Flow through you sump or refugium

[ricky1066]

Ok I am debating back and forth of going and using my sump again .Even if it is just for volume and water top offs ok. But I am having trouble undersatnding the flow process.

Iwill most likely wait until I buy a combo Sum/refugium to put it back up.

Should I use the sock?
I hear that it is supposed to be 5-10x the size of the refugium (the flow) But how are you supposed to figure that?

I have a hob overflow and the lower I make it in the tank (the Box ) the faster the wate comes down then I adjust the return pump.
Now I would assumne the faster it comes down the better But I am told no?

So I need to know how to figure it out?

My issue here is not only that with a basic sump if the water drops as it does every day it just drops and you add with a combo sump/refugium the water flows over the top of the center(refugium) so if the water drops (top offs) the flow will stop correct.and the what ?
The tank always remain s the same with a sump/refugium and the water comes out of the sump I do not have room for auto top off so Am I better just going with a simple sump?

 

[ricky1066]

If it sounds confusing sorry simply put the basic sump gets water under a baffle the sump /refugium gets it over the top of a baffle so if the water evaprates as it does every day there will be no flow over the baffle Then the water will stop How do you prevent this or Am I wrong

 

[meschaefer]

In a simple sump, the water flows from the main tank into the first chamber of the sump. The water rises in that chamber and overflows one or more baffles into the return section of the sump, where it is sent back to the display tank by the return pump. As water evaporates, the water level in the return section of the sump lowers.

In a sump/refugium there is a third section in the sump, (for simplicity sake, but not necessarily) between the first chamber and the return chamber. Water falls into the first chamber and overflows into the refugium which overflows into the return section of the sump. As water evaporates, the water level in the return section of the sump lowers.

In my humble opinion, you would be better served by using the extra space for a water top off system, then a refugium. It is my further humble opinon, that in 99% of combo sump/refugiums... the refugium is too small to do any good and/or is not set up right to make it worthwhile.

 

[meschaefer]

Check out Melev's site, for a better description of how all this works. He has some nice visual aid which will help. Despite the fact that he talks about sump/refugium combos, I am still a naysayer.

 

[ricky1066]

That is great I have a sump I beleive It is 20 gallon it is a simple down and up I have hob skimmer which I am thinking of switching to a in sump one .But no sure of how to measure the flow?

 

[NYreefNoob]

you dont need a fuge in your sump. just throw some cheato in there. you going bare bottom in the tank ? this would really be the only reason to use a fuge in your sump