Refugium water flow volume

[Davidb6]

Have a 3 gal HOB refugium and need a pump -

“I think” water should flow through the refugium at about 1 gal per hr. Is this correct??

Can anyone recommend a submersible pump for this refugium??
I can't find anything this small on-line

Thanks

[kau_cinta_ku]

3-5 times the turnover of the tank

[Davidb6]

Any ideas where I can get a pump that's only rated for 15 gph?

[sabbath]

I have about 125gph in my 5.5 gal. Cheato doubles in a couple weeks or less.

[Davidb6]

Wow, that's over 20 times the tank size turned per hr. I wonder how effective the absorption is at that speed?

Is there a min / max number of turns per hr I should be shooting for? Sounds like people are successful from 3 to 22.

I think mini-jet offers an adjustable pump down to 20 gph...maybee thats fine??

[kau_cinta_ku]

why only 15 gph?

[kau_cinta_ku]

on a 65 gal. tank you will want 195 gph - 325 gph

BTW you want to go by main tank not fuge tank

[sabbath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10321840#post10321840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kau_cinta_ku
3-5 times the turnover of the tank

I think he is saying 3-5 for display tank size....

[Davidb6]

I have a 3 gal refugium, I'm trying to understand the water flow for the refug only...not the tank.

[sabbath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10322102#post10322102 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Davidb6
I have a 3 gal refugium, I'm trying to understand the water flow for the refug only...not the tank.

I would say anywhere from 100gph to 250gph or so would be fine in the FUGE. For your tank.

[Davidb6]

Its a 3 gal refugium, 100 to 250 gph pump will blow everything out of it.

[kypatriot]

What kind of filter do you use?

I have a canister filter, and hooked the return line to the input of a HOB refugium. No added heat or power, and the macro is perfectly suited to get the water coming from the filter.

I also have a CPR Bak-Pak, with the external bubble trap, which I use as a very small refugium for gracilaria. It grows like crazy in that little box! I take some out & feed it to my tangs about once a week.

[Davidb6]

I have a HOB canister filter that I may be able to rig up that way...interesting idea.

I was under the impression that water should move through a refug very slowly to give the Macro / mangrove time to absorb the nutrients.

[kypatriot]

I did have to pick up some extra tubing to make it work, so if you're creative with tubing and zip-ties, you probably can (unless it just returns by overflowing into the tank like a power filter).

The algae can remove nutrients pretty effectively. By having high flow through it, you're delivering more nutrients per unit time. I don't think it makes a huge difference regardless. Your algae will be absorbing nutrients and growing while cleaning the tank either way.

[sabbath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10322166#post10322166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Davidb6
Its a 3 gal refugium, 100 to 250 gph pump will blow everything out of it.

I have done this many times. Not sure why it would blow yours out at 250gph. Mine is even hitting the cheato directly with out harm to it? but ok.