sump-refugium question -Squidd, anyone?

rm

rm

New Member
Okay, with all of these different sump/refuge ideas, I have a question. What would the consequences be (good or bad) of running a completely seperate sump and refugium? For instance-running a 20 gal sump (protein skimmer, peripherals) with one amiracle external overflow and a quiet one 4000 pump(-6ft head) and a completely separate 29 gal refugium with it's own amiracle overflow and, for less flow-say a quiet one 3000 (-6ft head). Would this work if the "reserve capacity" was split between the two? Pro's? Con's? Thanks in advance for any responses.
Richard
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Could work...:thinking:
My thoughts would be ...why two pumps...??
If you drain the fuge into the sump you only need one pump to return to the MT...
If you put a pump in the fuge, you'll need to "seperate" it with a chamber to keep "stuff" out...and lose "fuge" space...
You will also have two areas that "evaporation" will show up in and need topping off ...
 
J

jfdjason

Guest
Here is what I am doing.....
Overflow to Sump and "T" off to Fuge. Fuge sits on a stand about the sump. Side of Fuge is drilled for a bulkhead 1" line. It will drain back into the sump return. All flows are controlled by ball valves. Here is a picture, the yellow area is where the tank will be drilled and line ran.
 
low8x2

low8x2

Member
Isn't the off set in hight a recipe for an overflow? It seems to me that it would kill the backwash room in the fuge leaving the sump to catch all backwash in case of pump/power failure. OK of the sump has plenty of room I guess?
 
J

jfdjason

Guest
There really is no problem at all.....Think of it this way. If you have 1 box that holds 50 gallons or 2 boxes that each old 25 gallons you still have 50 gallons of space. No matter what you have to plan for overflow, PLUS if you build it right there WON'T be an overflow at all.
 
low8x2

low8x2

Member
Jason,
I understand, but how will you keep excessive water in the upper tank. With the set up you picture and the drain you show on it any excess water that drains back to your fuge durring a power outage will subsequently drain to your sump and therefore negate any back wash room in the fuge tank? Actually, the way you've shown your drains, the 2 25's don't add up to 50 because the top 3 or 4 inches of the fuge will never be used and the water levels can't equalize if I'm understanding it correctly. Help me understand the disign and reason for raising the tank?
 
J

jfdjason

Guest
The reason I raised the fuge tank is an easy way to have it overflow..basically a bulkhead drilled into the side of the tank. With regarding the power outage thing.....I am not worried at all. If you design the overflow right, and drill the proper syphon break holes into the return lines you will not have a problem of overflow.
 
low8x2

low8x2

Member
Yes, but you do understand that you've have no "safety margin" in your fuge set up don't you? You will get back wash untill your main tank level drops enough to stop flow into your overflow. You will also have flow into your sump from the fuge untill it drops below the bulkhead AFTER the main tank has dropped sufficiently. The anti siphon hole will keep the return line from sucking water out of your main but you still have water comming back.
 
J

jfdjason

Guest
I do understand that there is no error in the fuge....there don't have to be. As far as the overflow. I have tried everything and I get less than 2 gallons that flows back to the sump when the power goes out.
 
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