Quote:
Originally Posted by
devyn339 http:///forum/thread/383659/new-sump-refugium#post_3357303
No I just have a simmer that hangs on the back of the tank what should I put in the sump for better filtration and why are there the dividers in the sump
The dividers serve several purposes. One being to lower bubbles so you won’t have microbubbles flowing back to your main tank. The chamber for the skimmer allows for dirty water to be cleaned before overflowing the baffles (dividers) to the return pump going back to your main tank.
The refugium section is a slower flow, to allow the natural filter of the system to clean the water and to allow a few good copepods to get caught in the flow to return your main tank and feed the fish, an added bonus.
HOB skimmers don’t work as well as in the sump skimmers do. You can still hang the skimmer on the sump if you have room, that will help in the way your main tank looks, but it won’t skim any better.
Here is what to do if you only want a refugium, and no skimmer in the sump. …make a chamber for your return pump. Add two dividers the size that will fit in the tank and the height you want the refugium, leave enough space at the top so when the water goes off the sump does not overfill. Make 2 baffles the same size. One baffle attach to the tank with silicone to create the refugium..on the pump side raise the baffle about 1 to 1 ½ inch higher off the bottom of the tank and attach it with silicone, about 1 inch space between the two..Use something you can easy remove once it dries.. to hold it up. You will need to get or make an overflow that matches what the pump gives out..That hose goes to the refugium add a shut off valve on that hose so you can regulate the flow into the refugium. When the fuge chamber overflows the water will drop to the pump chamber to return to your main tank.
Put sand, rock and maybe maco algae in the refugium and you will be all set. If you opt to put macro in the fuge you will need a light on it.
It’s very important to match the overflow to the pump…I bother three people I really trust on this site to help me with the details. 2Quills and Acrylic51 and Al&Burke…There are others, but those are my hero’s, either PM them and ask for help or maybe they will see this and chime in. Also double check everything I wrote to make sure I got it right..I am no sump/refugium expert.
