Fuge flow question

[Akwarius]

Im setting up a fuge this week and want to do it right this time. It will be in a section of sump that's about 18x24x12 tall. Whats the proper amount of flow for this? I have a "bucket" fuge currently and it grows cyano in the dead spots.

 

[xmetalfan99]

Im setting up a fuge this week and want to do it right this time. It will be in a section of sump that's about 18x24x12 tall. Whats the proper amount of flow for this? I have a "bucket" fuge currently and it grows cyano in the dead spots.

You want a slow trickle. Pretty much about 50-75gph. The slower the water the more nutrients macro algaes in the fuge can take in. You want the fuge to be as nasty as possible. Cyano does a great job with removing PO4 and trates. It is actually a good thing to have in a fuge.

 

[Akwarius]

You want a slow trickle. Pretty much about 50-75gph. The slower the water the more nutrients macro algaes in the fuge can take in. You want the fuge to be as nasty as possible. Cyano does a great job with removing PO4 and trates. It is actually a good thing to have in a fuge.

The flow from my overflow will be fairly slow through the sump, between 100-200 gph. I was wondering if another powerhead was necessary to keep the chaeto moving?

 

[fsu1dolfan]

The flow from my overflow will be fairly slow through the sump, between 100-200 gph. I was wondering if another powerhead was necessary to keep the chaeto moving?

I think that is more than enough flow. Chaeto doesn't need to moving around that much.

 

[xmetalfan99]

The flow from my overflow will be fairly slow through the sump, between 100-200 gph. I was wondering if another powerhead was necessary to keep the chaeto moving?

What type of sandbed will you be using? I went with a BB fuge and put a small aquacllear powerhead on the bottom pointing against the flow. This kept my cheato spinning nicely. Of course, if you go with a sandbed, this won't work for you.

I think that is more than enough flow. Chaeto doesn't need to moving around that much.

Cheato will grow better when spinning.

 

[Akwarius]

What type of sandbed will you be using? I went with a BB fuge and put a small aquacllear powerhead on the bottom pointing against the flow. This kept my cheato spinning nicely. Of course, if you go with a sandbed, this won't work for you.



Cheato will grow better when spinning.

That sounds like a great plan. My fuge will be barebottom, which will keep everything nice and clean.

 

[xmetalfan99]

That sounds like a great plan. My fuge will be barebottom, which will keep everything nice and clean.

It will work out well for you. I didn't get cyano in my fuge when I added the powerhead, but the cheato spinning made up for the loss of nutrient uptake from the cyano dissappearing. Bare bottom also allows you to clean detritus out of it when you do water changes. I did this once a month.

 

[Akwarius]

It will work out well for you. I didn't get cyano in my fuge when I added the powerhead, but the cheato spinning made up for the loss of nutrient uptake from the cyano dissappearing. Bare bottom also allows you to clean detritus out of it when you do water changes. I did this once a month.

Yeah there is no way that i want to promote the growth of cyano. I would worry that it would spread to my display.

 

[pepper'scove]

This doesn't particularly pertain to your exact question, but since you're gonna be building a sump I'll give my two cents worth. Make sure to use clear GE Silicone I 100% silicone for windows and doors. Otherwise use aquarium safe stuff. The GE II might not be obviously harmful, in fact it's safer for use to be around while it cures, but it's not FDA approved for prolonged contact with food whereas GE I is. I made the mistake of believing those who said they had used GE II. That may be true for a large system, but in a transitional period I lost some livestock after hooking up a new sump made with GE II. GE I silicone will work great though! Happy building!

 

[fsu1dolfan]

Spinning and light movement is one thing but too much water blasting the chaeto is counter productive.

 

[xmetalfan99]

Yeah there is no way that i want to promote the growth of cyano. I would worry that it would spread to my display.

I used to be worried about that as well, but then I started thinking. If it is in my fuge eating up the nutrients there, it is using up PO4 and trates that would be making it to the DT. This means there would be less nutrients available for cyano to grow in your DT.

 

[Akwarius]

I used to be worried about that as well, but then I started thinking. If it is in my fuge eating up the nutrients there, it is using up PO4 and trates that would be making it to the DT. This means there would be less nutrients available for cyano to grow in your DT.

I appreciate your logic, but cyano is a bacteria that can travel through the water column.

 

[mikesin]

Fuge flow wether fast or slow is debatable & personal preferences IMO.
My cheato spins nicely with a flow of roughly 200GPH in a 10 gal.. It grows double
its size In about a week and there are no dead spots as there seems to be when
its not spinning.
A fix for non spinning cheat would be light from all sides.
With that being said I feel that this is too much flow fot The 10 gal
That is used to house copods. They seem to get tossed about in the water
Column. Just my opinion and observations.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

Fuge flow wether fast or slow is debatable & personal preferences IMO.
My cheato spins nicely with a flow of roughly 200GPH in a 10 gal.. It grows double
its size In about a week and there are no dead spots as there seems to be when
its not spinning.
A fix for non spinning cheat would be light from all sides.
With that being said I feel that this is too much flow fot The 10 gal
That is used to house copods. They seem to get tossed about in the water
Column. Just my opinion and observations.

Exactly what i was thinking - Too much flow and the benefical creatures that live in the chaeto get flushed out!

 

[redtop03]

my chaeto grows best with major water flow,I have about 3000gph(twin propeller powerhead) in a 20g tank blasting it into a spin,the tank is fed with a MJ 1200(about 300gph of flow)with all this flow,I still have cyano in there,but it keeps my nitrates and phosphate to near undetectable levels...here's a video of my chaeto factory....I remove about 5 gallon of chaeto a month :bigsmile:

other macros have to have a slower flow but chaeto,for me,needs a strong current...it's nearly impossible to grow pods in there though,it would be best to have 2 fuges,1 like this and 1 with slow flow to grow pods in.....just my $.02 though

[video=youtube;0swLeG-NsLg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0swLeG-NsLg[/video]

 

[ToXIc]

i personally would try to adjust the flow compared to the amount of cheato in the fuge/refugium

redtop that vid is awesome.... but so you think it would be more effective is the water flowed trough the cheato instead of around?

 

[fsu1dolfan]

i personally would try to adjust the flow compared to the amount of cheato in the fuge/refugium

redtop that vid is awesome.... but so you think it would be more effective is the water flowed trough the cheato instead of around?

Yeah that video is pretty crazy!! I guess it depends if you are trying to grow pods or not would depend on the amount of flow...mine grows quite nicely and the flow is indirect....but i like having pods in there.

 

[Akwarius]

Redtop, that video is hilarious! I would think that you could still grow pods. I also have a cryptic zone for that.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

Redtop, that video is hilarious! I would think that you could still grow pods. I also have a cryptic zone for that.

Oh yeah if you have a different zone for that then you should be go to go with extra flow!

 

[Akwarius]

I believe strongly in having live rock in your sump with a cryptic zone. Im growing sponges, tunicates, feather dusters, and an army of mysis.