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- Thread starter sberto
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Yeah so the water flow or volume of water through is dictated by the pump, and the refugium has the same volume of water moving through it but the speed is much slower.
The water velocity in that area is slow. That's because the refugium area has like a water fall into it that is much WIDER than the drain pipe. So to get 1200gph through the refugium it doesn't need to flow as fast through the refugium as it does the drain pipe (physics stuff if that interests you).
The water velocity in that area is slow. That's because the refugium area has like a water fall into it that is much WIDER than the drain pipe. So to get 1200gph through the refugium it doesn't need to flow as fast through the refugium as it does the drain pipe (physics stuff if that interests you).
2quills
Well-Known Member
The wider the sump or baffles are the gentler the water velocity will be. I'm using a 1500gph pump that puts out about 700gph after head loss.
My sump is divided in a way that allows me to cut the flow rate in half going through each section so roughly 350gph flowing over my baffles. If I close off one side the water velocity becomes much faster and I can hear it and it becomes annoying. My sump is 18" wide.
My sump is divided in a way that allows me to cut the flow rate in half going through each section so roughly 350gph flowing over my baffles. If I close off one side the water velocity becomes much faster and I can hear it and it becomes annoying. My sump is 18" wide.
2quills
Well-Known Member
Well I have two overflows in the display tank and each one has a herbie style drain set up.
One side drains into the refugium and the other side drains into the skimmer chamber. It all flows into the middle return chamber.
Yes, it's a media reactor in the middle. I have GFO and carbon in there.
There's also a 16g auto top off tank to the left of the sump that's hard to see that holds all of the fresh water.
2quills
Well-Known Member
It's essentially a copy of one of Mark Melev's designs so I can't take all of the credit. I always thought there was a little bit of genius behind the idea and the design worked well with my over all concept so I went with it.
A couple of things i liked that made it different are the ability to shut off flow to one side or the other for maintenance and yet still keep the return pump going.
I don't get all of the highly oxygenated water from my skimmer going through my refugium (less ideal for algae growth or anaerobic bacteria). Yet pods from the fuge can still easily migrate to the return chamber.
A couple of things i liked that made it different are the ability to shut off flow to one side or the other for maintenance and yet still keep the return pump going.
I don't get all of the highly oxygenated water from my skimmer going through my refugium (less ideal for algae growth or anaerobic bacteria). Yet pods from the fuge can still easily migrate to the return chamber.
sberto
Member
I like it. I was under the impression that the media reactors are these big massive things but obviously not. I was going to try and Make a spot in the sump to run a carbon bag but maybe a reactor is the way to go. Who knows. Again I want simplicity and silence.
I really appreciate all the help I'm getting as well so thanks! I'll have to meet with the guy that's going to build it and get the measurements so that I can see what will work. ATO would be great as well.
I really appreciate all the help I'm getting as well so thanks! I'll have to meet with the guy that's going to build it and get the measurements so that I can see what will work. ATO would be great as well.
2quills
Well-Known Member
ATO's are a God send. I replenish the freshwater reservoir once every two weeks and right now it's topping off the system about 8-9 times a day.
Media reactors come in all shapes and sizes for the various types media out there. The one I'm using is just for carbon or gfo. Those don't need to be very big unless you have a huge tank. But running a reactor is far more effective than using the bags.
Media reactors come in all shapes and sizes for the various types media out there. The one I'm using is just for carbon or gfo. Those don't need to be very big unless you have a huge tank. But running a reactor is far more effective than using the bags.
