Basement Refugium

[idgy]

I have no choice but to put my refug in my basement. My tank is on the main floor of the house. Can I make this work well? What kind of GPH would I need to make it run properly.


I have a 58 gallon tank, sump and large skimmer.

 

[ecobalance]

12 to 22 times an hour

you want to caculate refugium volume times 12 or no more than 22 and use power heads to create circulation in the main tank.Most pumps have a head curve chart on the boxwhich will tell u when he pump will flaten out at what height

 

[Reefdaddy1]

your gonna need a pressure rated pump. Some pumps have head go zero at 35 feet. just start looking at what Pump rate you need. And make sure its enough to make your fuge effective.

 

[Meche]

I. Determin the head loss of your system
---A. Measure the vertical distance between your display and your fuge's water levels.
---B. Add a few extra feet to that to account for your plumbing's resistance.
------1. How far is the display from the fuge? (horizontal and vertical distance)
------2. What size pipe are you going to use?
------3. What type of pipe or hose are you going to use?
------4. How many elbows are you going to use?
*In most typical cases, "B" can usually be approximated to be about 2 feet. However, head loss due to your plumbing can exceed that simple approximation if you are not careful.

II. Select a pump that will give you the flow you are looking for (gph) at the head loss it will experience (ft). Most pump manufacturers will make avaliable a graph that plots flow rate vs. head. Use this to determin each pump's flow rate at the head (loss) of your system.

Now, how much flow rate do you want?
Thats a tougher question. Some people subscribe to strict multiples of your display tank's volume (as ecobalance suggested). Others, like to match the sump flow to the flow rate of your skimmers feed pump. I personally, would lean toward the skimmer matching flow rates, but they end up being similar.

Do you have any plans for your plumbing yet? or where exactly your sump will be located?

 

[Slickdonkey]

your gonna need a pressure rated pump.

Not necessarily. IMO the pressure rated pumps are not usually required and take two to three times the amount of electricity.

Start by looking at the Sequence pumps. I'm running two Hammerheads under my house and there is plenty of pressure at about 14' head. It depends on the distance you're pumping vertically but I doubt you'll even need one this big.

 

[Meche]

What exactly is ment by a "pressure rated pump"? I've herd this term used for this hobby but no where else. Do you simply mean, a pump that is capable of delivering the pressure that your application requires? Or are you talking about a positive displacement type pump (non-centrifigual)?

 

[idgy]

Thanks Meche, I am new to the refug thing. So I am trying to figure this out as I go along. Does any one know of a good site that explains all about refugs?

 

[Slickdonkey]

There is a good chapter on refugiums in the book "Reef Invertebrates" by Anthony Calfo.

 

[Reefdaddy1]

Iwaki and Pan world are pressure rated, In most pressure rated pumps the max head is increased. Like in Iwaki MD-70RLZT the max head is 66 feet and they give you Max system pressure of 42 PSI. Sequence has one advantage it can be restricted to adjust flow because of the low speed motor, They run quieter but they can ot match the head the Pressure rated pups have.

 

[Reefdaddy1]

Thanks Meche, I am new to the refug thing. So I am trying to figure this out as I go along. Does any one know of a good site that explains all about refugs?

Here is a real good article on Sumps

its 3 chapters but please read it.


http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.php

 

[Reefdaddy1]

Not necessarily. IMO the pressure rated pumps are not usually required and take two to three times the amount of electricity.

Start by looking at the Sequence pumps. I'm running two Hammerheads under my house and there is plenty of pressure at about 14' head. It depends on the distance you're pumping vertically but I doubt you'll even need one this big.

I have to disagree. the Iwaki I mentioned above is over 6600 GPH at 385 watts, where the Hammerhead is 335 watts at 5800 GPH, Not much of difference.

 

[Slickdonkey]

In that case it's a good pump. I think some of the Sequence pressure-rated pumps draw 7 amps or so, but will shoot water up to 80-something feet vertically IIRC.

 

[Reefdaddy1]

In that case it's a good pump. I think some of the Sequence pressure-rated pumps draw 7 amps or so, but will shoot water up to 80-something feet vertically IIRC.

See thats the key, The Iwaki pulls only 3.8 amps max. That Japanese motor they use is probably one the best on the market.