Display refugium

[z1107]

I am going to upgrade to a 55g long and want to turn my current 37g into a side by side display refugium. This is what I've drawn up and would like you guys to tell me if this good or if it needs to be tweaked.

 

[rajkovich207]

I would not pump to and from tank, there are far to many scenarios that could result in a large flood. You could put the fuge just higher than display and drill for a gravity type overflow back to display using something like the canister filter as a pump to the fuge.

 

[z1107]

Would a gravity feed keep pace with the fluvals output to the fuge? In my schematic I have one output pump going from the fuge to the dt, while the fluvals output line feeds into the fuge.

 

[beaslbob]

IME when the two tanks are relatively the same height it takes a much larger diameter pipe between the two to keep up. Like 1.5-2" diameter or so.

Sounds like a very interesting setup.

If you can I would make the display fuge higher then the display and drain it into the display. That way fuge pods can feed the display.

You might try making an overflow from pvc pipe. Only costs $20-30 or so.

And you are correct pumping to the higher tank and draining to the lower.

my .02

 

[Pkunk35]

YES display fuges are awesome!

I agree with rajkovich, i wouldn't try to match pump outputs like that without redundancy in case a pump fails...in the scenario above either the return pump from fuge to DT failing or the Fluval failing would result in complete disaster for one of the two tanks...only if they fail together is everything ok.

A gravity fed fuge with a single pump is the best way (without more complicated design work).

Try adding a third tank to the above design...replace the fluval with a sump tank and two return pumps. Add a overflow to the 37gallon and have both the DT and the Fuge drain into the sump and returned via their own pump return line. This way both systems are independently running on their own pump but will still be sharing/benefitting from combined volume.

My friend had this design, he added a 40 gallon fuge to his 125 gallon DT and together they looked incredible.

 

[beaslbob]

Actually there is a real danger to display refugiums.

You do all this work and then visitors spend more time looking at the refugium then the display.

 

[HiroPro]

I had a 40 breeder dt and a 20 display fuge beside the 40. They shared a 20 long sump. The return had a "t" with a valve on it to control the amount of flow going to the fuge. Worked good for me.


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[z1107]

Might have to check and see how much a custom stand for the 37 would be to make it taller.

 

[beaslbob]

Might have to check and see how much a custom stand for the 37 would be to make it taller.

Or you just build a podium to set the stand on.

(from my toastmaster's days the podium is the stage the thing you stand behind is the lectern. Or something like that. LOL)

 

[Reef Breeders]

Do not use a canister filter, simply share a sump. Have 2 pumps, and 2 drains, both going to one sump. From one tnak to the next involves another pump. If that pump goes, you are SOL. If one of the pumps in the sump goes, nothing will happen as far as water spilling.

 

[chort55]

Do not use a canister filter, simply share a sump. Have 2 pumps, and 2 drains, both going to one sump. From one tnak to the next involves another pump. If that pump goes, you are SOL. If one of the pumps in the sump goes, nothing will happen as far as water spilling.

I agree.... except that I would just use one pump and Y it off to each tank. The Y shouldn't create as much headloss as a T and will make it so you can just use one pump instead of 2, which if using submersible pumps will create less heat, and also use less energy typically. Also I would throw a couple ball valves in there, one on each line so you can adjust the flow to each tank as needed one should always be open so your not restricting the pump as much, but it is there so you can decide which tank gets dialed back and how much.