barely detectable with my Salifert test kits. Ammonia has been zero for some time.

So my system is relatively stable ATM and I have an additional 20L that is predrilled, and now separated into two chambers: one is the fuge and one is for the ReefOCto SKimmer which is IN today!!!!! Will be setting up later tonight!

The DT currently has one large Eshoppes overflow and I will be adding an Eshoppes Nano overflow box to feed the Skimmer/Fuge. It will be T'd off the nano overflow so that I can control a trickle of a few GPH to the fuge and the rest (hopefully about 400-600GPH) will divert to the skimmer section.

The overflow of the skimmer section will drain back into the mechanical filter section of my sump where I occasionally use filter pads/socks and always have chemipure in.

The overflow of the fuge will be allowed to discharge back into the sump in the return chamber so that any pods are hopefully discharged into the sump that make it out of the fuge.

The fuge has been cycling with 30lbs of dry sand (about 5" Sand Bed Depth), a handful of shells from the DT and fresh saltwater seeded with some water from the DT.

I have a heater and a powerhead in there now until the tank is tied in.

My plan is to allow to tank to cycle for roughly a month (until first major cycles are completed). At the end of the month I plan on doing a 50%+ water change in the volume of the refugium (maybe changing only 2-4 gallons water) then opening up the valves to feed and return through the refugium to the main sump.

Is that an appropriate plan? Should a DSB for a refugium cycle longer?

Thanks for your input!

 

I'll go ahead and assume that I would be doing the right thing here since no-one has inputted otherwise!

 

I like the idea. Sounds like it would work. I think one month is plenty for the sump. Are you gonna add any ammonia to it to get it started?

 

I had not planned on adding ammonia. I did add some shells from the DT and water from the DT as well. Will be be necessary to add some source of ammonia?

 

Whats the reason for cycling the fuge. Can't you just add some water from your system and tie it all together?

 

I believe if I just tied in the fuge there would not be a HUGE cycle to the main tank as it is already 8 months old. But I could foresee issues of the DSB in the fuge not being cycled and instead of becoming a sink of nutrients may actually become a temp source of water contamination.


I am not sure that it's entirely necessary for me to be cycling - but a little bit of caution goes a long way in this hobby . . .

 

Refugium/SKimmer connection to existing 120 gallon system with PICS!

Here are a few quick pics of the new skimmer/fuge remote sump I have just started. I just put in the Reef Octo NWB-200 and a roughly 10 gallon fuge compartment into the pre-drilled 20L that has been divided.

I will be installing the overflow box that feeds these two chambers tonight.

 

I'd be willing to bet that you wouldn't see a cycle at all. Things only break down when something dies. In this case, if you used dead sand, there wouldn't be anything to break down. That's why I always suggest base rock and sand when setting up a tank.

The plumb work looks good.

 

So is it safe to say then that I would be fine to tie the fuge in right away? Or it's still best to wait and let it cycle?

I know I can tie the skimmer in right away, and since there are valves on the return and will be valves on the supply, I can isolate the fuge from the skimmer compartment if I need to wait for it to cycle.

 

Have you ever added base rock to an already established tank? If so, did you notice a cycle occur? What occurs is good bacteria begins to establish over a period of time on the added rock. If the rock was considered "live," things most likely die between the store and your tank, then a slight cycle might have occurred.

I've had an instance where my glass refugium/sump broke. With all the live stock and coral, I had no choice but to replace it immediately. I replaced it with a brand new tank and reused the water, sand (although this isn't always suggested), chaeto and mangroves. This process took place over the course of 24 hours and I was back up and running. I'm happy to say that nothing was lost.

I was much more likely to see a loss and a cycle than in your case, and still everything worked out fine. I may have had a little cyano as a result, but I don't exactly recall. Whether or not to continue what your doing is your call. I can only share my personal experience.