Refugium Recommendation ???

[rdonnelly7]

So I am looking to switch from a wet/dry to a fuge, but I am not sure what is the best option for my tank. I have been looking for something rated for my size tank and something that has enough room to fit my EV-180 skimmer. I am currently looking at a ADHI Model 45 Refugium. Anyone have a recommendation???
Here is my tank info:
TANK
•All glass aquarium = 220 gallons – Dimensions = 72”L x 30”H x 24”D, hang-on overflow box.
FILTRATION
•MegaFlow 4 Wet/Dry sump w/ bio-balls w/ Mag Drive Model 12 (1200 GPH) return pump.
•AquaC EV-180 w/ Mag Drive Model 7 (700 GPH).
•2 - Phosban Reactor 150 – Feeds off return pump.
HEATERS
•2 – Jalli 500W Titanium Heaters w/ controllers.
POWER HEADS
•5 – Maxi Jet 1200 (295GPH) Power Heads + head from return pump.
LIGHTING
•72” Aqualight Pro HQI - 3 X 150 10,000K HQI bulbs + 4 X 96 W Actinic 420nm Bulbs
LIVE ROCK - Currently 200 lbs. (Planning to finish off at 250 lbs.)
SUBSTRATE – 180 lbs Bio Active Live Aragonite Reef Sand.

 

[sign guy]

no thats a good post I love to see people include all there info in a post. looks like you have some good equipment as well.
I would just get a 29 gal tank and build your own
LS LR and chato

 

[barngeatbayman]

I am looking at the same sump/refugium. It looks nice!!!! I see you are from the same area as me have you seen one locally I have not my email is gecko11044@aol.com I tell you where I have seen it

 

[rdonnelly7]

I have seen it in a few places, but even at the lowest price I still think it is over priced. I like Sign Guys idea about just building my own. The design is easy enough and I am really good at building stuff. I just never worked with glass or acrylic. I think I am going to do some research on DIY techniques. Anyone know of any good reference material. This is my last upgrade before I start stocking with corals. Well maybe some more live rock. My main issue is that my nitrates sit around 30-35 and my phosphate levels are out of control. I have to run two phosban reactors to keep my phosphates in check. I have tried all different things with feeding and phosphates are still high. My goal is to switch to a fuge and hopefully it will keep my nitrates and phosphates in check without all the extra maintenance.

 

[sign guy]

this site has a ton of info about building a fuge. first off find the size tank you need the bigger the better. then get a design Ill post my fav. design to get you started. Next find a glass shop in the area to cut you some scrap glass down to size. sense acrylic dose not stick on glass but in rare situations Id call a glass company to be safe. then get GE sillicon II and set the baffles. Last add ls lr and chato.

 

[rdonnelly7]

I like that design, it's simple and extremely effective, although I am no refugium expert by any means. What is the deal with acrylic? I see a lot of sites where guys custom build acrylic sumps from scratch. Is acrylic too expense? Or is it just hard to find a local store that sells and cuts acrylic?

 

[sign guy]

If you build a all acrylic sump your fine but if you want to buy a glass tank youll need to buy glass baffles. If you want to buy a full sheet of acrylic and score it your self then mend it together with weld on that would work too

 

[renogaw]

Originally Posted by rdonnelly7
I have seen it in a few places, but even at the lowest price I still think it is over priced. I like Sign Guys idea about just building my own. The design is easy enough and I am really good at building stuff. I just never worked with glass or acrylic. I think I am going to do some research on DIY techniques. Anyone know of any good reference material. This is my last upgrade before I start stocking with corals. Well maybe some more live rock. My main issue is that my nitrates sit around 30-35 and my phosphate levels are out of control. I have to run two phosban reactors to keep my phosphates in check. I have tried all different things with feeding and phosphates are still high. My goal is to switch to a fuge and hopefully it will keep my nitrates and phosphates in check without all the extra maintenance.
if you don't mind me asking: what do you feed and what do you use for water?

 

[rdonnelly7]

I feed a combination of Silversides and blood worms once a day, maybe the equivalent of two nice size tablespoons, maybe 2 1/2. I have the following fish in a 220 1-red corisn wrasee 1-banana wrasse 1-sting ray 1-naso tang 1-Coral Beauty 1-rusty 2-Percula Clowns. I use RO/DI water and do 15% water changes like every week-10dys or so.

 

[nwalsh]

Here is a picture of my glass refugium with acrylic baffles. You do not need to by glass baffles for it. Just use a lot of silicone
and let it dry for 24 hrs. This is the second one I have built and the first one was over two years old and I HAD TO CUT OUT THE OLD BAFFLES WITH A RAZOR KNIFE. The acrylic is cheaper and much easier to work with. I even hang powerheads off of the acrylic. My last fuge had a 6"-8" sand bed in it and guess what ? they still never failed me. If you don't have decent common sense or dexterity don't try it. If I built 100 refugium's using this method all 100 would be good for year's, you can take that to the bank. I've also built my own stand for my 125 and canopy and overflow. and can do about anything when it comes to construction. However, a chimp could do this :notsure: By the way just cause somebody is a moderator does not mean they know what their talking about.

 

[laxzach]

I have to agree with Sign Guy on acrylic not sticking to glass. I used acrylic on my glass tank and I have lost one baffle and almost lost two. My sump has been running for maybe a month and I have already had these problems. I will be remaking my sump and I will use glass baffles. Don't make that same mistake I made and do it right the first time.

 

[rdonnelly7]

Thanks for all the feedback, this information is really good. So here is the million the question for the concern I have. It seems that with the fuge setups I have seen, you have to run with higher water levels than you would with a regular sump or wet/dry. How do you avoid overflowing in the fuge when you have to shut off the return pump for water changes or maintenance? It does not seem like there is enough buffer with some of these setups. It also seems that you will have some challenges running in-sump protein skimmers such as mine, an EV-180, which only allows for up to 9" running water level. I know that I can jack the skimmer up inside the sump, but I only have so much room under my tank.

 

[peckhead]

you can really run the water level as high as you would like with any fuge by the hieght of the baffles that start from the bottom of the tank and go up. if you make them 4" then u can run the water lower. the baffles starting from the top and go down doesnt really matter the hieght and wont affect the water level.

 

[nwalsh]

Just leave about a 2 inch gap in your fuge, the only water that will drain into it is what is in your plumbing.I would try to use a long tank as apposed to a high tank. that 29 high in my picture above is a horrible fuge really. theres not enough surface area for my macro's to grow and I had to put my skimmer on the main tank. I could not fit the last fuge because it was to long for the supports in the middle of the stand. basically the wider and shorter the better. Presently making a custom 75 acrylic to fit my set up. It seems like your pretty intelligent individual who would have no trouble using acrylic baffles in a glass set up. Those pre made fuge's are just not worth the price tag. IMO

 

[nwalsh]

If silicone does not stick to acrylic then how do you explain the picture?? Black magic voodoo!!

 

[al mc]

Donnelly....Also consider checking out melevsreef.com He has a step by step DIY with pictures and comments on what to avoid,etc. Very informative. There is much info on the SWF message boards about 'fuge' building, but I would consider checking out Melev also.

 

[sign guy]

Originally Posted by nwalsh
If silicone does not stick to acrylic then how do you explain the picture?? Black magic voodoo!!
dumb luck

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by nwalsh
If silicone does not stick to acrylic then how do you explain the picture?? Black magic voodoo!!
We are NOT going to have this discussion again.

 

[rdonnelly7]

Originally Posted by Al Mc
Donnelly....Also consider checking out melevsreef.com He has a step by step DIY with pictures and comments on what to avoid,etc. Very informative. There is much info on the SWF message boards about 'fuge' building, but I would consider checking out Melev also.
I did come accross Melevsreef.com. It has to be one of the most informative sites I have come accross in terms of DIY projects. Thanks for the heads up.