Build The Fuge

SuperScro

SuperScro

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Sep 3, 2006
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The only tank I could find that would fit under my display nicely was a 5.5 gallon. I suppose its a good size for just a refugium, and having a fuge is better than nothing at all.

The main problem I need to work out is with the baffles. Here is a picture of what I want it to look like. (see below)

If that looks like it would work, then here are a few questoins.
1. What should the lengths be between the two baffles? I assume one inch.
2. The return pump should be more than the overflow?
3. How big should the first and third chambers be (the intake and return side) length wise.

Refugium.jpg
 
Anybody have some input? I believe it will work, just looking for advice and such. The baffle b/t the fuge and outtake chamber will be a teeth baffle, if that does work.

I also chose with getting the refugium first then and RO/DI since I don't have a lot of cash. My phosphates and nitrates have disappeared, along with a lot of my algae disappearing and dying, specifically my red bubble algae which had turned brown and withered away.
 
1" between baffles is fine, especially in such a small fuge tank.

Ideally, you want the return chamber to be as large as possible, as this is the area where you will notice the change in water level due to evaporation.

Being such a small fuge, I'd suggest not putting any sand / mud in the center section, just chaetomorpha. Also, replace the last baffle with an equal size of eggcrate, just to keep the chaeto from getting sucked into your return pump. This will merge the return pump section and the chaeto section, essentially increasing the size of the return pump section while still allowing an area for chaeto.

Glad to hear your algae problems are going away!
 
Thanks for the response. Its a shame I can't find anything else that will fit, since my stand is oddly shaped underneath. I could consider building my own, but I don't know how difficult that would be.

Would the eggcrate allow a lot less water to be in the fuge? Since the center area and the return side are connected? Won't the pump just send the water out before the water level can rise? Or should the return pump be higher in the tank?
 
I've yet to try building my own tank, but there's several people that have done so. If you have the correct tools and some patience, it shouldn't be all that difficult.

Using eggcrate instead of a baffle between the macro algae and return pump should have little overall effect on the amount of water in the fuge. Yes, the water level in the macro algae section will fluctuate with evaporation. However, in such a small fuge, it's good protection against running the return pump dry. With a baffle that water has to flow over just prior to the return pump (instead of eggcrate), you can control how much water constantly stays in the macro algae chamber, but the return pump section will be very small and you'd likely find yourself topping off quite frequently just to keep enough water in that chamber for the return pump to stay submerged.

I would not advise raising the return pump up off the bottom of the fuge. That would create a situation where even less water has to evaporate before the pump is in danger of running dry.
 
What about combining the fuge area with the intake chamber? Such as having water go strait into the fuge. Giving more refugium area and return area. Is it possible?

It sounds like my fuge wouldn't work very well, and keeping the return pump submerged seems difficult. That is, it depends on how much water I need to add and how frequently I can do it.

I can post dimensions of what size tank I can fit under my main display. Don't know if it would help tho.
 
SuperScro said:
What about combining the fuge area with the intake chamber? Such as having water go strait into the fuge. Giving more refugium area and return area. Is it possible?

It sounds like my fuge wouldn't work very well, and keeping the return pump submerged seems difficult. That is, it depends on how much water I need to add and how frequently I can do it.

I can post dimensions of what size tank I can fit under my main display. Don't know if it would help tho.
Click to expand...


If you have it going straight into the fuge I'd at the very least use a bubble tower with live rock to help cut down some of the flow and bubbles. Even still it isn't ideal because you don't want fast flow through the fuge.
 
Grins said:
If you have it going straight into the fuge I'd at the very least use a bubble tower with live rock to help cut down some of the flow and bubbles. Even still it isn't ideal because you don't want fast flow through the fuge.
Click to expand...

Yeah I figured that. I have the 5.5 gallon already, but I am still going to see if I can find something larger that will fit. The 5.5 gallon is better than nothing tho.
 
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