Refugium Or Filter Question

[qwikimpss]

So this weekend I'm planning on starting my big switchover from fresh to salt and I have a dilema. I'm sure it's to be the first of many.

I have been planning on running my Fluval canister filter but the idea popped in my head today to make a refugium out of a spare 29 gallon tank I have sitting around to put under my main display tank. I figure this will help to keep nitrates down with the use of some macro algae (the name of which escapes me right now). Good idea?


I figure I can get some plexiglass and cut it to the sizes I need to make overflows in the 29 gallon tank to have an area for the refugium as well as a couple heaters to get them out of my sight (I despise heaters).

Do siphon-operated overflow boxes work well? I don't really like the idea of drilling my tank, I'm pretty sure my bottom pane of glass is tempered anyway and therefore I couldn't drill it anyway, right?

Next question is about a return pump. How can I ensure that it doesn't pump too much water too fast, therefore running dry and burning out, and pumping too slow and potentially overflowing the 'fuge?

I will start a journal on the switch friday night when I begin tearing down the tank.

 

[-Nemo-]

Welcome to the salty side!

I like sumps/refugiums waaaaaaaay better than filters.

Even if the bottom of the tank is tempered, you can still drill the side if that is not tempered. In fact, IMO I think drilling the side works better than the bottom. But, if you do not want to drill than overflow boxes work well enough.

For a return pump, if you use a store bought overflow box, it should have a stated GPH on it. You should then buy a pump that is a bit higher rated GPH (taking into account head loss) to ensure it pumps enough. You'll then want to plumb in a T PVC pipe from the pump with a ball valve and have one side go up to the tank and the other go over to a separate section of the sump. This way you can turn the ball valve to adjust how much water goes up into the tank and also the water level inside of the tank. The excess water will go into the other chamber of the sump.

Hope that helps

 

[qwikimpss]

That actually helps a LOT. I've been agonizing about it all day at work today. Thanks a ton -NEMO-

So for the return line, clearly pvc pipe would work best, correct?

What about the line from the tank to the sump, would a simple rubber hose work out just fine? It seems to me like it would.

 

[-Nemo-]

Yes, PVC should be used from sump to tank
and from tank to sump I think flexible hosing works best to allow for maximum flow, just make sure they are secure in the sump and cannot escape!

 

[qwikimpss]

On a somewhat related subject. Eh. Maybe not, but anyways. How much and how often should one do water changes on a FOWLR tank? I'm used to doing 50% weekly on my freshwater tanks but that seems unreasonable and unrealistic for a saltwater tank.

 

[-Nemo-]

Depends on how heavily you're stocked and the tank size. You'll have to watch your nitRATes and come up with an appropriate schedule. 25% changes every 2-4 weeks is pretty normal.