Refugium Plumbing

[Reefres]

What is the best option gravity return back to the sump or tank? From what I have read its best to go direct to the tank, but I'm worried about introducing a lot of air bubbles into the display tank. Will this be a problem?

Any tips you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

To the tank! Running the fuge return to the sump puts the critters in the sump and then they have to find their way up to the tank- and thats hard.

There are ways to minimize bubbles or eliminate them all together. How are you planning to run the line to the tank?

 

[Reefres]

The tank sits against a wall with a closet behind. I plan on putting the Refugium in the closet up high enough to gravity feed back to the tank. The Refugium has a 1" PVC pipe with slots cut into it located just below the waterline for the return. I'm looking for ideas to take it from the refugium to the tank without the introduction of air bubbles if possible? I don't have the experience but would think that if I plumbed direct with a 90-degree elbow into the tank in the back you would create a lot of air bubbles?

 

[Reefres]

The tank sits against a wall with a closet behind. I plan on putting the Refugium in the closet up high enough to gravity feed back to the tank. The Refugium has a 1" PVC pipe with slots cut into it located just below the waterline for the return. I'm looking for ideas to take it from the refugium to the tank without the introduction of air bubbles if possible? I don't have the experience but would think that if I plumbed direct with a 90-degree elbow into the tank in the back you would create a lot of air bubbles?

 

[Anonymous]

Easy peasy. Put the return from the fuge along the line of the top of the water in the main tank. Then, it works like a very weak powerhead output.

 

[Reefres]

Sorry about that must have hit send twice. May be a stupid question but is the return pipe completely submerged in the tank? Thanks for the advise.

 

[Anonymous]

Which return pipe?

 

[Reefres]

The return pipe outlet in the main tank.

 

[Anonymous]

The return to the tank can be at any depth. However, in the event of a power outage, it will create a siphon if it is submerged, so you need to be sure that your sump can handle the volume of water siphoned in such an event. I keep my at the surface (except for closed loops) and have anti siphon holes drilled in the fittings.

 

[Reefres]

Thanks for all the input. I'm inching closer to actually getting water in the tank. Just trying to do my homework.

 

[Anonymous]

Sweet. Keep em coming! Pictures are extremely helpful with plumbing questions.

 

[Dude]

gravity fed is the best. u shouldnt have to worry about air bubbles coming into tank from refugium via gravity fed. The turnover of volume should be slow in the refugium. so there wont be any bubbles coimg into the tank.