Refugium Help

K

kdawg

Guest
I am looking to try and build my own redfugium. I am running a 65 gallon that has been setup for about 2 months now. I also have a 20 gallon tank in the building just taking up space and thought what the heck lets see if I can find some info on how to build my own. I was wondering if anybody had some plans on how to build one. I was also wondering if it would be a good idea to try and build my own overflow as well or just try to buy one. Any suggestions on this build would be appreciated.
Thanks,
KDawg
 
coastie5685

coastie5685

Member
Its going to be a mission and a half bro... Lol.
Overflow options: siphon overflow made out of pvc, your overflow box which also powered by siphon ( hang on back overflow ), or u have the corner overflow tanks. Since its established I wouldn't even think about drilling the tank.
As for the 20 gal. Get some waterproof clear sealant to hold your baffles. Use glass baffles ( acrylic will be a little risky down the road ) glass is stronger. Let dry for a week with multiple coats of sealant. Many diff ways to set up baffles... Research it a bit. If u go with two baffles making it three chamber ruge then first chamber: protein skimmer and your tank overflow, middle: your LS and LV with chaeto algae and light. Last chamber: return pump. Easy as that. Tricky part is that your overflow gph should be more than your return pumps gph. To even out.good luck
 
lauremf2002

lauremf2002

Member
Originally Posted by Coastie5685
http:///forum/post/2991205
Its going to be a mission and a half bro... Lol.
Overflow options: siphon overflow made out of pvc, your overflow box which also powered by siphon ( hang on back overflow ), or u have the corner overflow tanks. Since its established I wouldn't even think about drilling the tank.
As for the 20 gal. Get some waterproof clear sealant to hold your baffles. Use glass baffles ( acrylic will be a little risky down the road ) glass is stronger. Let dry for a week with multiple coats of sealant. Many diff ways to set up baffles... Research it a bit. If u go with two baffles making it three chamber ruge then first chamber: protein skimmer and your tank overflow, middle: your LS and LV with chaeto algae and light. Last chamber: return pump. Easy as that. Tricky part is that your overflow gph should be more than your return pumps gph. To even out.good luck
+1 I just finished my 20gallon and i agree with all his advice! I will add that you should get your glass cut at a glass shop, it needs to be 14 in thick and they dont have that thickness at home depot or lowes. Are you using a 20 gallon long or tall? Mine is tall and i made the baffles 10" tall. Also, I got one of those all acrylic overflows and im not really happy with it. its VERY finicky and makes me nervous. Maybe someone could tell if the overflows with tubes are better?
 
K

kdawg

Guest
I was wondering if you had any pictures of your fuge that you just built lauremf2002. I am using a 20 gallon tall. It measures 24 x 12 x 16 tall. I have been talking to my LFS and they are telling me to order my overflow. They are also telling me to use a 550 gph pump to pump my water back to my tank. It will be a week or two before I will have the time to make this project. I am still not sure that I will be able to this under my tank due to restrictions. I need to measure and bring the tank in and make sure it will fit before I start this project.
Thanks,
KDawg
 
lauremf2002

lauremf2002

Member
Ill load some pics tonight. Also, I actually tore out the board in the front that divides the cabinet space so that i could get my tank in. Just make sure its not load bearing and then go at it with a saw. You should bear in mind that this takes some time. It took me a week to get the glass from the shop, and then a week to let the silicone cure (it says only 24 hours, but i would rather be safe than sorry) PS that stuff will burn the hair out of you nostrils and made me sick. I would wear a lawnmower mask at the very least.
 
K

kdawg

Guest
Thanks for the pictures coastie. Looks like I am gonna have the same problem you had laremf2002. Except I think mine is weight bearing. I am also thinking about building me a new stand because I don't like the one I have. I do construction work and have all the equipment and more then likely the material to do it and make it a little stronger then the one I have allready. I might be able to sturdy mine up a bit with a few 2 x 4's and cut my doors out and make me one big door instead of 2. The bad thing is I only need a half inch and the tank would fit into the cabinet. Oh well maybe with my injinuity I can figure something out.
 
lauremf2002

lauremf2002

Member
I kinda did what you are talking about. My stand only had one small door and two immovable panels on either side of it. I took out one divider and made the two panels doors as well. I braced it when i was taking out the divider just in case i was wrong about it not being load bearing. Thankfully i was right. You can see all this on my thread here https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/349825/our-first-saltwater-tank#post_2993199
Im no carpenter but I think its alot more functional now and it looks a little better too! If you know you cant take out that divider, you can cut in through the side with a jigsaw and then cover the cut with small trim to make it look like a cabinet face or something.
heres a pic of my refugium

 
lauremf2002

lauremf2002

Member
oh and my tank is a 58 gallon, i used a 700 mag-drive pump (it pumps prolly about 500gph with the 4 foot overhead it has to travel) and an overflow that i think i hate with a passion that is rated for 550gph

this pic is turned sideways so you can see how it looks the direction it would go on the tank
 
K

kdawg

Guest
Great looking sump, fuge there. Do you have the measurements for each compartments of the compartments. I have found some and they didn't really look right. With the ones I found I ended up with a very small fuge part. Just kinda wondering what your measurments was. Yours looks about like what I had in mind for my build. Also does your skimmer pull from your tank and then into your sump or does it pull out fo the sump. Just kinda curious on that one. I am still new to this hobby by a couple months and still growing and learning as I go.
By the way nice looking setup you got there. I checked out your thread and you have a good looking tank. I am in the first Diatom Bloom right now. My wife doesn't like the tank right now but the LFS said it would go away. I was wondering how long it takes for this to go.
Thanks,
KDawg
 
lauremf2002

lauremf2002

Member
Originally Posted by KDawg
http:///forum/post/2993319
Great looking sump, fuge there. Do you have the measurements for each compartments of the compartments. I have found some and they didn't really look right. With the ones I found I ended up with a very small fuge part. Just kinda wondering what your measurments was. Yours looks about like what I had in mind for my build. Also does your skimmer pull from your tank and then into your sump or does it pull out fo the sump. Just kinda curious on that one. I am still new to this hobby by a couple months and still growing and learning as I go.
By the way nice looking setup you got there. I checked out your thread and you have a good looking tank. I am in the first Diatom Bloom right now. My wife doesn't like the tank right now but the LFS said it would go away. I was wondering how long it takes for this to go.
Thanks,
KDawg
the compartments on each end are 4.5 inches. And that skimmer is a cheapo seaclone that i jerry rigged to pull water from the sump. I couldnt afford to drop the change on a nice in sump skimmer (thats a future endeavor Ill need to save for) I think the middle compartment came out around 8 inches wide. You should make you side compartments however big they need to be to fit the pump and skimmer you want to use. My diatom bloom didnt completely die off until about 2 months went by. But it started getting better around the month mark (when i got a clean up crew). BTW my tank is not even 3 months old. I am new to the hobby too, I just read alot! Lol
 
lauremf2002

lauremf2002

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2993542
IMO your set up is an Accident waiting to happen
its not very helpfull to say something like that without indicating why. I know that my overflow stinx im getting a different one, other than that Im not sure what you mean
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by lauremf2002
http:///forum/post/2993557
its not very helpfull to say something like that without indicating why. I know that my overflow stinx im getting a different one, other than that Im not sure what you mean
Sorry to offend you, I was more thinking to my self. BUT if some one were to show me the picture you posted my questions would be this. Looking at the water differential from left, which I assume is the influent and the right chamber I can only assume that the dividers are either watertight or only allow a minimum of water to pass around them. Am I correct? If so then if you have a drop in water in your DT as soon as you no longer crest the first (left partition) you will no longer feed your return pump. No water will certainly stop your circulation in your tank as well eventually burning out your pump
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
And that problem arising of water not coming a result of the possibility of the U-Tube overflow losing prime or something (read snail or fish) getting stuck in it Joe????
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Water will always seek its own level the differential has to be caused by the dividers not the feed
But anything impeding the influent and causing the level in the first compartment to drop can be detrimental.
Note Henry my problem is not with the U tube alto I do not like using them but with the sump layout
 
lauremf2002

lauremf2002

Member
I thought this was the standard layout of baffles (I copied melev'sreef). If Water ever stops flowing in i.e. if my overflow loses syphon, then yes you are correct that my motor will run dry and burn up. I was looking into getting some sort of floated divice that would kill the power to the pump when water reaches dangerously low levels. Im not sure how you could avoid the pump running dry in any layout though. Wont a pump just pump until there is no more water to pump? Also, I rather like the idea that if godforbid that stupid overflow does mess up, there is not enough water in the pump section to overflow my tank. What are your suggestions for change? PS sorry not trying to jack a thread here but this should be helpfull for kdawg to hear
 
K

kdawg

Guest
No need to worry about jacking my thread. I need to learn this before I attempt to build mine. My main objective right now is building me a new stand. I have the plans in my head and on paper for it. Just need to get my materials rounded up and get it done. Thanks for all the advice.
KDawg
 
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