Pros and Cons on this design

[drew2005]

I'm setting up a 75g RR soon. My plans are to have a 29 or 30 gallon sump/fuge. If I go with the 29g its around 6" shorter in length then the 30g. I want to save as much room under the stand im building as possible. I like this design that someone posted a a few days ago. I was just wondering what would be the advantages and disadvantages to this type of design? It the the design further down the thread with the split return line into 2 chambers.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=261613

 

[drew2005]

anyone?

 

[sign guy]

Im not a fan of the split design fuge cuz I dont think the chato can get flow. the staight through design allows you to direct the water up and through the fuge so your chato can get the most flow with a good tumble

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by sign guy
Im not a fan of the split design fuge cuz I dont think the chato can get flow. the staight through design allows you to direct the water up and through the fuge so your chato can get the most flow with a good tumble
I would expect it all depends on the flow rate. I like the split design only because it keeps you from skimming your fuge effluent, which can be counter-productive.
If there is enough flow... won't you have enough to feed both compartments??

 

[sign guy]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
I would expect it all depends on the flow rate. I like the split design only because it keeps you from skimming your fuge effluent, which can be counter-productive.
If there is enough flow... won't you have enough to feed both compartments??
maybe I misunder stand the design but it apers you are pushing the chato down with flow insted of tumbling it? also is skimmed water bad for the fuge. Id imagine that you dont want trash but do want trates and phosphate

 

[scsinet]

No no... you don't want to skim the product of the fuge (not the other way around) for two reasons (IMO).
First, it's counter productive because you don't NEED to skim fuge product, and every bit of fuge product you skim is less tank drain water you are skimming, so it cuts down on your efficiency
Second, skimmers tend to remove any pods that breed in the fuge.
That's just why I don't like to do it, but if you don't have enough flow for Chaeto with a split design, then there isn't much you can do.

 

[sign guy]

sorry didn't meen the skimmer after the fuge IMO only the pump should be after the fuge. But do you think skimmed water intering the fuge is bad? what are some other resons you prefer the split design?

 

[scsinet]

Yeha okay I see what you mean...
As opposed to
DRAIN >> SKIMMER >> RETURN << FUGE << DRAIN
You meant
>>> DRAIN >>> SKIMMER >>> FUGE >>> RETRUN
for some reason when I read your post I interpreted it as a 2 compartment design, which obviously can't work without the skimmer skimming some fuge product.

 

[sign guy]

why do you like the split design over the straight through. I want to know its advantages over the straight

 

[scsinet]

The split design offers one distinct advantage... if set up with the plumbing draining into each section large enough to handle the entire tank's flow on it's own, and use ball valves on each, you can regulate the flow through each section. In the straight thru design, you have no choice but to feed the entire filtration flow through the fuge. Some people prefer a more calm fuge environment. I use caulpera in my fuge, not chaeto, so I like that I can keep the fuge flow slower... about 300gph or so.. I have enough flow through my filtration system that if I ran it all through the fuge, the macro would be torn asunder and sent into my return section, needless to say wreaking havok.
However if you can live without that characteristic, then a 3 compartment straigth thru design will work just fine.

 

[sign guy]

got it

 

[trainfever]

A fuge is suppsed to have a slower flow rate, it gives the particles in the water a better chance to settle to the bottom rather then just be washed straight through, thus completely eliminating the full benefits of the refugium.

 

[sign guy]

chato should have a fast fuge I forgot scsinet used caulpera wich needs low flow

 

[trainfever]

Chaeto doesnt necessarily have to have a fast fuge, it just has to be designed in a way that the Chaeto will tumble.

 

[sign guy]

we might have different definitions of fast. although I whole hardedly agree that tumble is important. for chato I like to see 10 x fuge volume