90 gallon AGA Sump Choices 2/3/08
Hi guys.
<Hello Jason.>
As usual, I love what you guys do for your fellow reefers. Thanks a ton.
<WWM is a pleasure to be a part of.>
To the task at hand. I've had a standard 90 gallon AGA tank sitting in my office for over a year now and I’m finally getting down to business with getting her started. I've been running a 37 gallon reef for a few years now and I’m glad to be going bigger.
<I bet you are, congratulations on the new setup.>
I would like your input as to sump/refugium idea's as this is the way I plan to go for filtration on the reef. I've thought of designing my own sump/fuge but I don't have the time to do so and I just plain don't trust myself to do a good enough job with it.
<I’m sure with some research you could do a fine job, but you do have to consider what your time is worth!!>
I was hoping you could suggest some Brands or places I could look to get one already ready to go.
<Premiumaquatics.com has some common units on their site. Glass-Holes.com (this is my own company) will build them on a custom basis, as well as MyReefCreations.com, they will build custom and have some nice prefabricated designs.>
I know that some believe it's best to have the refugium in addition to the sump and I’ve seen a few that I’ve liked but have no idea if they'd be proper enough for what I’m looking to do.
<You can definitely incorporate a refugium into a sump. Having an external refugium is generally easier if you are planning a larger refugium, space permitting.>
I'm going to attach a jpg and a link of one that I’ve been looking over online,
<<This graphic is commercial, someone else's work. Not posted therefore. RMF>>
<From the picture it appears to input to the refugium on the left, then under the intake to your return/skimmer chamber. The intake goes through whichever filter media you use in it straight to the return/skimmer chamber. You will need to either pump into the refugium or split your overflow line to feed it. The only problem I see is the refugium water will have to pass through the skimmer chamber before it returns to your tank. This poses a hazard to any microfauna produced in the refugium. If you set up a recirculating skimmer fed directly from the overflow this will not be an issue.>
as well as I thought I’d as if anything is known about ADHI brand refugium/sumps.
<These are fairly nice models for the money, they generally do have a relatively high water level in the skimmer chamber and a rather anemic refugium light for my taste. Depending on your skimmer you may have to set it on top of something to get it at an appropriate depth.>
Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you again!
Jason
<Welcome, have fun setting up, Scott V.>