refugium flow, overflow options

[JohnH]

I'd like to add a refugium to my non-drilled 75. I'm considering a) using an overflow such as CPR CS series, or b) upgrading to AGA (possibly 90 gal) with a Megaflow. Thoughts on these options?

Also, I've read in many places that flow through the refugium should not be very fast (2-3 times tank volume), but overflows like the Megaflow are rated at 600 gph - is this too much? should some of the flow be diverted around the refugium?

BTW, I'm adding the refugium to combat hair algae. I recently added some Caulerpa to the main tank, and it is already making a difference. Now I want to move that (or replace with Chaeto) to a refugium. Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds to me like you're more interested in an algae scrubber than a refugium. The built-in overflows are great but I'm not sure it's worth swapping out the tank for it unless you're ready to change tanks anyway.

Is placing the algae scrubber right next to the display tank an option? If they are the same height at the top then you won't need an overflow.

I disagree with the 2-3X turnover rate. The experiments I've done on my system indicated that 8X is the minimum it should be for optimal growth. Your mileage may vary....

With the built-in overflows it's not the capacity of the overflow that determines your flow rate through the algae scrubber, it's the flow rate of your pump.

 

[Anonymous]

Overflows work by gravity. The 600gph is not like a pump that pumps 600gph. It is the maximum. So if you "overflow" 400gph, the overflow simply overflows that 400gph. 200 then 200, 500 then 500 etc.

Guy has a good idea to limit the possibility of flooding. But anytime you pump water from one open container to another, there can be floods.

So you should test throughly and try to design out to the maximum extent possilbe any flooding mechanism.

that is one reason I like my in tank refug. Another is that it was only $10 and easy to setup.

I hope you have a awesome system. You are correct expanding the plant life will vastly reducing or eliminating the ugly algaes. plant life also makes for a stable easy to maintain system in the process.