DIY Refugium

Fezbearer · Jul 28, 2020

I'm curious what the hive mind thinks about the following. Since the sump for my WB doesn't come with a partition for a refugium, I was considering finding a black acrylic box and dropping it in there after drilling a bunch of holes in it.

38bill · Jul 28, 2020

Are you thinking just a passive flow through design?

Fezbearer · Jul 28, 2020

Yes. I'm attempting to keep things as simple as possible. (At least right now.)

38bill · Jul 28, 2020

I have a stacked sump system consisting of two 40G breeders. I want to add a fug for chaeto but I would have to change up all my plumbing so I'm thinking (like you) about adding a box inside the sump but using a small pump or powerhead to feed it. I may just let it overflow over the edges or I will cut a opening for the overflow (probably quieter?). Passive flow in my setup would not work at all. In your sump it would depend on your water flow in the sump being really good.

mann1139 · Jul 29, 2020

Acrylic and aquarium-safe acrylic glue are actually fairly reasonable.

Cristy17 · Aug 14, 2020

I am thinking of doing something like this as well. Has anyone tried to just drop another box inside the sump? Or does anyone know of a prefabricated ajustable partition that can be added? Like the Red Sea Version 3 sump one.

Cristy17 · Aug 14, 2020

mann1139 said:
Acrylic and aquarium-safe acrylic glue are actually fairly reasonable.

True, but the whole idea of shutting down and emptying the sump of water and glueing scares me!

38bill · Aug 14, 2020

I found a glass 6G cube rimless tank from Petco (about $25) and placed it in one of my sumps 40G breeder tanks. Fits perfectly for my application. I'm running a small pump to feed it and it just quietly overflows into the sump. Working on a light now and will get some chaeto as soon as I finish it.

Cristy17 · Aug 14, 2020

38bill said:
I found a glass 6G cube rimless tank from Petco (about $25) and placed it in one of my sumps 40G breeder tanks. Fits perfectly for my application. I'm running a small pump to feed it and it just quietly overflows into the sump. Working on a light now and will get some chaeto as soon as I finish it.

Nice idea!