Refugium help, set-up   7/20/09
Dear Bob Fenner et al ,
<Hello Art, Scott V. with you today.>
I have a 45gl. reef aquarium with what was a Pro Aquatics Wet/Dry filter.
The filter is 19 1/2L"x15 1/2"deep x8"w and all plastic balls were removed as soon as I found out that it was a nitrate factory. I was sold a system that was a bit outdated. I use this small sump as a filter. The left side of this sump has a 350gph Mag3 pump and a small pump for an Aqua pure Denitrator (med). The middle section has a rectangular filter sponge that separates the lower middle section from the left section that is the return flow to the tank. The top of the mid-section has the standard thin blue filter pad and under this I have a carbon pad or phosphate pad that is in a plastic tray. The middle of the mid-section used to contain the bioballs .
The right side contains a 200 micron filter sock with a bag of Chemipure Elite filter bag to remove phosphates and silicates, a small bag of carbon, and a bag of Al-Gone.
I would like some recommendations for a refugium . I do not have room for a hang on refugium . I am looking for a separate appropriately sized glass or acrylic tank or refugium . Any help you could give me would be appreciated.
<Well, the first criteria in my mind is how big can you fit?>
I would like to keep the plumbing and pumps simple. I do not want to go to a double over flow box.
<You can simply split your existing overflow line in two and run one to the refugium, then have the refugium overflow (drill, glass or acrylic) back into the sump return pump section.>
Thanks
Art Zimmerman
<Welcome, Scott V.>

Diy refugium  5/10/09
Hello there!
<Service to you!>
Please pardon my ignorance and point me in the right direction. I have someone who will build me a sump/refugium and I need your help.
Here's the deal:
I have a 90 gallon FOWLR tank and want to add a 30 gallon sump/refugium.
The tank is not drilled and the sump will need to sit next to it (the 90 gallon is on a retaining wall, not a stand..long story there..). Anyway, I am interested in doing a closed loop system at the same time. Your site is awesome in its content, but I am a bit overwhelmed now. I just would like a simple diagram and parts list to accomplish my goal. As I learn more about fish keeping, I would like to expand.
But, for now, just having a decent set up will take me far.
Is it possible to do what I want, within the confines of my space?
<Yes... to have a 30 gal. sump/refugium adjacent to a 90...>
There is no way to put the sump under the tank, so I'm assuming the gravity fed thing is out of the question.
<Mmm, no, not at all... the thirty is lower than the 90... and pumping water out of the 30 will make the water levels more different still... you just need sufficient diameter/sized overflows on the 90...>
Do you have such a diagram?
<Perhaps others have supplied such... I don't have the time, inclination to look for you. Please peruse the files on plumbing sumps, refugiums... the second tray here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marsetupindex2.htm
And likely a bit further down, the articles and FAQs files on plumbing, overflows...>
I am only keeping fish at this point. (BTW, I used your suggestions and successfully moved 5 Chromis, 1 Cardinal, 1 Gramma, 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Ocellaris Clown and 2 Yellow tailed Damsel, 900 miles in a 30 gallon Coleman cooler! Thanks)
...Tori
(formerly in AZ, now in N CA)
<Much cooler... and hilly! Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Refugium Configuration - Simple Setup vs. Combining Approaches   4/11/09
Dear Crew,
<John>
I've read through all the refugium articles and FAQ's, but I wanted your opinion on my future sump/refugium configuration in regards to combining or separating macro algae, live rock, DSB & plenum. Most of the info is discussed in isolation and not really as an implemented, mixed or combined solution.
You have excellent information on the topic, I'm just explaining why I'm asking my question and that I
explored all the published info before writing you.
<Okay>
My current setup consists of a well established 120 gallon marine tank with 180 lbs of live rock (setup about 8 years). No corals -- just fish (small hippo tang, flame angel, pair of true Percs, lawnmower blenny & 3 blue/green chromis) and one rose BTA. My current sump & refugiums are in the mechanical room underneath my aquarium room. I have a 20 gal sump, a 30 gal refugium & a 20 gal refugium all tied in
together. The 30 gal refugium has Chaeto and a handful of LR chunks on top of a 6' DSB with plenum. The 20 gal refugium just has Chaeto with no sand or LR at all -- bare bottom. Circulation to main tank is an Iwaki 100. I have an Aqua C EV120 powered by an Iwaki 40. I also have a Korallin calcium reactor, UV sterilizer and run ozone through the skimmer.
<Sounds good>
Now that I hope I gave you the important background info '¦ on to my question. The current sump/refugium configuration is old, I have a crack in one refugium and the flow is not optimal due to some plumbing configurations. I'm having a new sump/refugium constructed that is 72'x21'x21'.
<Nice!>
It will be split in the middle length wise -- leaving half for a refugium and half for all the sump baffles and equipment.
Sump details aside, the new refugium will be 72L'x10'Wx21'T.
The main goal of my refugium is to help maintain ideal water quality (added benefits of pods, etc. are secondary). The big question I have is how should I stock the refugium '¦ mix of materials or keep it
simple?
Chaeto -- continue with the Chaeto to export nutrients and help balance water chemistry? I see no drawbacks of the Chaeto. Overrated? '¦ Is LR better?
<I would stick with the Chaetomorpha. Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/refugalgfaqs.htm>
DSB -- should I run a DSB?
<Yes... I would>
It will take away from my total water volume and makes maintenance a little more difficult, but will the
benefits outweigh those concerns? I guess I still have some of the past 'nutrient sink' fears/myths in my subconscious too.
<These are minimal given good maintenance>
Reuse material from current DSB -- if you recommend DSB, is it OK to reuse the sand from my current setup?
<I'd be adding, replacing maybe half>
If it is OK to reuse, I will still need more sand. Should the old sand go on the top or the bottom of the new refugium?
<Yes>
Plenum -- any proven benefits or just don't mess with it?
<I'd leave out... See WWM re. Some here are fans... I am not>
LR in Refugium -- considering I've already got 180lbs in my main tank, should I still have it in my refugium?
<If you have room, I would>
If so, should the size be big chunks or just rubble.
<Either one, but at eight years old, you need to be renewing at least some... Again, see WWM re>
With the Chaeto, I know it blocks light on some of my current LR in the refugium.
Thanks,
John
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Sump Based Refugium for SPS System 3/29/09
Dear Crew,
<Jillian.>
You guys and gals are the best! Thanks for everything you do!
<Thank you, I am glad we are able to help out.>
I have officially kicked my canister filter to the curb and by your recommendation, am replacing it with a sump/refugium on my 75 gallon soon to be reef tank. I would like to house mostly Montipora species in this system.
<Ah, nice.>
Now the dilemma: I have been given a CPR Aquafuge Pro by a friend who is getting out of the hobby. One of the features that I like about it is the relatively large 15 gallon refugium chamber (large in comparison to other sump based fuges). This seems to be a great unit but upon doing some research, it does not appear to be ideal. All of my system water will be traveling through the unit and from what I gather, refugiums usually do better with less flow. For SPS systems, a high turnover rate would probably be good but for this situation, it may not be ideal.
<Well, you will want your tank turnover to be on the high end, but there is no need to speed water through the sump.>
The pumps that I'm looking at are the Eheim 1262 (900 GPH) and the 1260 (635 GPH). I believe that the 1262 would be more appropriate for the tank volume (providing a turnover rate of 12 times as opposed to 8) however, I envision problems arising from this set up. For example, I'm almost sure that micro bubbles will be an issue with this much water velocity.
<Possibly...the first thing to look at though is your overflow setup to be sure it can safely handle the flow with some redundancy preferable.>
In addition, I believe the DSB that I plan to use may be disrupted from so much flow.
<Not really, in this situation it is more about how the flow is applied. If you have 700 gph blowing out a single pipe into the bed it would be an issue. But if you have it go into say a skimmer chamber and then it flows over the width of the sump it will be diffused enough to keep the sand in place.>
Finally, the question: IYO, would this unit work for the sump of an SPS system?
<Sure.>
Would the 635 GPH flow rate be acceptable provided large amounts of supplemental display circulation (e.g. Tunze or Vortech pumps)?
<It is plenty through the sump.>
Thanks!
Jillian
<Welcome, Scott V.>

My Reef Tank is Snowing   3/23/09 Hi, <Hello> My tank is snowing every time I start it up the pump after stopping it for whatever. I searched your FAQ and did not come across anything similar. I have a 175 gallon reef tank that totals 210 gallons with sump and refugium. Here is a schematic of the setup. <Very nice diagram> 28-32 is an overhead distribution to place jets distributed around the top surface of the tank. The distribution pipes are 18� above the water surface. <Mmm, above?> The water specs are: pH 8.17, alkalinity 7-9 dKH, Ca 380-440ppm, NO3 20-40, SG 1.023. <I'd allow your Ca conc. to dip to the lower limit, and raise your spg...> My system has been running 19 months now. For the last 6 months, every time I start up the pump after it was turned off, there are white particles shooting out the all the jets for the first ½ minute. These particles are larger than my sand in the bottom and they are completely white. <I see them... do appear to be calcium bits of various size> They settle to cover all over the rocks and corals. I have to manually blow them off each time. Here is a shot of the stuff settling onto my coral. I am guessing that these are calcium deposits. But I fail to see why they are settling out in such large quantities and such a large size. Also, why does it only come out after I stop the pumps? <Is strange... perhaps this precipitate is "falling off the walls" in the pump plumbing with the loss of pressure> I don't see it normally. The water in the overhead distribution do drain out after the pumps are stopped since the water level in the tank drains to below the jets. Nothing comes out at that time. Any idea what I should be looking for? <Yes... oh, I see this below> I dose my system 1-2 times a week with Kent Marine Coral Builder if alkalinity falls below 7.5 dKH. I add Kent Marine Turbo Calcium if Ca is lower than 380ppm. <Stop this last... Only add the Calcium if this drops below 325... and stop at 380 ppm> I also routinely add Iodine and Strontium/Magnesium 1-2 times a week per dosage on label. <How is this added? Should be with/in the newly mixed water only... and not mixed together... in the same batch, at the same time> I have a nitrate reactor, but it is only keeping nitrates around 20-40ppm. <I would look to other means... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/nitratesmar.htm and the linked files above> The reactor is running normally since the discharge is at 0ppm NO3. <Mmm, yes... but with other possible affects... the precipitate> I have been changing water 10% every 4 weeks and clean the socks once weekly or bi-weekly. I probably should increase the frequency, but just been too busy. The chiller has been removed since it tends to overheat as well as lose prime in that location. Regards, Sammy <Try the above and please report back. Bob Fenner>

Water level in Refugium, algae and Coral lighting 3/20/09
Hello Everyone:
<Ramon.>
First off I would like to say that your site is the best, it makes it easy for me to teach my two sons on how to do research on the types of fish they want in their tank.
<Good, thank you!>
Now its when are we getting a Refugium on out 10 gallon tank. I believe it is better to show then tell. I have a question about the water level in my Refugium, Algae and Coral lighting?
<OK>
I have a 15 gallon Rubbermaid container that I am using for my refugium which is being feed "raw" water by a Maxi-Jet 1200 that is Teed off to go into my sump there are two ball valves on this line, one is to regulate how much water is going to the refugium and the second ball valve regulates how much water goes into the sump. The refugium has a 3" sandbed and the water level is about 2-3" above the sand, so I wanted to know if I need to raise the water level higher to grow algae or can I keep it at this level and just run the lights and grow whatever the tank makes?
<You could, but I would raise this level 6" or so to grow much purposeful macro.>
I have a 29 gallon tank with 2 1/2" sandbed(will increase another 2 1/2"), 40lbs of LR, HOB whisper filter with TopFin (bio 3 filter cartridge). A 18 gallon sump that is halfway filled with water coming from the main tank and teed off going into a micron sock with Purigen bag. It also has about 20lbs of base rock and a skimmer, a heater, and a Maxi-Jet 1200 that flow the water back into the main tank. The 29 maintains an 80 temp the lighting is two 10k(39w) and two actinics (39w) is this enough light to keep any type of coral that would thrive and stay healthy? or the ones I need to stay away from?
<Well, you will definitely be on the lower end of the lighting intensity spectrum. Lower light corals such as zoos will do ok here. See http://www.asira.org/caresheets for quick lighting guides for each coral.>
I also change the water 2 times a week to minimize stress to my fish. About 4 1/2 gallons. My bioload is small 1 Royal Gramma, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, 1 Clown Goby and 2 Peppermint Shrimp. I add Purple Tech (1 Tsp), Tech I (1Tsp) and Strontium and Molybdenum (1 Tsp) once a week at different times.
<Hmmm, I really would not add any of these supplements to my tanks. I am an advocate of not adding what is not tested for'¦.in your case there are no corals as of yet. Just test your basics, KH, Ca, PH, Salinity and perhaps Mg and add those accordingly. The water changes you are doing will provide all the 'trace' elements you need.>
Thank you and keep up the good work,
Ramon and Sons
<Welcome, will do, have fun. Scott V.>

Re: Water level in Refugium, algae and Coral lighting 3/21/09
Thanks for the reply and also the website,
<Welcome, thank you.>
it will help me pick out the best coral for my tank and I will also raise the level in my refugium.
<Ahh, good.>
I will stop adding all the extra supplements and just keep up with my water changes.
<Have fun, Scott V.>

Re: Water level in Refugium, algae and Coral lighting 3/21/09
I also wanted to know, to make up the difference on the level going into the refugium do I just add RO water or just fill it up with saltwater when I make a water change?
<To raise the level initially you will want to add saltwater, to top off for evaporation RO is what you want.>
Thanks again
<Welcome, Scott V.>