RTR: diy rfug?

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pgfish

Registered Member
Nov 17, 2000
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Arkansas
RTR,
In previous posts you mentioned a complete diy rfug. Do you have a link to that process? I cannot find ug plates the size of my tank ,24"x84". Can I use multiples of smaller ug plates that could be combined to fit? Is there a way to build such an item? Or would you just suggest I stick with another form of filtration?
Thanks much.
 
I use a RFUGF. I only have one plate (one third of the bottom surface area) in use, the rest is planting substrate and I would say that it works great.

Yes, most UGF kits have plates that can be linked together.
 
I have never written up the DIY setup, but it is not original to me. Many folks have done this, including Tom Barr. You may want to play with some Google searches to see if it on the Web already somewhere.

I've used PVC or CPVC 1/2" pipe straight, T, and 90-degree elbows to make a grid fitting the bottom of the tank, with a bit of allowance all around. The linear straight sectons are spaced about <3" apart, with everything test-fitted without cement. Then dismantle the appartus after marking where the holes need to be and use a drill press or power drill benchtop stand to drill the holes. on each side of the interior straights, almost all of the holes on the outer loop are toward the interior of the tank (very few holes toward the side/front/back glasses). I've angled most of mine about 45-degrees down toward the bottom of the tank, but I do not see any significant difference in function to holes drilled parallel to the base of the tank. One hole per straight section is vertically oriented to purge air initially. Once cemented and cured and rinsed well, position the grid in the tank again, cover with a sheet (may need to be in 2-3 pieces for handling) of plastic eggcrate, then a single or double layer of fiberglass mesh windowscreen, with extra material tucked down around the outside of the assembly to keep gravel from migrating into the real plumbing area.

There are only two tricks to the entire setup (assuming that working w/PVC is not a big challenge). The first is to cover the assembly slightly with water before adding the gravel - to avoid trapping excess air in the tube assembly and under the screen(s). The second is mating the RF-adapter kit to the pipe upright. I have boxes of adapters gathered through the years, so this is not a particular issue for me. A piece or pieces of curved cork bark conceal the ugly pipe upright from casual view, but don't block access to the connector and powerhead.
 
Thankyou both! Since this is a rather large tank and I plan to have substancial rockwork I will use eggcrate on the bottom anyway to protect the glass. Just wanted to put the eggrcate to better use than just the cusion for the rocks. Will probably end up with the back part of the tank "over engineered" diy rufg, and just have the front few inches without. Can do this using 18" ug plates I think. Good idea or not?
Thanks for any and all imput.
pgfish:)
 
You do not have to cover the entire bottom w/RFUG, but you have to protect the edges from gravel creep into the ug area, so use the fiberglass mesh to enclose the whole assembly as is done for plenums. And don't forget to vacuum the unfiltered substrate routinely.
 
I have been tinkering with the idea for a refuge myself. I almost bought one of those external HOT refugiums from Drs. Foster and Smith tonight but had a (what I think is) a better idea. The 75 I am placing the refuge on has a wooden canopy I built for it. It's 12 inches above the rim of the tank. Very solid. Some of my best work :D. Anyway I recently purchased some items from a fellow. Various corals, hermit crabs, mantis shrimp, talbot's damsel, pencil urchin, and some live rock. He had this stuff in a 29 gallon tank. The tank broke and he placed what he could save in a Eclipse 3 he had at his office. The little thing was just full of life. He had modified the lighting in the Eclispe with 2 Coralife mini PC bulbs, giving the tank 20 watts of light or basically 6.6 watts per gallon. All he said he did was buy 2 ceramic light sockets from Home Depot or Lowes and screw them into the holes that were already there for the factory made lighting. He inserted 2 Coralife PC bulbs in and added cords to the sockets. He said it all cost him about 30 bucks. 20 of that was just for the bulbs. I'll take some pics and put it on another thread here if anyone wants to try it.

Anyway, my idea with the Eclipse 3 (since I don't want to keep such a small closed system) is to turn it into a refuge to sit on top of my 75's canopy. I purchased an Azoo 1200 to sit in my sump. I also purchased 2 bulkhead fitting kits (one is 1/2" and the other is 3/4"), a ball valve, mineral mud, and an 11" siphon tube with strainer.

My plan is to install the bulkheads into the Eclipse. The 1/2" in the top left back corner pointing forward, and the 3/4" in the top right back corner facing foward, both at the same height. I'm going to place the pump in the sump of my wet/dry, and it will pump into the 1/2" bulkhead in the eclipse. The water will be slowed down to about 30 gallons per hour or whatever I need to create water movement without disturbing the sand bed with the ball valve. The water will then flow out of the eclipse through the 3/4" bulkhead. The tubing will flow into a tube, down to the siphon tube which I'm going to shorten the shortest end and then into the 75. I got the longer siphon tube so whatever flows out of the eclipse has a better chance of getting to the bottom or some rocks before something snatches it. I should be able to grow lots of pods and algea/plants in this thing with no problem. Hopefully...

One question though. What should I put in it? I plan on about 2 3 inches of mineral mud on the bottom, and a few very small chunks of live rock. Anyone know any sand activator packages that are worth it?

Also here's a list of items and prices if anyone wants to give it a try.
Eclipse 3 =$39.99
Azoo 1200 pump = $11.99
3/4" x 11" Siphon tube with strainer = $2.19
1/2" Bulkhead fitting kit = $6.69
3/4" Bulkhead fitting kit = $7.19
7' 1/2" Tubing (bought locally) = $2.85
4' 3/4" Tubing (bought locally) = $2.00
1 1/2" Ball Valve = $3.00
Mineral Mud (optional)= 19.99
2 Coralife mini PC bulbs = $20.00
Various electrical items (sockets for bulbs and cord) = $10.00.
Total = $125.89
 
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