Fuge flow?

[frankthetank]

I have a 18g sump with a 8x10" fuge section in it. The baffles are 12" tall. Do I need to add flow in the fuge section with a ph? I put about 3" deep sand bed, 1lbs rubble rock and some caulerpa and cheato in the fuge. I can tell there is a little flow in the fuge, but not a ton obviously. I purchased a maxi jet 400 for the purpose... but I have not hooked it up in the fuge section yet. I was originally going to run it in the fuge section to tumble the macro algae. Necessary or not?
Quiet One 2200 for a return pump... does 500+ gph, but I have it throttled back some with a ball valve.
Also, a Aqua C Urchan skimmer in the intake section.
Use the maxi jet or not?

 

[frankthetank]

Anyone? It's a 3 section sump/fuge: skimmer/fuge/return

 

[reefkprz]

I would say no to the powerhead the lower the flow is through the fuge section the more time it has to interact with the water. plus it will allow any suspended detritus to settle in this section, allowing the highest concentration of created nitrates (from the detritus) to be right where your macro algaes are for quick consumption.
thats my view on it others may have differing opinions.

 

[frankthetank]

Ok... Any strategy with the caulerpa and cheato? They are both pretty tangled together in a bundle. Is this ok? I just put it in last week.
My nitrates are 0!

 

[hurt]

I'm on the other end of the spectrum as reefkprZ...
For those who are aware of who Anthony Calfo is, here are a few quotes from him on fuges, turnover rates, etc.
""Thus... for Chaeto in a 20 gall 'fuge... a 400gph flow (20X) is not asking a lot. Its not enough flow in many cases (like when significant particulates enter from incoming water). In such cases where aquarists get misled to use the old slow-flow recs (under 10X)... it is no wonder the refugium becomes a cess-pool of nuisance algae.
Slow flow in most any refugium (other than settling chamber styles that are actively serviced) has been one of the single biggest tidbits of "mythinformation" promoted at large in recent years. Its patently bad husbandry IMO.
Anthony"
And on the subject of feeding "raw water" to a fuge instead of skimmed water to a fuge here is some more info from the same author on this subject...
"above all things else... the skimmer needs to get all raw water first. Otherwise, organics that you would prefer to be exported are allowed to linger as sediment, get tied up in refugia otherwise, etc.
Be very direct about aggressive skimming and supply it with first chamber raw water."

 

[reefkprz]

Very interesting. I may have to rethink my sump strategy.
although i have never expirienced the Cesspool effect he mentions, I belive it could be very possible in overfed/overstocked/high nutrient systems.
and I completly agree with the agressive skimming, ANY detritus you can remove you should.

 

[gatorwpb]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
I would say no to the powerhead the lower the flow is through the fuge section the more time it has to interact with the water. plus it will allow any suspended detritus to settle in this section, allowing the highest concentration of created nitrates (from the detritus) to be right where your macro algaes are for quick consumption.
thats my view on it others may have differing opinions.
My flow is about 500gph through the fuge, but my fuge acts like feerkprz describes here.

 

[frankthetank]

Listen, I know the water is flowing thru the sump/fuge at 400 or gph. Like I said, I have a Quiet One 2200 return pump that will return at 581gph. But I have it throttled back with a ball valve to match my drain. I'm guessing 300-400gph or so.
My thinking is, does the water really flow thru the fuge? Water flows over the first baffle and into the fuge and then over the next baffle and into the return. Does the water really ever flow down in the fuge all that much? Or does it simply flow over the top of the fuge more so?
Hence my original thought... put a maxi jet 400 (106gph) in the fuge section to "churn" the water in the fuge.
Still uncertain if this is a good idea?

 

[gatorwpb]

I can tell that the flow goes to the bottom from some of the bubles that gets through. But I have a big mat of cheato that floats on the top, so I think that forces the flow down some.
If you think youre not getting enough to the bottom, adding the PH doesnt seem like it would hurt.

 

[bkoz]

Being able to control flow through my fuge is why I went with a center return sump and larger return pump. I have 250-300gph being diverted into my fuge from my return. I can adjust the flow through my fuge and aim the flow so I have good movement. I would think a PH would help???

 

[frankthetank]

Well I hooked up my maxi jet 400 (106gph) into my fuge. I can definitely see a difference in the flow. I placed it low and angled the flow upward and off a baffle so it circulates in the fuge. Figured I might as well use some more electricity!

 

[donald]

The way I checked flow in my fuge is I took some purple up, because it makes the water cloudy, and put some in my overflow and then watched the fuge. The purple up will alow you to "track" the movement of the water through the fuge. You don't have to use purple up, anything that makes the water cloudy will work. Hope this helps

 

[frankthetank]

I can definitely see better flow in the fuge section now! I am proud of the maxi jet addition to the fuge. I'm really loving this tank set up now!
Of course, I'm going to pop the big question to my girlfriend in the next few months and we'll be combining belongings into one house (she'll say yes!)
I figured when we move in together this will be the perfect time to upgrade to a bigger tank.
I don't know if I want to just move everything over to the bigger tank I buy, or just sell this as a package? This is really a beautiful reef system for a 46g. But I only want one tank in my house... I think. Very addicting!

 

[reefkprz]

you could always take your favorites and sell off your least favorites to get more of the things you want (I personally have had what I wanted change as I have progressed through this hobby and have ended up doing away with things I once thought awesome but now find blasse')