Had a bit of an epiphany over the weekend as I did a thorough clean that included getting rid of my bio balls out of the overflow and filter pads out of the sump. My Nitrates were high (40) and I think those two things were creating the problem. I'm very interested in creating a refugium. My new sump won't really have enough room for anything but a little bit of cheato, but the lightbulb in my brain went off and I thought what if I use my old sump tank (15 gallons) next to the main display as a refuge for my clownfish (I think they have irritated several lps to death) and as a functioning refugium? The 15 gallon tank isn't drilled but I see CPR makes hang on overflow boxes. The refugium could be set up on the existing open chiller/UV filter circuit and I would just have to drill a small anti-siphoning hole on the return tube so I don't have potential flooding problems. Does this sound like a good option? Thanks for any input.
I've been trying to visualize what might be wrong with your idea and can't come up with anything. One word of caution, you may already aware, when connecting two tanks together horizontally the water levels must match. Water seeks it's own level. You could flood if not careful.
Dick
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
Thanks and I think it wil work. I have water pumping from the sump to the chiller/UV and back to the sump. If I put the fuge in the middle somewhere, it shouldn't matter about display tank water height and refegium water height because it is an "open" circuit. from the sump to the sump If the power fails the water would stop pumping to the refugium and any excess (the CPR boxes are supposed to be variable and will cut off at a certain level and an anti siphon hole on the return would stop that as well) would drain back into the sump. I should have enough volume in the sump to take care of that (maybe less than a gallon?) and the backslide from the main tank. Make sense? I've also decide to get a canopy/hood for my tank so I can hang the Solaris in it a little higher than with the supplied feet (one of which is crooked). I did a mock up and liked the light spread better. This way I don't have to return the I4 which I was dreading. I'll see if maybe PFO can throw in a free hanging kit or something since I'm saving them the trouble of switching out my unit. How was yor weekend? Did you get any work done on the building?
Hey Matt, yes we got a lot of work done today. The arches are all but done. One last position left to pull into shape. We got rained on late today and the roof is slippery when wet. My wife insisted I get down without finishing the last one. There is always tomorrow.
Dick
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
Yes, flooding. One of the main reasons I've ordered a new custom sump is my current one is teetering on the verge of soaking the downstairs neighbors if the power shuts off. I have to keep the level fairly low which doesn't help the skimmer. Current dimensions are 12x12x24 and new dimesions will be 12x17x26 (wxhxl), so I think I'll be good. Congratulations Dick, I found your building build site, very cool. I'll take your advice on the Elegans. Nitrate is coming down, calcium and magnesium are almost there. Other parameters are good How should I stock the refugium? I hear calupera (sp?) is bad, chaeto is good, and I'd love to put a mangrove or two in there. I think my wife would be thrilled to see something sprouting out of the tank. I'd like to move my clowns in there and maybe I could finally keep an anemone (they always seem to go hide and die).
Anyone know of a good (not super expensive custom) decent hood supplier/manufacturer? I've been looking on the web and all I can find are 7" tall. I need 48x18x12" (wxdxh). Thanks
Right Poppin' Fresh, but I can't bear the thought of giving those two little guys away, they've been friends for a long time. As I said, I think they have irritated a few lps to death. Since I want to have a coral dominated tank I think this might work. Thanks for your input.
I read the article on creating a DSB on your site. I take it that I cannot just dump 3" more of fine sand on top of my established bed. Would this suffocate the existing aerobic or would they migrate to the top leaving behind anaerobic? Maybe I should just have a good mud bed in the new refugium/quarantine and leave it at that. Thanks,
I disagree that caulerpa is bad. I grow both it and cheato is separate areas of my sump/fuge. Caulerpa, if not properly maintained, can sporulate (go sexual) creating water quality problems. I have been keeping it for over 2 years with no problems. I prune the caulerpa every week or so and generally keep it lit 24/7. Caulerpa grows faster than cheato for me. Very few things eat cheato but most of my vegetarians eat caulerpa.
If you add a mangrove you need to make sure that you mist the leaves with fresh water daily. I have read that mangroves are not the nutrient sinks conventional wisdom says they are. Nevertheless I think they are cool and would have one if I could figure out how to fit it in. I am considering putting one in my overflow and letting it grow out of the top.
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