[generaltang]

I recently built a sump for my 55g, using the only thing i could get to fit inside my stand(centerpost prohibits size) a 10 g tank. I used my aquac remora hob skimmer which helped save room, but the compartment i have for my refugium just seems too small. would it be possible to pump water out of my sump using a powerhead, and into a large plastic container, using that as my refugium, then pump it back into my sump? if so, would it be bad to set the tubing from the sump underneath my sand bed, so that it flows up through the sand ? is this a bad idea? should i just scrap it and stay with the 10g only?

[e_baer]

I think the idea needs a little polishing, but it is definately plausible to have a seperate container to hold more water.

[generaltang]

a little polishing......hmm. I thought it was still rough around the edges. anway, here is what i am thinking. I have a plastic container which is approx. 20" long x 12" wide x 16" tall. I have 2 maxi-jet 600 powerheads, just sitting around doing nothing. I was thinking I could pump water from the sump using 1 of the heads and plastic tubing to the container, possibly burying the tube under the sand ( is a 6" bed overkill?) then, of course, my LR and some macro-algae. Then back through my second powerhead to the sump. I thought that since I use the sponge filter on my pump to the tank, placing the tubing under the sponge would be a good idea. if you have any ideas for me please let me know. one of my lfs is going out of business, so i could go and pick up a refugium from them dirt cheap, ( I already got 50 lbs of lr for $1.50 a lb., thats a story for another thread) but i figure if I have the parts already, why waste money?

[e_baer]

Honestly, I would just save yourslef a bunch of time and hassle and go and buy the fuge.

[boombadan]

That idea could probly work but i also agree you should just buy one already made, it would save a lot of work.

[emccullough1]

One problem I see with you idea is you will never get 2 pumps that match flow even two of the same pumps. You need to get one of the tanks higher then the other and use a siphon or overflow. Then you can match the flow with a T and a valve on one line back to the one with the pump. I would scrap the idea of putting the return under the sand. If you have a DBS you would render it useless. And if it is a shallow sand the sand would be flying all over making the water cloudy. If you wand to make a fluid bed filter they are simple to make and could be added to the loop. You might get away with the T and valve and two pumps come to think of it. as long as the return pump was the strongest of the two. But you run a risk of a flood if it starts to fail. I would not want to risk it.

[Dustin1300]

If it was me a simple idea would be to put a pipe into the side of the plastic container at the level you want to pump the water into...From here you can just use one pump from your sump idea and send it to the plastic container and then the pipe on the larger container which is higher than the sump would automatically feed it because of good ole GRAVITY and you'd save the cost of running another pump...

[e_baer]

i guess that would work, i was thinking of that for my sump, but then it is too much of a risk of a leak, plus you have to get teh tank drilled.

[generaltang]

ok, then how about this, i have a spare over-flow box. the smart idea then, would be to scrap the sand bed idea, fit the box into the sump, put the sump up on blocks to keep that water level high, throw a ball valve onto the pipe from the box, right? should i section off my refugium container to allow for a pump chamber, or could i just place the pump right in the main compartment? also, would a regular flurescent stip be enough to support macro's in a 20" long x 12" wide x 16" tall container?

[e_baer]

that sounds much better!

but i dont think you need a ball valve if you have an overflow box.

it wouldnt hurt to section of the pump area, and the standard light will be fine.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

How about making the fuge a second display tank outside the stand?The slow flow could be an advantage if you wanted to keep sea horses or pipe fish or both.Plumb it like a normal tank with an overflow.The drain line would go back to the sump and the return line would come from the sump.I see this as the perfect job for a tank like a 40 gallon breader drilled with a normal overflow.With the propper dsb this could be the prelude to removing the skimmer alltogether when the two tanks were about a year old.

[Ganrin]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

How about making the fuge a second display tank outside the stand?The slow flow could be an advantage if you wanted to keep sea horses or pipe fish or both.Plumb it like a normal tank with an overflow.

Im planning something like this for my 75, I have a spare 10g tank that im going to attempt to drill on one end for a overflow, then im going to build shelf/stand for it so that the bottom is even with the top of my 75. Im going to use the 10g as a refugium that directly overflows into main tank and power it with a small powerhead so its carrying a lowish flow. I am also considering putting 5-6 in. of sand in it for a small remote dsb.

[generaltang]

I actually thought about setting up a 20g long as a display tank, for my refugium. I have a bar that sits about 18" (perpindicular) from my main tank. the only drawback to that (in my mind) would be looking at the plumbing, granted it would only be about 18" of pipe that would be seen. maybe i could do something like that and just box out the pipe with some 1x2's and trim. the possiblities are endless i guess.

[am3evan]

I recently read an article on building an undercabinet sump/fuge and the guy built supports and then removed the center support to put the sump in and then put it back. This is what I plan on doing since I would like a contained unit where all I have to worry about is the return pumps...

[NATIVEVAMAN]

If you put a fuge in a rubbermaid container you would not be the first to do so.Make sure the water level in the fuge is above the water level of the sump.Use standard bulkheads for 1 inch pipe,one for in one for out and get one of those strainers that the lfs sells for the top of stand pipes for the out.One pump from the sump to the fuge,gravity back.Remember if the pump stops for any reason the water might siphon back to the sump so make sure the sump will hold all the water above the line in the fuge that has the pump on it.The gravity line will be at the water surface anyway so no siphon there.This way it can be as big as you want with all the sand bed you want(the deeper the better).

[NATIVEVAMAN]

As for that center post,if the stand is well built to begin with and you dont have a huge tank you might not even need it.If you have a large tank that requires a center post you can put it back using coated deck screws so it can be removed at any time without ripping it apart.