Too Simple...what am I missing?

Being no stranger to the egg crates, why don't you just put the "benthic sub-floor" in your current fuge and tell me how it works.
I should note that Wr.Wilson has since taken the window screen off the egg crate and used larger crushed corral (bigger than the holes in egg crate) so that the heavier stuff would filter below and get munched on. I also hear of a lot of guys not using prefilters or floss with this set up.
I liked the refugium on the end fed off the return pump excess until I saw the video. Actually, tank water would be better split to the fuge for flow than pump water or doesn't it matter?
Jim

 

Tangster...Do you have any pictures of your set-ups? You have explained things perfectly so I get it but I have to admit that pictures are great learning tools.

 

I hear you on that totalt redo Otty. The flows do matter and if you can slow them down you will see a difference unless you are relying on the cheado tumble weed stuff that needs a mush faster flow But does not come near the leafier algae plants in removing the nutrients from the water.. But I'd try to work with what you have now if at all possible ?

 

Isleeper are you asking me why I don't add the sub floor ? If so all I'd say is why Not me buddy I know what I have and how it works so I'd ask why mess with it I'm not one to ever mess with anything really once I set it up. I have ran my fuges like I do for many many yrs and I have ran course rocks and large rubble and fine sand and cat litter and what I find is a 3 to 4 inches deep sand or cat litter mud flooring with lots of broken rubble laid up in the corners and a few pieces of larger rock to give hiding areas and algaes and I really never saw the need for the flooring I saw in that video and from what
All I could get from what the guy was saying is that the first sump he found them in also was bare and nothing specially built either.. Its no need to reinvent nature I think.. Many do but I'm not the tinkering type.. i was yrs ago as my sons are now LOL I have seen so many ideas come and go I just base what i do on many mnay yrs of doing it one way or the other until I found what worked the better. And once I find it sometimes alone and sometimes with help I stick with it If it ain't broke why fix it just because someone who did not know what was going one at first even had found it totly by mistake thinks he has a better idea then nature ? All the mud flats and marshes I played in as a kid I never say light diffusers as a needed item.. I think he told me the whole story when he said he had been servicing the systems and he never saw it ?? Must not paid much attention to his work LOL

 

Nope sorry I'm no camera guy But I can get some of how I'm setting the 180 up here and as I put the fuge together.. I'll be drilling the 15gal for the fuge when we g-get back to Ct next week and setting it up I'll have amcarrig to take some pictures and post them for y'all.. I have fuges at Home and at the shop in Va. If someone has a Camera there I'll post some for you..

 

I am currently looking to get some of the Marine/Outdoor EPDM foam rubber weather stripping that they use in removable baffle that someone posted on here a little while back. That would be perfect for what I have in mind. baffles If anyone knows where to buy this stuff please let me know. I am trying to find on Google now. I will figure a way to get it divided if I have to just run a tube from the input side across the fuge to the pump chamber and then split my incoming water from the OF and dial it down with a valve. Sounds like a plan I just have to implement it.....:-/

 

Tangster, that wasn't directed towards you as I can tell you are stuck in your old ways. Just kidding. You're right, the author "stumbled" upon what you all ready know. You are cutting edge and didn't even know it.
Most of the last post was directed to Otty because I followed the buid of his fuge and the egg crate floor would go nicely into that.
Sorry for the confusion.
Jim

 

Otty, thanks for the link. You just changed my mind......again.
It's ugly but total function in the long run.

 

Let me know if you find a online dealer somewhere for it, I still haven't found any. Glad it helped.

 

Google "EPDM weatherstripping" and there is a bunch. 3M makes some but it is too thick I believe. I ran into a couple glazing tapes that would probably be neater looking if it worked.
Try this 3/8X3/4X10Ftsponge Rbrwthrstrp 06635 by M D Building Products Info and Reviews at DoItYourself.com
$4.00 per 10 feet.
White, brown Weatherstrip Product Info and Reviews at DoItYourself.com