Heaters in refugium

[tat2z_21]

So I am building a new sump/"SHOW REFUGIUM,". And would like to take my heaters out of my display and put them in the sump. Now my question is this. Would there be any problems with me putting the heaters under the DSB in my refugium to hide the heaters. Or would this not create enough heat to disperse to the water passing by. I know that the flow rate coming in and going out of my existing sump is around 600 gph. With that being said would that be too much flow for the Show refugium. My daughters really want sea horses and I had planned to put them along with some other safe critters down there. Once again any information would be great. Thank you for your time.

 

[MarineDreamer]

I don’t think that having your heaters under a DSB would work. 1) For the reason that you mentioned, there wouldn’t be any flow around the heaters. 2) You would have dig up the heaters when they fail. And they will fail.

If you’re the process of building the sump, you could look into building a ‘false’ back that would hide plumbing/heaters/anything else that you would want put into a sump. I thought about that after reading Delbeek and Sprung’s “The Reef Aquarium” Volume Three. That way you still have a clean refuge. Just a thought.

 

[trillyen]

Thats some good advice marine dreamer I would had never thought that far ahead as far as the heater breaking down

Good thinking

I wouldnt think you could do that to the sand bed any way cause what if you need to adjust the heater because of a heating issue you get if you get light upgrades or something

Plus might it kill some of the benifical bacteria living in the sand...

 

[trillyen]

Thats some good advice marine dreamer I would had never thought that far ahead as far as the heater breaking down

Good thinking

I wouldnt think you could do that to the sand bed any way cause what if you need to adjust the heater because of a heating issue you get if you get light upgrades or something

Plus might it kill some of the benifical bacteria living in the sand...

 

[MC Lighting]

I think that you would heat load the heater too quickly and most likely crack the glass because even thoug under water it is not flowing water when imbedded I would highly recomend against doing this and go for the other suggestion of a false back...

 

[tat2z_21]

I agree and will go with the false back for the refugium. I will just use the entire front half for the "display" refugium. My other question though is that with the amount of flow through there do you think it would be too much for sea horses and would they totally devistate the copepod population.