DIY Refugium help

whyamisofl

whyamisofl

Active Member
I have this sump -

and was wondering if there was a way to modify it for a good refugium under my 60g. I have a 20g sump under the tank right now, but I want to add a refugium also.
I did a DIY refugium out of a 5g tank, but I just moved and thought I would upgrade a little bit and get some more usable room.
Any suggestions??
Total dims are 19" Long x 10" wide x 12" Tall
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Absolutely!
Can you elevate the wet/dry above the sump a little? I mean can it be raised enough that you can plumb out of it and into the sump, so you can gravity feed from the fuge. A couple inches is all that you would need. Post up a pic of your current sump and the space you want it to go. Converting to a fuge is as easy as removing the bio balls and replacing them with LRR. Then adding some cheato in the other large section. You could do a SB in there also if you wanted. How tall is the baffle that extends up?
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2755862
If you could take out that baffle in the middle of your wet/dry, and add two taller ones then it could work. Heres a pic: http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...1000757po1.jpg
Hope that helps
I dont see any point in doing that. If you just want an add on fuge, theres no reason you need to add ANY baffles. Or for that matter remove the center one. Of course, you could, but it wont necessarily make much of a difference.
Here ya go.
 
whyamisofl

whyamisofl

Active Member
And this is why I love this site.....
Thanks man!!! Never even thought about the gravity feed!! I was going to run a small pump in there back into the tank!
 
whyamisofl

whyamisofl

Active Member
I will be T'ing off the overflow into the fuge.....
Question though.......what should/can I use for the return back into the sump??? Would a snug piece 3/4" pvc siliconed in there work??? Trying to keep the cost at a minimum, but if I have to buy a bulkhead, then I have to buy a bulkhead!
 
fishfreak1242

fishfreak1242

Active Member
Originally Posted by whyamisofl
http:///forum/post/2765769
I will be T'ing off the overflow into the fuge.....
Question though.......what should/can I use for the return back into the sump??? Would a snug piece 3/4" pvc siliconed in there work??? Trying to keep the cost at a minimum, but if I have to buy a bulkhead, then I have to buy a bulkhead!
You don't have to buy a bulkhead unless you want to drill the wet/dry. What you can do is just attach some pipe onto the end of the return pump so that it fits snuggly and then plump it back to the tank.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
I'm not sure what fishfreak was saying......
Anyhow, buy a bulkhead, it's only a few dollars for one, also, get one that plenty big enough to handle whatever flow will be being delivered to the fuge. 3/4 IMO ain't gonna cut it. I'd do like 1 1/4. This will guarantee it will handle the flow. You could get away with 1", but why not go just a tad higher and if you ever need more flow through it, you have the room.
 
whyamisofl

whyamisofl

Active Member
1 1/4" it is........then do I just use 1 1/4" pvc through it?? or do I have to silicone it in?
Would a Lowe's or HD carry bulkhead fittings or do I have to order one?
BTW, Thanks guys!
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Get a bulkhead and dremmel the hole in the side of the fuge Up as high as you can to allow for a higher water level in the fuge. But leave enough acrylic to hold the bulkhead in well. Inside the fuge you don't need anything other than maybe a grate it screen of some sorts to keep things from plugging the drain...more on that later on. Then just insert the pipe into the bulkhead, run as far as you want it to run, (slightly down hill if more than a few inches)90 down into the sump and pipe into the water level.
Now, when you "T" of the drain, it will be better if you can increase the pipe size, use a "Y"(if you can even find one) and then add a ball valve to control the flow if need be through the fuge and through the sump. This will allow you to change how the flow is diverted through the sump/fuge. Of course, you want to be sure that either drain can handle the total flow if needed.
These things will cost just a few dollars but will make a big difference in how the flow functions for you.
 
whyamisofl

whyamisofl

Active Member
Cool, thanks.
Would a hardware store or Lowe's carry bulkheads?
Lastly, how much acrylic should I leave on top (between the bulkhead and top)?
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
I'd leave around an inch or so myself. No, you'll have to order ther bulkheads online. Many vendors sell them.
 
fishfreak1242

fishfreak1242

Active Member
Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
http:///forum/post/2765832
I'm not sure what fishfreak was saying......
Anyhow, buy a bulkhead, it's only a few dollars for one, also, get one that plenty big enough to handle whatever flow will be being delivered to the fuge. 3/4 IMO ain't gonna cut it. I'd do like 1 1/4. This will guarantee it will handle the flow. You could get away with 1", but why not go just a tad higher and if you ever need more flow through it, you have the room.
Srry, didnt really understand the question so I just winged it.
 
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