Fuge + Display Tank Question

[kidafius]

My plan is very similar. I'm turning my 55 (48x12x20) into a planted fuge. I plan on about 40 lbs LR, 100lbs LS, and lots of nitrifying plants. I also an going to keep my existing pod pile in it. Its going to be next to my 120 gallon, L-shaped set-up, with the 55 slightly taller than the 120. I'm just going to have a siphon set up with a pvc just above the pod pile, and draining directly to the 120 display.

In my sump, i'm going to grow the macro, caulerpa and such. The sump will flow into the fuge, fuge into display, display into sump. Any opinions?

edited 8/2/03 - glm - per posters indication of a typo regarding ls/lr
also this topic was spilt from another fuge thread in the DIY forum and moved here for better exposure

 

[steve-s]

The plan you have seems sound but if I might offer an alternate suggestion.

Refugiums work much better in regards to removing unwanted water elements when the flow through them is much slower. With the configuration planned, this will not really be possible without sacrificing the health of the main tank. I would suggest that the fuge and main tank be plummed seperately into the sump.

This will allow you to control the flow through the fuge and permit the caulerpa/macro algaes a much better chance at removing the "nasties" they where put there for. If your primary concern was to preserve the fauna population travelling through the pumps and such, I would not worry so much. Most will survive the trip and the small % that do not will by no means impact the health of the system.

Cheers
Steve