building a refugium

[Andy16]

I am thinking about doing this sometime soon. I have never built anyhitng myself and i am really interested in doing so. One thing i really want for my tank is a refugium. Ive looked at a few different possibilities for my tank. It is 20 gallons so nothing to big. The first thing i was planning on doing was buying an AC 500 and turning the media chamber into one. But now i think i would rather just have a tank just for the macroalgae. So the first thing is size. My 2 choices would be a 10 gallon or a 5 gallon tank. And then the pumps. What kind would i need if any? Also the return(how to get the water back into the tank. The last thing and the most important is to prevent it from overflowing. Im still confused on how to go about making an overflow free refugium.

[Guy W]

i have no idea, but since i almost always reply to your posts hello :D

[Andy16]

lol
thats a good one!
hey!

[mogurnda]

I'd get a 10 gallon. Have the top of the tank at the same level as the 20. You can use a little powerhead to push water in, and then a U-tube siphon for a return. You don't want too much flow, so a small pump will do. Maybe a second siphon to prevent overflow.

[Andy16]

The siphon uses gravity to return the water back to the tank right?




BTW, Welcome to the thread mogurnda;)

lol

[mogurnda]

Yep, the siphon uses gravity.

It's great to be here in the thread:D

[Andy16]

So if it uses gravity how do you get the flow started?

I think i figured out a design to get the tank level with the display tank. I am thinking about building a cabinet that is level with the tank and putting in in tehre. It will be pretty cool becuase you wont see the refugium at all unless you open it.

[mogurnda]

So if it uses gravity how do you get the flow started? As with any siphon, put the thing underwater, let it fill up, hold one end and move it to the other tank. Or put the siphon in both tanks, feed some airline tubing into the tube, and suck all the air out.

[tricksterpup]

You can also use a power head to push the water down into your fuge and have another (stronger one pushing the water back up.)
Once you have your syphon going, you can remove the one in the main tank.
But who said you need to have a fuge that small? You can have a fuge any size you want. I, personally, wouldnt go smaller than 10 gallons but you can have a fuge as big as your regular tank, this a spot for bugs and plants to thrive unmolested from the main display tank. I have heard of someone wanting to setup a 360 fuge tank for his 200 and his 125. So think beyond normal means, a fuge can be anysize you want it. But you will want to pick up a set of PC lights or MH, so you can have live rock. This will help with your filtration of your tank.

Jim

[NanoMan]

i am trying to make a fuge myself with an old 10 gallon i have.
but its no way i can have it level with the top of the disply tank.because i didnt think it out and put the tank in a corner.
and im not a good plumber so .....
what i need to know is the exact way to do it under my tank.
and all the parts i need.actually if you tell me all that i need i may be able to figure it out.
sorry to crash the thread.

mike

[slipknottin]

I wouldnt use a siphon, too complicated to setup for that type of application. See if you can find a small acrylic tank thats similar in size to a 10 gallon, and drill a hole through the side and use a bulkhead.