Size of refugium???

[predator]

I am about to be setting up a new tank here in the near future. It will be a 180 reef ready tank from Oceanic. I am curiuos to know what size refugium I will need. I want to use a 30 long, is this big enough? I'v been trimming my culerpa and macro algea regulary and placing in a seperate tank for use in this one. I want to go ahead and get the refugium set up and running. Is this a good idea? I jst want to have a mature refugium for the new tank. Any suggeations?

 

[wolf]

Predator, I am doing the exact same thing. I am setting up a 180 and I am going to use a 30 long for a sump/refugium combo(only 20 gal will be the refugium). So, I was also wondering if it would be a good idea to go ahead and get the refugium up and running. Do you have any plans on how you are going to build your sump yet?
Wolf

 

[predator]

The tank will have two overflow boxes so I'm considering having two sumps made. Then use 4 powerheads(2 on each side) to bring water in and take water out of the refugium, while having another ph to circulate the water. But the guy building all this wants to make just one big sump with two intakes and the refugium in the center. Then use a power head on both sides filling it up and letting it overflow back into the pump chambers?????? I do not know???? I'll just have to keep thinking.

 

[wolf]

This is a very rough drawing I did us MS Paint.
Is this similar to what you talking about?
<a href="http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jaytkiger/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.dnm=Refugium.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/jaytkiger/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bPhotos%26.src=ph%26.view" target="_blank">http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jaytkiger/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.dnm=Refugium.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/jaytkiger/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bPhotos%26.src=ph%26.view</a> =t

 

[predator]

Yes it is. Instead of having spray bars, my drains will have there own chamber to fill. Each chamber having a mag 12 running the return. There will be a 402 ph in each chamber as well with airline tubbing pushing water into the refugium and it will be overflowing back into the chambers with the pumps. I will probably have a 201 in the refugium as well for water movement. I plan on putting two 28 watt CF's over it. Thought the lighting is still up in the air.

 

[wolf]

I posted that pic on the equipment forum and Broomer5 had a good point. He suggested that the dividers in the sump be made out of a dark material so that you do not expose the whole sump tank to the lights and get unwanted algea build up on your pumps. Just something you may want to think about.
What type of lighting are you going to use on your tank?
Wolf

 

[predator]

If I do in fact go with the 180 reef ready. Then I'll have three 175 watt MH's and four 6ft actnic VHO's.