Refugium Plumbing

[sfboarders]

I asked this on RC but got no response so I'd thought you guys/gals can help me out.

I plan on having a custom built sump built for my 100 gallon tank.
It will have a skimmer section | return section | refugium section.

I am having a hard time deciding if the drain line from the DT should go to the skimmer and refugium or the return line going to the DT and refugium. Is there a benefit from one or the other?

Drain line to skimmer and refugium sections

Return line to DT and refugium

Also I plan on using an Eheim 1260 return pump. What size pvc pipe do you recommend? I have 1 overflow with a 1.25" durso standpipe that will be going into 1.25 flex pipe into sump. TIA!

 

[Elite]

Why not do Skimmer | Refugium | Return ?? no need to run additional pipe.

1" pipe should be good enough for your tank..

 

[sfboarders]

Hi Elite, thanks for the quick response! I got the info from here and it seems to be a popular sump design.

How much flow should I have in the refugium?

The flow rate through a refugium is slower than through the sump. By use of a ball valve on the water feed to the refugium, you can set the flow rate to your specific desire. You need to avoid stagnant water, and the surface of the water should be broken slightly to avoid a film growing on the surface. Try to achieve a gentle flow throughout this zone.

 

[Elite]

How big is your refugium section? You display is a 100G. IMO, you want to keep the turn over rate around 500-600GPH. If you have a 20G refugium, you should be fine with 600GPH. I don't really understand why there is a need for a slow flow through a refugium..

BTW, don't use ballvalve on your plumbing. Use Gate valve. Much better to control the flow and doesn't stick.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Yeah what is your refugium going to be? Macro algae and pods? Then having it inline is fine, I think the mind set with a slower than normal rate through a refugium is due to the delicate nature of certain animals (seahorses for example) that some use the refugium for. Me? Hell I want strong pods, steroid filled pods, the bulkest pods of the lot, because they'll be the ones reproducing making strong off spring, and more meaty food for my fish!

As to your two choices you proposed.

Its a matter of how clean do you want the water in your refugium, if you take it directly from the tank then you're getting the scum that floats on the surface, which may or may not be a food source for tiny critters in the refugium, but if you split off your return you'll at least get water that is freshly skimmed going into, it, while yeah less nutrients, some will still get through and should suffice.

However between the two ways, if you tee of the return less water will go into your tank, as a result you can reduce the flow of your return, which can be a good thing. But 100% of the output isn't going into the tank, which is what the first picture has, because it's the drain line that gets split off, but still all of that water that is being pumped goes into the tank. IMO I like the option of dialing back the return line, that way if things get too noisy with overflows and the like you can always slow the flow a bit.