How to drain refugium back to sump

[wester97]

I am going to setup a refugium about a foot above my sump, and I just cant figure out how to get it to drain back to the sump. Any ideas/pictures?
Do I have to drill? or is their an easier way?

 

[ohioreef]

How about a HOB overflow?!?

 

[beaslbob]

drilling would be the best way, if it is an option. Glass can be hard or impossible if it is tempered glass.
if it is acrylic then drill the hole and use a bulkhead fitting. And just run pvc over to the sump.

 

[wester97]

it is a 10 gallon glass tank. I dont personally have the equipment necessary to drill. What kinda siphon overflow should i try?

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by Wester97
it is a 10 gallon glass tank. I dont personally have the equipment necessary to drill. What kinda siphon overflow should i try?
I hate answering like this.
none.
Just too many problems leading to floods.
My advice would be to get a 10-15g plastic container ($5.00). Drill that with a common drill. Add an overflow ~$10.00 (or $2.00 home made).
Don't get me wrong. I have a skimmer box/overflow HOB syphon on my 55g display. but for $20.00 ( and probably much less) on the refug, better safe that sorry.

 

[wester97]

yeah, i have the real deal on my tank, but im looking for something cheap for the fuge.

 

[fishman830]

Originally posted by Wester97
it is a 10 gallon glass tank. I dont personally have the equipment necessary to drill. What kinda siphon overflow should i try?
Anyone know how this thing works?

actaully my dad and i were trying to design somthing like that.. it's pretty much an in tank overflow if that makes any sesne.. you use the weight of the water to move it.. i'm assuming and i'm pretty sure you'll need somthing to create a vacuum

 

[wester97]

yeah, i just found an auction for one and it says that you have to hook it up to a pump. =(

 

[nm reef]

If drilling your refugium is not an option then I'd suggest one of two alternatives:
First-replace the 10 gal glass refugium with a rubbermaid container. It would be easy to drill and fit gravity returns from the rubbermaid to the sump.
Second-keep the 10 gal glass refugium and invest in a top quality LifeReef overflow...they are designed to re-start and the ones I've used have never lost syphon. There are other overflows available...but everything I've seen indicates LifeReef has the best ones available.

 

[wester97]

i use these type of overflows for my main tank. Never had a problem, but i dont know if the water level will get high enough for it to work in the refugium.

 

[mpls man]

Here is a pic of my sump/fuge setup, the fuge i made out of acrilic from home depot, it cost me about 30.00, made the bulk heads from pvc fittings from hd as well, the water is gvavity fed to the sump through 1" lines

 

[wester97]

man, i dont even have tools to cut acrylic. maybe i can find something.

 

[aftrhrs]

You can cut glass with a dremel and a diamond tip bit from Lowes. I have a 20 gallon refugium that I drilled a hole in the side close to the top and let gravity do it's job to move the water into the sump through plumbing of course. It didn't cost a lot to do either. I would definately stay away from a system that has a potential to fail and overflow your tank.

 

[wester97]

yeah, im definately going to use a gravity system. I wonder if i can find a diamond bit somewhere ...

 

[iluvfish]

What thickness of acrylic should be used? And would the same thickness be used for the baffles?

 

[mpls man]

I used 1/4" acrilic because it was stronger then others, but i used a table saw to cut it, u get a straighter cut. it might take a long time to cut with a dremel tool but i'm sure it will work. good luck.

 

[rangermonroe]

Ill save you some time and money here. If you decide to drill the side of that 10 gallon tank, use a hammer to mark the spot where you want the hole.
Small tanks are maade with tempered glass and nearly impossible to drill. I drilled two, broke them both, and then replaced the end panel with 1/4" acrylic which drills handsomely. I used silicone to attach the end panel.
MPLS Man has the right Idea though. Whereas a rubbermaide container is just as effective and mych cheaper, the enjoyment you get from watching the critters that will populate you refugium, baby fish, corals etc, will far outweigh the additional time and expense of making a "see thru" 'fuge.

 

[wester97]

what do you mean by saying i should use a hammer to mark it?

 

[wester97]

i found diamond coated hole cutter drill bits. I think im going to try them out.

 

[jagermeister]

Go the dremmel route. EXTREMELY EASY. I did exactly what you did. Elevated a 10 gallon glass tank next to my sump. Took me 5 minutes to drill the hole in the ten gallon tank and another 5 minutes to drill a corresponding hole in the 20 gallon glass sump.
Get your "dremmel" at Checker Auto. They have Nikota rotary tools (exactly like a dremmel) for $18.
The bits you need are dremmel #7134 and #7103.
One bit is for punching the initial hole in the glass. The other bit is for grinding out the hole. I bought the bits at Lowes, about $10 apiece.
Good luck!!