DIY refugium.......

[9supratt4]

I had posted this topic once before, I think in January or so, but since then I bought a new system. I'm going from my 55 to a 180.

I had a plan for a refugium on my 180, but it's not going to work since the sump I have isn't big enough to have a refugium and skimmer in it.

My new setup is a 180 with built in dual overflows and an Oceanic model 3 sump. I also just got my ASM G3 skimmer for it and when I put the skimmer in the sump I found out I'm out of room.

The sump has two drains on the side on the bottom that are not being used. And I have a Pan Word NH-100-PX-X external pump I am not using. Anyone have any ideas on how I can incorporate all of this to make a fuge?

 

[9supratt4]

Would this work:

 

[vangvace]

That should work. Something else you could try is to run a drain line into the fuge and the fuge's drain into the fuge.

 

[9supratt4]

I'm a little confused by "the fuge's drain into the fuge." I'm also getting people saying that I shouldn't drain directly to the fuge because of detritus and the such from the DT.

 

[Hawkeye]

you're spending a lot of money on a 180 - but this design you have is complicated and in my opinion risking a flood.

It looks like you have two return pumps attached to one line going up? Am I reading that right?

 

[9supratt4]

I'm not speniding much as I have the extra pump sitting around as well as extra pvc and a tub to be used as the refugium. All it is is man power.

But yes, I was thinking about having the return line from the fuge tie into the return line from the sump, with a ball valve of course.

 

[stcreef]

I would drain both lines into the sump/skim and let that overflow into the fuge then pump from there up the returns. Make sure there is enough excess volume to the fuge to prevent overflow when return pump is shut off.

 

[9supratt4]

How would I get it to overflow into the fuge without drilling the sump??

 

[vangvace]

I'm a little confused by "the fuge's drain into the fuge." I'm also getting people saying that I shouldn't drain directly to the fuge because of detritus and the such from the DT.

oops I meant that the fuge drains into the sump.

 

[waynes reef]

why 2 seperate units and not just one large sump with a fuge built in?

 

[9supratt4]

Trying to save some money because I already have all these parts laying around.

 

[stcreef]

How would I get it to overflow into the fuge without drilling the sump??

Your drawing shows two extra ports already on the sump. Just add two ports to the fuge and tie them together.

 

[9supratt4]

Will those work?? They are drilled side by side on the bottom of the sump near the return pumps.

 

[stcreef]

Will those work?? They are drilled side by side on the bottom of the sump near the return pumps.

Sure, you can even add stand pipes to it and put the fuge lower than the sump. Drain tank to sump, sump drains to fuge, then return pump from fuge up to tank.