Question on building a refuge.

jojo22 · 06-25-2006, 05:25 PM

I am diy/retrofiting an old sump (wet dry) into a refuge for my 10 gal. I am planing to move 350-500 gph. With my design I need to drill through some partitions to make the water move how I want. Will 50 3/8 inch holes handle this kind of movement or will I need to drill som more.

lReef lKeeper · 06-25-2006, 05:37 PM

if not it should create enough current to make the water go where you want it to. if it doesn't work you can always drill more. i would start out with 25 holes, then 35, then 50. you can drill to few but to many would probably scrap the whole idea.

jojo22 · 06-25-2006, 06:40 PM

I already drilled 50 on one side but in my application I don't see how too mant would be a problem. they are up top so if anything I'll drop the water level and not use them all. To sum up I want high volume but low current.

lReef lKeeper · 06-25-2006, 08:48 PM

then it sounds your plan is a good one for the high volume/low current idea. another way to slow down the current is adding LR to the fuge. i have about 20lbs is mine and i am running about 625gal/hour through mine. it also has a few small anthelia colonies, and zoa frags in it to grow out some before hitting the main tank.

jojo22 · 06-25-2006, 09:03 PM

I'll post some pics tommorow. Then maby you and good old davejnz can give me some pointers this is my first try at any out of the tank filtration.

lReef lKeeper · 06-25-2006, 09:53 PM

i will be glad to help, and i think David wont mind either.

jojo22 · 06-26-2006, 09:09 PM

Ok so I didn't get pics but heres the idea. The refuge has 3 sections, separated by lexan from top to bottom. Section one will be used to house my skimmer and a UV filter and some live rock, there will be holes in the divider at about 5.5 inches up which will push the water across the top of the deep sand bed in section two. section two will will also be a growing field for macros and zenia to export nutrients and the dsb will hopefully help with a bigger pod population. At the top of the divider between sections two and three will be more holes. I hope by pushing the water up like this I will lose any micro bubbles. Section three will house a return pump at the bottom and as much LR and LR rubble as I can possibly cram in there.

thanks for any help/comments,

Jojo