Sump set up

[Oceanutz]

I have a life reef sump with an external refugium , sump 20 g and ref. 13 g. My question is: should my drain line be the same size as my return. I plan on spitting my drain so 2/3s goes to sump and 1/3 goes to ref. From the ref back to sump through reactors . Is that last part a bad idea or should it join into the return line?.

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[BlueZooAquatics]

Great questions. In general, your drain line should be double the size of your return. So if you have 1" return line, your drain should be 2".

You should drain all water into the main sump from the tank then use a small powerhead to feed water into the refugium area. You will have way more control over how much water is entering the refugium, which is very important, than if you tried to split the drain lines. The water from the refugium should then gravity drain back to the sump where the return pump is. If you have additional reactors, they should be fed by the main return pump or by separate pumps connected to the main sump.

Hope that helps.

[Oceanutz]

My refugium is separate and I usually have a pump in it going back into the return or the display. I just do t want any flood issues

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[BlueZooAquatics]

In an ideal world, the refugium would be above the main display to gravity feed back down. That way you do not chop up any larvae that would enter the main display to feed corals and fish. Most people cannot accommodate this type of design so the refugium sits under the tank. It is better though to have your drain all dump into the sump and the refugium be fed by a pump. That is a much safer way to design it in order to prevent floods. You just have to make sure that when the power goes out, the main sump can hold all the water that drains into it. If you have any part of the drain dumping into the refugium, there would a chance the refugium can over flow when power goes out.

[Oceanutz]

Thank you , this helps out in how I want to design my pump set up. I was thinking of the refugium having its own smaller over flow box , that was separate from the sump , then flowing back in the return line via smaller immersed pump , to the sump. Having my sump and refugium at a certain level, for emergency outages. Tell me if I'm on or off track there.
I also have to rig up a r/o next to it with a gravity feed holding tank above it . I have a float switch on my sump to release the r/o when needed. Will that work without a pressurized co tank or do I need to incorporate that into my plans ?

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[Oceanutz]

I noticed that my return pump has to flow pretty heavy in order to work with longevity. So , right now my plan is to have 2 , 1 inch lines coming from the big overflow , 1 to the protein skimmer , and the other to the 3 reactors. Then a smaller overflow w/ a 1/2line to the refugium, then a small pump or powerhead , back to the return. 1/2 line w/ adjustment knobs on both 1/2 lines for flow adjustment. The return line will be a 1 inch line going 4 ft up and then pushing water to ft in the tank , teeing off to both ends of the tank heading back up the sides. With holes drilled out in spaced places in the 3 up down lines for water placement.

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[BlueZooAquatics]

Do you have a drawing put together for the return lines from the sump and the drain lines from the main display? That might help with understanding the direction you are going.

Also, what size main tank is this?

[Oceanutz]

90 gal 6ft long , 2 ft height , 1 ft depth. Will send drawing soon..

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[BlueZooAquatics]

Perfect! Can't wait to see the drawing.

Is this a frag tank then?

[Oceanutz]

No , predator tank. Eel , lion , stingray , big bat , spotted grouper and shark banded , if I can get to eat

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[Oceanutz]

Here is my drawing , I worked late and just sketched it out. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160730/c3654f95b6979c28660df66705c52346.jpg Hope u can make it out.

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[BlueZooAquatics]

Thanks for sending that. If you can, please email a clearer picture to customerservice@bluezooaquatics.com

This actually poses more questions than answers and you will have much faster responses to emails. You are also welcome to call 888-479-2583

[Oceanutz]

Thank you will do

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[Oceanutz]

I sent email , but here is another picture

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[Oceanutz]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160805/3399e0658a0db4fdaa2c69d1a3841158.jpg

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

[BlueZooAquatics]

Thanks for the email. We sent a reply asking you to call us. We would need to explain quite a few things about this drawing and it would quicker over the phone

888-479-2583

[Oceanutz]

Thanks Greg,you where very helpful

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk