Considering the following refugiums for my 90 gallon reef tank. (tank will mostly have fish and live rock, but a few invertebrates).
![](/forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Finlinethumb25.webshots.com%2F4824%2F2015506880100898370S600x600Q85.jpg&hash=ee9565d5decca40aecc5baeada323554)
![](/forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Finlinethumb47.webshots.com%2F5422%2F2175632240100898370S600x600Q85.jpg&hash=75d80f5dfeee845152747c41f1bb0f77)
![](/forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Finlinethumb16.webshots.com%2F5711%2F2392025850100898370S600x600Q85.jpg&hash=d862a2c63e31ea5020d7123246f45742)
I'm really noobie, so I'd love some suggestions on a sump/refugium. Here are some pictures. (the first two pics are the same refugium / sump from a different angle).
The first refugium (first two pics): 36"L x 16"W x 18"H -- 44 gallons capacity
From what I can see, the sump/refug in the first two pics is the more premium of the both.Correct me if i'm wrong, but this is how I see it working:
(1).The water flows in, and makes contact with the protein skimmer,
(2). then flows into the refugium part in middle where I can add some sand / algae. nitrate eaters
(3). Then the water leaves back to my tank with some bio balls around it (is that kind of weird to have bio balls at the end of your sump rather than water trickling all over the top of it?)
The Second refugium (last pic): 24"L x 12"W x 14H" -- 17.45 gallons
This is a much cheaper refugium.
(1). Water flows in and pours all over the bio balls
(2). it flows into middle where I can put sand and algae
(3). It comes out the far left to be pumped back to my tank. (Could a skimmer be put there? at the end of the sump?)
Questions:
1. I know that you want a larger refugium because it gives you more water, so therefore you have more total water in your tank to buffer against problems. is 44 gallons overkill? Is 17.45 too little?
2. Can you guys see any problems with gurgle / splash? The first one doesn't seem to have a good lid over the sump as far as in the inlets and outlets, whereas the second one seems like it will prevent a lot of splash.
overall any suggestions? Thanks!
![](/forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Finlinethumb25.webshots.com%2F4824%2F2015506880100898370S600x600Q85.jpg&hash=ee9565d5decca40aecc5baeada323554)
![](/forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Finlinethumb47.webshots.com%2F5422%2F2175632240100898370S600x600Q85.jpg&hash=75d80f5dfeee845152747c41f1bb0f77)
![](/forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Finlinethumb16.webshots.com%2F5711%2F2392025850100898370S600x600Q85.jpg&hash=d862a2c63e31ea5020d7123246f45742)
I'm really noobie, so I'd love some suggestions on a sump/refugium. Here are some pictures. (the first two pics are the same refugium / sump from a different angle).
The first refugium (first two pics): 36"L x 16"W x 18"H -- 44 gallons capacity
From what I can see, the sump/refug in the first two pics is the more premium of the both.Correct me if i'm wrong, but this is how I see it working:
(1).The water flows in, and makes contact with the protein skimmer,
(2). then flows into the refugium part in middle where I can add some sand / algae. nitrate eaters
(3). Then the water leaves back to my tank with some bio balls around it (is that kind of weird to have bio balls at the end of your sump rather than water trickling all over the top of it?)
The Second refugium (last pic): 24"L x 12"W x 14H" -- 17.45 gallons
This is a much cheaper refugium.
(1). Water flows in and pours all over the bio balls
(2). it flows into middle where I can put sand and algae
(3). It comes out the far left to be pumped back to my tank. (Could a skimmer be put there? at the end of the sump?)
Questions:
1. I know that you want a larger refugium because it gives you more water, so therefore you have more total water in your tank to buffer against problems. is 44 gallons overkill? Is 17.45 too little?
2. Can you guys see any problems with gurgle / splash? The first one doesn't seem to have a good lid over the sump as far as in the inlets and outlets, whereas the second one seems like it will prevent a lot of splash.
overall any suggestions? Thanks!