refugium flow rates

[joerdie]

Hello! How fast can the water flow in my refugium before it becomes unhealthy? The rasion i ask is that i want to set up one on my 55 reef to get rid of my canister and i am trying to find out what kind of pump to buy.

 

[dirtybilge]

I don't have one but I hear the slower the better.

 

[maui]

It varies. You want a slow flow rate most people try to have it between 1-2 gal/hr. Others have there over 4 gal/hr. I think a lot of it has to do w/ the purpose of your refugium.

 

[broomer5]

I'm finding that I must look at a refugium sort of in the same terms as any small saltwater tank.
Total circulation THROUGH the refugium vs actual water circulation WITHIN the refugium.
Too little internal circulation can lead to dead areas and trapped detritus/crap. There's a lot of plant material in there, and dead areas have led to cynobacteria growth.
And you don't want to allow any surface stagnation or nasty films developing in the fuge as well.
I like a very low flow back to the sump, but added a small powerhead to the refugium itself.
It seems to be working - clean and fresh - and macro's are growing and doing what algaes do.

 

[nm reef]

I run a 35 gal refugium on my 55 reef...My flow rate thru the refugium is approximately 75-100 gph. It is fed via a Hagen 802 ph and gravity returns to the display. I use two mechanical filters on the refugium basically for water movement as broomer mentioned.In addition I run carbon/phosphate sponge on these mechanical filters. To date it works and caluperas are growing like weeds. Best part is explosion of pods and ZERO nitrates>