motti November 19, 2017 Share November 19, 2017 I am trying to optimize the flow throughout my system. I have a 50g refugium, which is connected to the display tank (270), sump (40-80) and a frag tank (30). What should be the idea turnover rate for the refugium based on the size of this system? would 2x or 3x be enough? I don't have a lot of growth in there, the refugium is pretty much used as a food source, and some softies.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motti November 19, 2017 Author Share November 19, 2017 Sorry it posted it twice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madweazl November 20, 2017 Share November 20, 2017 I have no idea what the flow rate on my system is; 5x seems to be conventional wisdom but I have no idea what the figure is based on. Triton shoots for 10x but I dont see why that wouldnt work on any system (or if less would affect their system). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reeferCub November 25, 2017 Share November 25, 2017 I have this same question. Is there an ideal turnover rate for macro algae based refugium for fast growth of macro algae? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen November 25, 2017 Share November 25, 2017 I get better growth with more flow. My refuge is about 9 gallons and I have a sicce syncra 1.5 running water through it. It's rated for 358 gph but I'm guessing with head loss I'm getting around 300-325 gph. I had a smaller pump before and was getting a 10x turn over rate. Nothing was growing well. When I replaced the pump and things started getting blown around and tumbled the gracilaria and caulerpa took off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madweazl November 25, 2017 Share November 25, 2017 (edited) I just did some gonkulating and it looks like I'm running about 345gph after head and flow loss (speed setting three on a Waveline DC-6000) which is approx 4.5x. Edited November 25, 2017 by madweazl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madweazl November 26, 2017 Share November 26, 2017 I was thinking about this again today and thought my numbers seemed a bit off. I had calculated the head loss wrong and was actually only getting about 270gph flow rate (assuming 80% efficiency with the plumbing) and that is roughly 3.5x turn over rate. Curious, I went ahead and bumped that up to 450gph for 6x turnover rate (speed step five on the pump); we'll see if that brings about any changes but I doubt I'll see much of a difference. This did marginally increase the water level in the tank so I'll have to mix up some additional water for todays water change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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