What do you think??

[ITeach2Wheels]

I am in the planning stages of turning my 20gal freshwater tank to salt. There is also a 10 gal under it on the stand. This would be my sump/fuge.

My question, for now is what do you think about my fuge plans?
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/10GalFugeModel2d.jpg,,
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/10GalFugeModel2d2.jpg,

I plan on having the water drain into the chamber wit the skimmer. Baffles would keep bubbles out of the 4" deep DSB and return pump. The return would have a "T" with a ball valve for slow flow to a spreader bar to the fuge. Fuge water would then over flow back to the return box.

What do you think? Is this a good setup?

I haven't considered what skimmer, pump. or siphon tube to use. I have read this: DIY Overflow Box (http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/overflow.html), and think it looks like a pretty cool setup.

I might also add a tube fuge like the one I have on my BC8. I have the supplies for one more.

Opinions?? Suggestions??

[JustDavidP]

My only suggestion is that the Deep Sand Bed and Refugium could be one in the same chamber. Therefore eliminating the need for the construction of the addtional box etc.

I do them the same way, like this:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/skimmedsump.jpg

or this:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/runnin.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/SUMP.jpg

Dave

[ITeach2Wheels]

I considered doing it that way, however I was under the impression that flow through a DSB should be fast, while flow through a fuse should be slower. It would be very cool if I was wrong...

[Phurst]

There's a happy medium in there that will be OK for both. Besides, the way your diagram looks, you'll be blocking a good bit of DSB surface area with your fuge anyway.

[JustDavidP]

I agree with your flow concerns. The pictures above vastly differ from the current set up.

I use PVC and acrylic stands now to keep the rock off of the sand bed. Here...you can actually see a piece of PVC in the left corner in this pic, where I removed a rock.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/CapeMacro.jpg

In this case, the rock was moved and the PVC placed to house a mangrove propagule.

Dave

[ITeach2Wheels]

Ok, that makes sense, I had planned to have the the Fuge box floating above the DSB, I thought the DSb needs clear surface area to work effectively, so I was going to have fast flow over the DSB and slower flow into the fuge.
Is this better, or not worth the trouble? Of course doing it like I had planned would make it hard to stir the sand.

[JustDavidP]

You need to get good flow over the sandbed, but not FAST. If you do fast, you'll have a sandstorm in no time.

Also, keep in mind the reason for flow over the bed, it is to enable draw through varying layers of the bed, and keep the sandbed surface somewhat clean. The flow over the bed should be steady, but the more time passing over the bed, the more contact time with the bed. This is good when you think of what the bed does, what it needs to do.

What you want to simulate is "boundary layer currents" which occur naturally in the oceans. The relationship of these currents with the substrate topography allows for exchange of fluids, and solids betwen the top layer of the substrate and the water. AKA, a filter :) There is some research and articles out here on the net that you can find to better understand it.

Google any "Benthic Research" by "Dr. Markus Huettel" from Florida State University's Department of Oceanography. That'd be a good start. I remember someone of "status" in the reefing hobby presenting at Boston Reefers once too. He had slides showing dye put in sandbeds, and the results of this kind of flow in the bed. It's not hard to read up on and is quite interesting.

Dave

[JustDavidP]

Psssssssst... did some googling for you. Hack in to the Doctor's papers and such here:

Index of /faculty/huettel/downloads (http://ocean.fsu.edu/faculty/huettel/downloads/)

Honestly, it's not a hack. It's all out there for you and your peers ;)

Dave

[JustDavidP]

I remember someone of "status" in the reefing hobby presenting at Boston Reefers once too. He had slides showing dye put in sandbeds, and the results of this kind of flow in the bed.

Wow Dave.. now your responding to your own quotes :) Okay...that reefer of status.. I remembered him ;) And it wasn't a BRS meeting... It was Julian Sprung's presentation, given at MACNA in Boston, entitled - "Making Waves and Unusual Filtration Methods". A great resource for understanding proper flow over sand beds...

Okay... off to other fun!

Dave

[ITeach2Wheels]

Three responses to yourself??:D
Thanks!! Now I have some light reading before bed.

[lReef lKeeper]

you know, i start worrying when people start answering themselves. talking to yourself is one thing, but answering makes me a little nervous to admit that you guided me here (over a year ago) !! lol

[JustDavidP]

:) as long as you win the argument...there's nothing wrong with a lil' self battling :)

Dave

[CarmieJo]

You might want to consider an HOB skimmer or one that can sit outside of the tank. A 10 gallon is not all that long...

[ITeach2Wheels]

I think that might be a good idea, the bummer is, I passed on a Remora off a 29g system a couple of months ago.