How To Build A Fuge?

[bg7003]

Hey,
I hav a 20 gallon tank right above a ten gallon and i wanted to turn the 10 gallon into a refugium. I was thinking instead of drilling, i would have two pvc pipes attached to the tanks. The tube going from the 20 gallon to the 10 would be gravity fed into the 10, and the tube going from the 10 gallon into the 20 would need a power head. I was wondering what gph should the power head be. any suggestions would be great! thanks!

 

[xxBarneyxx]

You really dont want to do it that way im afraid as there is so much that can go wrong. If the syphone breaks on the feed to the sump for example you will end up flooding the display. Also matching a powerhead to the syphon feed is close to impossible and if either one changes (ie pump gets a bit clogged and doesnt push up as much water) one of the tanks is going to end up flooded).

If you dont want to drill the display tank the two options you have is to use an overflow box on it or to put the 'fuge above the display tank (and drill the fuge).

 

[ben1987]

yeah i was going to say have the fudge above and then pump the water upto the fudge and have it overflow back own to the tank. Make sure that in a powecut the main tank can handle the extra volume that may flow back down.
You dont need too much flow through a fudge as far as i knw, just when chosing a powerhead make sure you account for head loss.

overflow box would probably look best though.

 

[bg7003]

ok thanks. i can probably do the tank above it. How do i make an over flow?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

If the tank is empty its probably easier to drill it (and argueably more reliable). You can make an overflow box (search on goggle for DIY overflow box) but personally I wouldnt trust anything I ever made not to leak

 

[ben1987]

if your doing it above google 'durso'

 

[bg7003]

I was thinking about using a Rio Hyperflow pump 6. to pump the water up. Is this pump any good?
http/www.dtpetsupplies.com/catalog/produ...roducts_id=2976

 

[SkiFletch]

I'd be wary as Rio pumps do have significant reliability concerns...

 

[keenonfish]

You really dont want to do it that way im afraid as there is so much that can go wrong. If the syphone breaks on the feed to the sump for example you will end up flooding the display. Also matching a powerhead to the syphon feed is close to impossible and if either one changes (ie pump gets a bit clogged and doesnt push up as much water) one of the tanks is going to end up flooded).

If you dont want to drill the display tank the two options you have is to use an overflow box on it or to put the 'fuge above the display tank (and drill the fuge).

Isn't there a way to make a sort of safety reservoir for a siphon such that if the pump stops the siphon maintains suction and doesn't flood the fuge? I am sure I have seen something somewhere that saddles the tank and has a break built into it.

 

[SkiFletch]

The general term for them is overflow box and yes they do exist. They're still not as reliable as drilled overflows because not if but when air bubbles get trapped in the siphon tube, they can/will break the siphon and then you have a big problem when power is on...