adding a refugeum

[cuccaro]

I plan on adding a 10g refugeum to my 55g reef. I don't have a sump I have a hang on protein skimmer and canister filters my question is my refugrum is going to be under the tank can I just use a couple of power heads to move water from 55 to 10 and back?

 

[geoj]

I will say no that would not be a good way to do it. I would use an overflow and one pump in the refugeum.

 

[cuccaro]

What would be the reason not to use two pumps?

 

[geoj]

Flood
If one pump stops you will have a flood. If power is cut off, a siphon will be started and you will have a flood.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I agree with GeoJ.
Get a small overflow, like an Eshopps Nano overflow and a small pump like a mag 3. 10g is small, are you sure you can't fit anything larger in there?

 

[geoj]

In the pic water is pumped up to the tank and there is a little hole in the water line just below the water surface. That hole is there so that when the power is cut off the siphon will be stopped by air entering the line.

 

[cuccaro]

If I have two pumps one in 55 one in refugeum. And power goes out both stop pumping water. So they can't flood. Because both pumps will be off only water that will come thru is what's in hose not enough to cause overflow

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoJ http:///t/391568/adding-a-refugeum#post_3473374
In the pic water is pumped up to the tank and there is a little hole in the water line just below the water surface. That hole is there so that when the power is cut off the siphon will be stopped by air entering the line.
Even if you put a small hole in the powerhead drain line, the two pump system will still not work.

 

[cuccaro]

So if I have a power back up for both pumps I will be ok? Is flooding my only concern here?

 

[geoj]

If I have two pumps one in 55 one in refugeum. And power goes out both stop pumping water. So they can't flood. Because both pumps will be off only water that will come thru is what's in hose not enough to cause overflow Yes, if you do not siphon water, if you have a hole in both lines. But if one of the pumps starts and the other does not you flood. If one pump, pumps more water, and the one pumping out of the tank will pump more water then the one in the sump because of head height, then you flood. If one pump stops pumping and this does happen as they get older you flood. :laughing:

 

[snakeblitz33]

As stated, not a good idea.

 

[geoj]

You will be needing one of these flood alarms :laughing:

 

[sweatervest13]

Why is it that people come on here and ask for advice, get it, then question it? That always confuses me.
2 pumps and no overflow = flood. Not if, but when. 100%

 

[cuccaro]

Well I see u can't read I was just asking questions about it and what would be out comes. So how about u mind your own business if you just wanna be an ass

 

[bubblegurl]

Why is it that people come on here and ask for advice, get it, then question it?   That always confuses me.
2 pumps and no overflow = flood.  Not if, but when.  100%
I'm not here much and it's comments like these that drove me away. Somebody asked why this forum has slowed down and I've seen this over and over here. How does this help the op?
Cuccaro - I had a 55 gl with the same set up. Why not use a hob filter as a refugium? I did and the only issue I had was the noise from the water flowing back in the tank and bubbles it caused. I couldn't raise my skimmer higher out if the water to maintain its recommended water level bec of the trim on the tank. I'm sure I could have come up with something to deal with this, but I ended up getting a larger tank and sump. This way theres no chance of a flood. With my set up, small pump pulled the water in and it overflowed naturally back to the tank. If it failed, there was a small amount of water that flowed back in.
The comments on 2 pumps and a flood are correct with 2 pumps. If one fails, the other tank will flood, you could actually drain your entire dt. Let the water siphon out of the dt and then pump it back up. You still run a flood risk if the pump fails and the water continues to siphon into the Refugium, therefore you would have to keep the water level at the appropriate level in the fuge. You'd also have to find a pump that meets the flow of the water going into the fuge and would likely need a valve to control it.
Hth!

 

[geoj]

If you are going to put the fuge under the tank having a drilled tank is better then one with an over the top siphoning overflow, as the siphoning overflow can fail. If you can live with putting the fuge up above the tank then you can pump up to it and have the fuge drilled so it will drain down in to the tank. I really think it comes down to how much you want to spend.