45gal fuge build

[Mc_RobZ]

I am in the middle of making a refugium for my 7x2x2 tank.

I bought a cheap second hand 4ft glass tank and have started installing the baffles.

The tank dimentions are 48" long, 14" wide x 16" high.

I am having a pre filter/skimmer section with filter socks (12") then a live sand/rock regugium (24") and a return pump area (8").

Below is a drawing of the setup.

I want to have the fuge area 12" deep, so I have instaled two baffles on the right hand side (flow is left to right) as per the drawing.

I have installed the centre baffle of the bubble trap on the left, but after looking at a few more designs I have come to a stand still.

Should the third baffle of my bubble trap be a lot shorter than I have indicated? It seems that a lot of the setups I have looked at have this piece about half the height of the opposit wall, and why is this?

Also, I believe the first baffle of the bubble trap will determin the depth of the skimmer area, should I wait untill I buy a skimmer to install this piece? Are all skimmers different as to the depth they should sit in? or is there a rough depth that should be fine fo most skimmers?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Mc_RobZ]

After a bit more research I have realized that the depth of water in the pre filter area will sit at the same height as the tallest baffle (joined to the bottom) of the fuge area, this being the 12" baffle on the exit.

I will need to use a stand fOr my skimmer for this setup to work correctly, as far as I can tell.

As for the third baffle in the bubble trap, I am edging towards making this only 6" to 8" tall, as I think I will get a bit beter water movement across the sand bed and live rock. Could somebody fill me in as to whether this is the reason for the shorter baffle or not, and whiter it is better to have it this way, or would a taller baffle be better, with less water flow.

I would really appreciate some views on this.

Thanks,

Luke

 

[CharlieTuna]

First let me say I'm not familiar with saltwater which I will assume is what you are working with, but I have contemplated and researched a fuge for my freshwater tank.

From the way I'm understanding your drawing, I think it will work out well. I cannot see any reason to make the third wall shorter. Your water flow volume is going to be dictated by your overflow and pump. I can't see water movement being an issue with the wall as you have designed. You could always add a small power head in the fuge if you were not happy with the water movement.

 

[Mc_RobZ]

Thanks for your input. You do have a point with the powerhead if the movement is not adequate.

It will probably be ok the way I have planed it.

The only thing now is the skimmer. Having such a high water level it may be difficult to get a skimmer to fit under my stand if I need to raise it. Might have to look at drilling a couple of holes, installing bullheads and having the skimmer out of the tank.

Just one more thing for me to think about I guess.

 

[Mc_RobZ]

another day, another idea.

after realising that the water level would be too high for the skimmer I am looking at, and that height is at a premium under my cabinet, and not wanting to drill any holes, I spent countless more hours look through posts on this subject and seaching for pictures on the net.

I realy should not have been so impatient with the empty fishtank and pile of glass that was sitting in the garage. Now I am about to head out and grab my stanly knife to start cutting away at silicon.

I have re designed the setup to give a much better depth for the skimmer, and still keep the water volume in the fuge as large as possible.

The only thing I am not sure on now is the two baffles I have drawn in red, do I need those there on the fuge exit, do I need both of them, do I need one of them, or do I just have the fuge water dropping streight into the return pump area?