I'd like to build a refugium - could use some advice / ideas

H

hrheyne

Guest
I don't have a lot of cash, so I need to pretty much work with what I have.
I have a 75 gallon tank with a 15 gallon sump - It came with a DIY Trickle filter and bioballs for media.
This is what I'd like to do... I'd like to remove the bioballs and replace them with some live sand, live rock rubble, some chaeto and a Kenia tree.
I also have a protein skimmer tha I;d like to add to this. It's on the smaller side but it's all I have at the moment.
Some background on the tank:
It has about 100 pounds of live rock, about 50% is really good rock covered in nice coraline and other good stuff; the other half is just so so. not much coverage yet...
I have only three fish, a tang, a small yellow tail damsel, a purple stripe yellow pseudochromis and a brittle starfish.
Is my idea a workable one? If not, maybe you could suggest a better idea using what I have to work with?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
It honestly depends on how fast that water is going to be entering the refugium. Refugiums really need to be calm, you don't want sand being blasted everywhere. Is there anyway for you to attach a small 10G tank to your sump as a refugium.
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
How big is the section with the bio balls in it? Can you do the math to get the water volume. If you are only looking to get a pod population going then a very small area can do the trick, but like mentioned you have to be able to control the flow. I always recommend Melves reef as a place to search design. Its where I started when I got ready to build my sump / fuge. Look there and come back and tell us what you think. Pictures always make a nice POST!
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gill again68 http:///forum/thread/382392/i-d-like-to-build-a-refugium-could-use-some-advice-ideas#post_3337109
How big is the section with the bio balls in it? Can you do the math to get the water volume. If you are only looking to get a pod population going then a very small area can do the trick, but like mentioned you have to be able to control the flow. I always recommend Melves reef as a place to search design. Its where I started when I got ready to build my sump / fuge. Look there and come back and tell us what you think. Pictures always make a nice POST!
Is the part that holds the bio balls above the sump, because that might make a nice spot to put an algae scrubber.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Does the sump have an external or internal water pump?
Is the skimmer a stand-alone or does it have to be submerged?
 
H

hrheyne

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/382392/i-d-like-to-build-a-refugium-could-use-some-advice-ideas#post_3337111
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gill again68 http:///forum/thread/382392/i-d-like-to-build-a-refugium-could-use-some-advice-ideas#post_3337109
How big is the section with the bio balls in it? Can you do the math to get the water volume. If you are only looking to get a pod population going then a very small area can do the trick, but like mentioned you have to be able to control the flow. I always recommend Melves reef as a place to search design. Its where I started when I got ready to build my sump / fuge. Look there and come back and tell us what you think. Pictures always make a nice POST!
Is the part that holds the bio balls above the sump, because that might make a nice spot to put an algae scrubber.
It is above the sump - I'll try to get a pic but it's difficult because my camera sucks and it's pretty dark in the bottom of my stand (I'll be getting a light , just dnt have one now)
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
If I were to do it with just the 15 gallon sump I would simply use silicon glue to attach a rugged plastic container to the bottom of the 15 gallon tank. The pump can go inside this container and the rest of the tank can be refugium.
There are a few considerations for choosing the size of container for the pump:
1 - The smaller the container the more often you need to top off.
2 - The larger the container the less room for the refugium.
3 - The height of the container needs to balance between the amount of water the sump can handle with the power off (when the plumbing purges) and how high you want the water in the refugium.
An earlier poster mentioned a seperate container for a refugium. That is how I have always done it. Water from the display is split where a valve determines how much water goes into the refugium. The refugium drains into the sump.
I disagree that refugium should be calm. Perhaps not reef-like energy but somewhere near an 8X turnover rate.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
I would get the maximum amount of volume for the refugium as possible filled with macro algaes.
If you have enough space around the tank you mighe want to consider using a 30g walmart type plastic storage container for the refugium. Connect the tank over flow there then drain the refugium to your existing sump. I used a wastebasket with the bottom replaced with plastic window screen as an input wet/dry to my refugium.
Just an idea.
worth at most .02
 
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