Trying to Create a Refugium

[Guest reverai]

I just upgraded to a 50 gallon tank and thought I could easily create a refugium with an old 10 gallon tank I've been using to create live rock. There is what seems to be a good refugium kit for 10 gallon tank on Ebay "http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3212&item=4354938981&rd=1" but when I emailed him he told I also needed an overflow box to bring the water down to the refugium. I had though it would just be a matter of powerheads and pumps and tubing but it looks look that is wrong.

 

Steve

[xeon]

Well, if you are placing it below you tank.. then yes you need an overflow of some kind.  You can either drill the display tank for an overflow or use an overflow box.  Trying to match a pump to move water out and another to pump it back in... it just doesn't work.  If you want to place the refuge above your tank, you would them pump water from the display tank to the refuge.   You would want to drill the 10 gallon to gravity return to your display tank.  So how and where do you propose to have the refuge?

[Guest reverai]

Well, the kit for the ten gallon adds two bulkheads in an interested way without drilling it. I had thought with two pumps ect ..one from the ten gallon and a return pump from the tank. Like I could with an external filter.  Water  goes back and forth easily but I guess the amounts of water that needs to exchanged  for refugium a is many times what a filter exchanges. My refuge would be under the tank.

 

Steve

[steveoutlaw]

Steve- I just finished a sump/fuge for my tank.  I got 2 amiracle overflow boxes (U-tube design 600gph) for $35.00 on e-bay.  I also got a mag12 off e-bay and used an SCWD.  It is working like a champ.  E-mail me at steveoutlaw@verizon.net and I'll send you pics.

 

Steve

[steveoutlaw]

Oh, almost forgot.  You can measure and get glass cut locally for your fuge so you can set it up the way you want.  it's like 5.00 per piece of glass.

[Guest reverai]

Hello, would I need Mag5 to handle the water exchange between the two tanks? I was hoping a Mag2 would be enough!

 

Thanks

Steve

[Guest reverai]

Oh when you say I could get  "glass cut locally for your fuge" are you talking about the ten gallon tank or my main tank? Well, unless they can come over and working in a small area, my main tank isn't going to get cut. I don't want to stress my fish ect as it's only been a month or so since they moved into their new home! But the ten gallon would be willing easily as right now it just as live rock and plants!

 

Steve

[xeon]

A MAG 2 at what head loss... ie. how much vertical pumping is it going to do?  My guess is it wouldn't be enough... so yes on the MAG5.  Your overflow "flow" is a direct reaction to the flow coming back into the tank from the return pump.  So if you are pumping 300gph back into the tank... you will see 300gph on the overflow.  You also need to make sure your overflow is capable of handling the flow amount.  You should also make sure the return pump chamber in your refuge is sufficient enough to allow for some variable water level fluctuations.    

 

I think the point they were getting at on getting glass cut is that you can get small pieces cut locally for cheap.  Certainly much cheaper than the "refuge" kit on E-bay.  BTW, I looked at it and it is acrylic they are sending as baffles. (I think)  Even still, you can pick up scraps of acrylic locally if you wanted acrylic for some reason.  The only reason/advantage I could see acrylic over glass in your application would be the ease of cutting teeth... which might help on a baffle to hold back macros.

[Guest reverai]

It looks like the pump will need to push the water about 36 inches up.....will a Mag 2 lose to much of the power to push up the water for a 10 gallon tank?

 

Thanks

Steve

[Guest maestro774]

I have a mag5 I'm probably not going to use if you want it.  I bought it new and used it in my new tank to mix salt, other than that it has been sitting on a shelf.  At 3' I think the mag5 does 385 gal/hr.

[steveoutlaw]

Steve - Sorry it took so long to reply.  When I say getting the glass cut locally I'm talking about baffles to go into your 10g.  BTW, what type of overflow did you get?

[Guest reverai]

I'm still waiting on several auctions on Ebay for an overflow...and so yes, where would be a good place to get the baffles cut for a 10 gallon tank?

 

Thanks

Steve

[GaryL]

steve if you do the measurement just take them to lowes or home depot and get plexiglass cut for it. that would be all you need for 10 gallon

[Guest reverai]

When I get the baffles cut I'd guess there would need some holes ect for the water to pass though from section to section or does one just make them low so the water flows over the top?

 

Thanks

Steve

[Guest Siders]

Just saw this and I did the same w/ an overflow box. Ihave a Rio 1800 on the bottom pushing bout 300gph at 36''headloss it was rated for 495gph max. Works like a charm. I used four 1/4'' holes with anoise damper and it will need more holes soon.