my refugium idea

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señor_pescados_felices

señor_pescados_felices

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 26, 2006
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The Real Norcal
I had posted this on another thread but I suppose it was viewed as somewhat of a derailment and as such was not responded to.

It seems like it should work to me but I was just wanting to run it by the DIY aficionados before I went out and purchased the materials.I have been surprised many times in the past seeing you guys pick apart seemingly decent plans and finding any flaws so I know if there is one you guys will see it.

One thing I'm not sure about right now is the fx5.I'm thinking I'll leave it where it is right now (in the middle) as I like it right where it's at.This leaves me most likely plumbing around the back of the fx5.

1)water overflows into sump,goes through polyfiber,drip tray,more polyfiber,drips through bioballs,flows through pot scrubbies and into the utility chamber of the sump

2)Water is taken from the sump by one pump and into the slightly elevated refugium.

3)water is returned to the sump's utility chamber via a smaller overflow.

4)meanwhile another pump is returning water to the tank.


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How big of a tank is this on and what size W/D & refugium?

No reason it shouldn't work with the right size tank, W/D, refugium, plants. lighting and getting the flow correct :D.

Are you using the fx5 for circulation? You may consider a spray bar at the bottom of the tank on it's return to suspend the large particulates.

Question...why use bio-balls? It doesn't matter, I was just curious about incurring the extra expense when scrubbies are cheaper. Unless you already have them :D.

Dr Joe

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looks good
 
Wouldn't the 'fuge overflow if it's return pump failed? Or conversely if the sump pump failed wouldn't the fuge pump run dry and burn up?

nevermind. I see that the fuge dumps back into the sump.
 
Onviously señor_pescados_felices knows to put the anti-syphon holes in all the appropriate places. (Thanks I forgot to put that in my other post :D),

Dr Joe

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Well the tank is 6 feet long,30" wide and 3' tall.I am not sure how big the w/d is but I included pics to give you an idea as well as show you what I'm working with as far as space.

It is stocked with other large fish right now but by the time I am ready to do this refugium it will be stocked with:

8-10 clown loaches
2 IT dats
2 NTT dats
2 ST dats
1 NGT dat
ornate bichir
endli bichir (congicus if possible)
lei arowana
red bay snook
juruense catfish
and possibly a tigrinuous catfish
some sort of algae eater....probably not a fei feng.....I'm not sure what.

I am just looking for a helping hand,so to speak,with my nitrates as I am only able to do usually 1 water change a week,sometimes 2.Usually 50% or a 50% and a 20% later in the week if I can.

As I don't have very much space I can't do a very big fuge,esp. since it has to be somewhat elevated.I was thinking a 20 gallon long or so full of the right kind of plants would be enough to help me keep the edge on things?

Also that leads me to another question:
Does the fuge have to be elevated?could I just have a large tank where the water level is well above the water level in my sump?gravity would still overflow it into the sump no?(see picture B)
If I could just do it that way it would make things much easier on me.

also included is a pic of my first plan,which was just to put the w/d in another larger tank and open the valves on the sides of the sump to have the water flow into the larger tank where the plants would be and pumped out from there.

I had thrown out that idea as it seemed as though so much of the fuge tank space would be wasted since the water would have to be level with the water in the sump.(picture A)

BTW people tell me that wet/dry is not big enough for my tank but I don't see why not,it holds a heck of a lot of biomedia when full.
My FX5 is for mech only and has 1/2" of polyfiber in each try thats it.I have two powerhead 408's (I think their called powerhead 408's) for circulation and have only one dead spot that the fx5 takes care of.

also that wet/dry I got off craigslist with all the bioballs and the pump for $25,I only needed to get the scrubbies to fill the rest....that answers the bioball inquiry I believe :D

thanks guys!

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You should be able to do it as in "B", just pump to the opposite side of the refugium (left side in "B" pic) and flow out thru the right side.

As far as the size is concerned, balancing the bio-load to the filter is all that's needed. Size of the fish are unknown so we can't go there right now. Once you get the system up to speed and know how the fx5 is handling things, you may be able to put some bio-material in it too.

Good catch on the W/D too.

Dr Joe

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Hi mate
I have been thinking of something along the same lines as you. You said that you want to us the refigum to control n03. If this is so then you my be better off placing the refigum before the wet/dry as plants take up ammonia before nitrite and nitrate. If the plants are before the w/d they can take out most of the ammonia before the filter has a chance to convert it to nitrate and thus have lower nitrate readings. you would have to place a mechanical filter between the overflow and the refigum to catch the large particles so as not to spoil the look of the plants.
You could also use a denitrator like this
http://arofanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303571
or others here have used deep sand beds to reduce nitrates in there tanks
let us know how you go:D
 
If founds allow i would place some Eheim substrate pro in the fx5. This is pricey stuff but it is the Pooh. I have added to all my filters now and it is the best stuff i have found hear in oz.
 
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