Fuge question

[slider101]

I am ignorant when it comes to fuges and things. I have a 55 gal DT now with a HOB Emperor 400 and protein skimmer hanging on the back. What size tank would you need to start a fuge? I came across a 10 gal tank, would that work? Also how do you build one? What purpose does it serve? Could I get rid of my HOB and skimmer on my display tank and move it to the fuge? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[number1gsxxr]

It all depends on what you want to use it for. If you want a place to put your skimmer and equipment it might need to be a little larger. If you are just looking for a place to grow some copepods or macroalgae then it might not need to be as big. You have to ask yourself what you really want to use it for. A fuge can serve many purposes and provide many benefits. By running a fuge you increase the total water volume which is always good. It provides an area where things can grow without being eaten by predators. Many people use it to grow macroalgae with can take up nutrients and by trimming that algae you are then removing the nutrients from your system. You can move your HOB ot skimmer to the fuge. It's a great way to clean up the look of your display tank.
Here is one example of a 10g sump to get you started. http://www.tylermerrick.com/content/sump.php

 

[slider101]

Question, how do I get the water to flow from the DT down to the sump/fuge? A pump? I figured that the drain and return would have to be matched or it would either overflow if not enough return or suck dry if to big a return pump.

 

[nihoa]

if your tank is up and running and you dont want to take it all apart to drill it for a built in overflow youll need to get yourself an overflow box. it basically siphons water from your tank and then you pump back into the tank from the fuge. an overflow box will only siphon as fast as you pump back into the tank and will prevent any overflow problems in the dt or sump.

 

[slider101]

Is there any threads on here on how to make an overflow box? I am pretty handy with plexiglass and making things with it. Or where do I buy one? So it doesn't matter how fast the return pump is, the overflow box will keep it flowing down into the fuge just as fast right?

 

[nihoa]

overflow boxes will be rated as to how fast they can siphon. for one with a u-tube design the flow rate is limited by the size or number of the u-tubes. typically you see 300, 600, 800, and up into the thousands gph. my point about the return pump was important though, if your return pump is 300gph and has to raise water from your sump up to your display tank there will be serious reduction in flow. you may only be returning half or a third of your pumps rating and this will limit how fast your overflow will siphon. i suppose you could have the opposite problem, if your pump fill the tank higher than your overflow box is rated you could overflow the tank. matching your pump to your overflow though isnt that difficult.
if you were to google diy overflow boxes or search the net for retailers selling them you could see a design that you could try and build yourself. i have a friend who does acrylic work and he is building me mine. they can be ridiculously expensive. also try watching for them on aquarium hardware for sale threads.