Sump / refugium design

26-10-2005, 10:13 PM

Hi all,

I'm in the process of re-designing my sump. I have read throught several articles as well as the sticky threads on the topic. Seems like incorporating a refugium into the system is a good thing.

Thing is, is it better to have it as a stand alone or is it advisible to have it incorporated into the sump. I have come across designs that have the refugium in the sump's middle section after the mechanical filteration (first chamber) and before the skimmer/return chamber. Is the advisable?

Also for the refugium, I intend to use a corse coral stone underlay followed by a deep fine sand bed. as well as macroalgae complete with a PL tube for good measure. Is this fine?

All inputs are greatly appreciated.

**KaLiB** · 26-10-2005, 11:15 PM

By standalone, i'm assuming your referring to a refugium that is built on its own but connected to the maintank in 1 way or another. As for this, standalone or incorporated into the sump, its more or less up to the hobbyist. IMO, if you want a huge refugium, a standalone refugium could be a good idea as compared to a refugium incorporated into a sump. A refugium incorporated into the sump could have very limited space.

IMO, putting the refugium after the filter comparments and before the skimmer+return chamber is fine. For my setup, i have it after the mech+bio filter and before the return chamber. Due to some miscalculations, i ended up having my skimmer planted into the refugium which so far works out fine too.

A deep sand bed(DSB) in a refugium has limited effeciency as the surface area is significantly smaller than a DSB in the maintank. A DSB works well when there's more surface area so its better to have it in the maintank if possible. Of course, despite this, your idea of macroalgae+DSB is fine and would work.

27-10-2005, 10:16 PM

Bro nice 4ft tank, how much is it ? Tank alone & with all the equipments ?

27-10-2005, 11:02 PM

Thanks for the input bro, I think I will do something similar to your pics but will incorporate the skimmer and refugium in the sump. Mine is a 5ft x 20 inch x 2 ft tall tank, so I guess a 3ft all in one will surfice.

**KaLiB** · 28-10-2005, 06:00 PM

If you intend to follow, IMO, make the return chamber larger as it is a little small. Water has to be topped up every 2-3days to ensure the pump will not suck in air.

29-10-2005, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaLiB

If you intend to follow, IMO, make the return chamber larger as it is a little small. Water has to be topped up every 2-3days to ensure the pump will not suck in air.

Thanks, point noted. I had this problem with my previous design. I'm going with a double wall so the water level in which the skimmer is in will be stable.

01-11-2005, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiteice

Thanks, point noted. I had this problem with my previous design. I'm going with a double wall so the water level in which the skimmer is in will be stable.

a double wall? could you explain what that means?

02-11-2005, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taylapong81

a double wall? could you explain what that means?

Sorry, double wall is an incorrect term, I mean making use of 2 pieces of glass in a sump seperation wall so that the skimmer can be located in a compartment whereby the water level is stable. The return pump can then be in a compartment whereby the effect of evaporation will cause the water level to fall. Very hard to explain wo diagram.

07-11-2005, 06:22 PM

Hmmm... i heard for refugiums, you really need to get the right kind of macro algae, if not species like caulerpa can go asexual and foul up your water more than help it...

but i'm not so sure about the DSB, on whether it's really good... there's been some debate about it's effectiveness, which i'm not so sure about... jiayou on your refugium!!

08-11-2005, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taylapong81

Hmmm... i heard for refugiums, you really need to get the right kind of macro algae, if not species like caulerpa can go asexual and foul up your water more than help it...

but i'm not so sure about the DSB, on whether it's really good... there's been some debate about it's effectiveness, which i'm not so sure about... jiayou on your refugium!!

Yup, I read about that in sgreef club too. I guess I will incorporate anything green that is not caulerpa. As for DSB, I may just replace it with life sand and/or mud.

Thanks for your Jia you

26-10-2005, 10:13 PM	#1
whiteice Guest Posts: n/a	Sump / refugium design Hi all, I'm in the process of re-designing my sump. I have read throught several articles as well as the sticky threads on the topic. Seems like incorporating a refugium into the system is a good thing. Thing is, is it better to have it as a stand alone or is it advisible to have it incorporated into the sump. I have come across designs that have the refugium in the sump's middle section after the mechanical filteration (first chamber) and before the skimmer/return chamber. Is the advisable? Also for the refugium, I intend to use a corse coral stone underlay followed by a deep fine sand bed. as well as macroalgae complete with a PL tube for good measure. Is this fine? All inputs are greatly appreciated.

26-10-2005, 11:15 PM	#2
KaLiB Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 3,635	By standalone, i'm assuming your referring to a refugium that is built on its own but connected to the maintank in 1 way or another. As for this, standalone or incorporated into the sump, its more or less up to the hobbyist. IMO, if you want a huge refugium, a standalone refugium could be a good idea as compared to a refugium incorporated into a sump. A refugium incorporated into the sump could have very limited space. IMO, putting the refugium after the filter comparments and before the skimmer+return chamber is fine. For my setup, i have it after the mech+bio filter and before the return chamber. Due to some miscalculations, i ended up having my skimmer planted into the refugium which so far works out fine too. A deep sand bed(DSB) in a refugium has limited effeciency as the surface area is significantly smaller than a DSB in the maintank. A DSB works well when there's more surface area so its better to have it in the maintank if possible. Of course, despite this, your idea of macroalgae+DSB is fine and would work. __________________ A fishtank is just like your computer. When your tank crash(OS crash), its time to cleanup(reformat hard drive) and setup(install OS) again and add new livestock(re-install software).

28-10-2005, 06:00 PM	#5
KaLiB Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 3,635	If you intend to follow, IMO, make the return chamber larger as it is a little small. Water has to be topped up every 2-3days to ensure the pump will not suck in air. __________________ A fishtank is just like your computer. When your tank crash(OS crash), its time to cleanup(reformat hard drive) and setup(install OS) again and add new livestock(re-install software).

27-10-2005, 10:16 PM	#3
skthk Guest Posts: n/a	Bro nice 4ft tank, how much is it ? Tank alone & with all the equipments ?

27-10-2005, 11:02 PM	#4
whiteice Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for the input bro, I think I will do something similar to your pics but will incorporate the skimmer and refugium in the sump. Mine is a 5ft x 20 inch x 2 ft tall tank, so I guess a 3ft all in one will surfice.

07-11-2005, 06:22 PM	#9
taylapong81 Guest Posts: n/a	Hmmm... i heard for refugiums, you really need to get the right kind of macro algae, if not species like caulerpa can go asexual and foul up your water more than help it... but i'm not so sure about the DSB, on whether it's really good... there's been some debate about it's effectiveness, which i'm not so sure about... jiayou on your refugium!!

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