disregard last message, It's late and you already answered that question more so just said every word I did. This T pipe, is it pvc from the local hardware store along with the ball valve? My apologies and appreciation for your time.
Plumbing this refugium?
- Thread starter rathman
- Start date
It is all run by gravity, so what happens is the water pumped into the main tank and b/c you have an overflow installed into the main tank, as water level rises the water goes into the overflow preventing the water building up in the main tank. The water then enters the overflow pipe and when it comes to the T pipe the flow is split in two, one part going into the sump and the other into the refugium. Then as with the main tank as the water level rises in the refugium the water enters the newly installed overflow box(which prevents the water from overflowing the refugium) , and from the overflow box the water returns back to the sump, and this complets the cycle. So it is all done by gravity, just get the water into the main tank. Also you will have to consider the size of the new pump. How much water do you want running through the refugium?
yet another question......
If i decide to buy an overflow box, what size would I need?
92g main taink, 950gph return pump in sump. built in overflow on main tank.....(just for quick ref)
If i decide to buy an overflow box, what size would I need?
92g main taink, 950gph return pump in sump. built in overflow on main tank.....(just for quick ref)
you said I need a new pump for what step in this process?
whats the optimal amount of water that should be running through my refugium?
whats the optimal amount of water that should be running through my refugium?
rathman said:
The new pump suggestion was b/c if you plumb the refugium dirrect from the tank, the water going through you filter media will be reduced a little, so if you want to keep the same amount of water going through the filter ,it would be best to get a extra smaller pump to substitute for that water flow loss.
Imho, I think you could get away with not adding an extra pump and still have the refugium turning over twice to three times an hour. That would make the flow into the refugium about 60g/per/hour. So in effect you will be reducing the flow into the filter by 60g/per/hour, in hindsight I suppose not that much of a loss. An extra pump would not be needed unless you absolutely want to maintain the same amount of water flow to the filter as before.
How about this...
My wet/dry has 2 holes on the top for two incoming tubes, I could just route the flow out of the overflow directly into second inlet on the top of the wet/dry. I would raise the refugium a few maybe five or so inches above the wet/dry so the gravity fed over flow would dump into the drip tray just like the main tanks over flow....idea?
this would eliminate the second pump and the flow into sump would be the same amount it was getting before...
J
My wet/dry has 2 holes on the top for two incoming tubes, I could just route the flow out of the overflow directly into second inlet on the top of the wet/dry. I would raise the refugium a few maybe five or so inches above the wet/dry so the gravity fed over flow would dump into the drip tray just like the main tanks over flow....idea?
this would eliminate the second pump and the flow into sump would be the same amount it was getting before...
J
Along with all the other questions I have on this subject...
What is the optimal way to stock this refugium i.e.plants, live sand, algea, etc...?
I have done little reading, I should say haven't found much reading on this...
J
What is the optimal way to stock this refugium i.e.plants, live sand, algea, etc...?
I have done little reading, I should say haven't found much reading on this...
J
rathman said:
Thats what I would be doing, but I was not sure you had enough room, and yes that would elliminate the need for an extra pump.
rathman said:
I would say plants would be your best bet, there is a member here named RTR that has a pic of a planted refugium in his sig, I will post the link to it.(I hope he dosen't mind)
http://64.191.28.50/forums/showthread.php?p=253791#post253791
There is a pic of one of his veggi filters about halfway down.
http://www.gwapa.org/articles/august2005/index.html
On the other hand I use two tanks the same size, one being completely planted. This method requires Co2 , whereas RTR's dose not.
Anyway you go if you use plants you will need to add lights.
The lights I know and what bulb would you recommend?
Being that you didn't comment on the sand issue, would I use some sort of gravel or nothing at all?
If I had the room i would do dual tanks same size...but since I dont have the available room, i will have to do with what will fit below my stand.
You have made it very easy for me to understand. I will add all this great info to my definate learning experience. Tango Yankee my friend!
J
Being that you didn't comment on the sand issue, would I use some sort of gravel or nothing at all?
If I had the room i would do dual tanks same size...but since I dont have the available room, i will have to do with what will fit below my stand.
You have made it very easy for me to understand. I will add all this great info to my definate learning experience. Tango Yankee my friend!
J
For lights I would recomend a kelvin rating of 5500k to 6500k, preferablely 5500k, but it wont make that much of a difference. With wattage you could maybe start with 60w and go from there.
For substrate, you could use a mix of flourite and gravel, or just flourite.
As for deep sand beds in freshwater refugiums, it is possible to do but I would be careful with these, b/c if they are not maintained proberly they can cause more trouble than good. Besides Imo I don't think they are that effective in reducing nutrients. Try reading up on saltwater refugiums, some things can be transfered to freshwater but some things cannot.
For substrate, you could use a mix of flourite and gravel, or just flourite.
As for deep sand beds in freshwater refugiums, it is possible to do but I would be careful with these, b/c if they are not maintained proberly they can cause more trouble than good. Besides Imo I don't think they are that effective in reducing nutrients. Try reading up on saltwater refugiums, some things can be transfered to freshwater but some things cannot.
