Display drain split into sump and refugium
 

I have a 120 gallon display tank and a 35 gallon rock refugium. I'm considering splitting the tank outflow to the sump/skimmer and refugium so the display water gets both forms of filtration, thoughts? I will use ball valves to fine tube both ends

A refugium is not a form of filtration, but there's nothing wrong with splitting the drain provided they both end up in the same area to be returned by a single pump.

Jeff

[;17814874]A refugium is not a form of filtration, but there's nothing wrong with splitting the drain provided they both end up in the same area to be returned by a single pump.

Jeff[/QUOTE]

The live rock and cheto and DSB are not filtration?

First off, I like the idea much better than teeing of the retun and I am using it as part of my 40 breeder design. In reguards to Jeffs' comment I think he meant to say that a refugiums main purpose isn't filtration but to house plants/animals to help your evironment and that secondairly, yes, it is a form of filtration.

When you make you design I would love to see your end result. I am planning on using a 45 or 90 degree split, I havent decided, with valves to control noise levels and flow to the refugium section.

i've run a split drain for a couple years now with no issues. I keep the skimmer valve wide open & close off the refuge flow to probably 10-20%. Seems to work well.

That's an interesting concept. What use to think a refugium has?

I prefer to tee off the return pump, less chance of becoming a detrius trap. I guess I could just put a few extra critters down there and then I wouldn't have to worry about it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ht=bubble+trap

Ya, the refuge will definitely become a detritus trap is going bare bottom. Had that problem. Solved it with a 3-4" fine sand bed & some live rock rubble. I keep about a dozen small snails & one turbo in there. I use the rubble for frag plugs as needed. Has actually worked out pretty well.

I have my split with gate valves. Hopefully your display tank has an emergency overflow pipe or be very careful adjusting the overflow.

I'd be hesitant to put any kind of valve on a drain line (which you'd have to do to split/control flow from the drain), unless there was at least 1 emergency dry drain line as backup.

he's probably got ALL the kinks out by now.. or tossed the tank...seeing how that was posted 5 years ago :spin2:

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