opinions on section size of refugium

[reeferwanabe]

I'm making a sump/fuge the first section I figured out. 30" long tank 1st section 6" 2nd fuge thinking 12"? 3rd 12" for return?
do you think this is the best layout? anyone else running a 30" sump/fuge? pros and cons of how you set it up?
actually with the baffles I'd lose 3" in there so I may have to lose that in the fuge. 20 gal. long 30x12x12 I tried a 29 long but didn't have enough height in my stand.

 

[reeferwanabe]

I'm using a hang on skimmer that I've had for years. works pretty good once I get it tweaked but if its not enough I'm going with an etss small profile I think 6" will do it it has a 4" profile plus a reactor for carbon

 

[redfishbluefish]

What we did for a 40 breeder sump was first determine what was going in each section and than make those sections big enough to fit that stuff. The first section was 6 ½ inches to fit an ASM skimmer. The refugium was 17 inches wide. And the return section was only 6 inches wide….Enough room to fit a mag 9.5 and have decent volume.

Your return section seems pretty big, but then again I don't know what you're putting in there.

 

[vangvace]

I agree with rfbf.
imo plan on a slightly larger footprint for your skimmer for play. Also more you HOB skimmer down to hang out on the first section. It moves it out of your display and gives you a stable water level to work with.

 

[reeferwanabe]

I'm am hanging it in 1st section. but I heard the last section is where the most evaporation takes place is that not true? thats why I was making it larger

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm am hanging it in 1st section. but I heard the last section is where the most evaporation takes place is that not true? thats why I was making it larger

That is unequivocally not true…unless you have the entire tank and rest of the sump covered with a top.

However, it is typically where you have your sump marked and use that mark to determine how much make-up water needs to be added due to evaporation. That evaporation occurs throughout the system wherever you have open water. The more agitation, the higher the temperature, the lower the room moisture content, the greater the evaporation you will have.

 

[reeferwanabe]

thanks. so I guess I'll make the fuge a little larger and maybe the skimmer section.

 

[onefish2fish]

the evaporation occurs through-out but is noticed in the return pump section of the sump.

 

[reeferwanabe]

I'm using ato unit so it won't matter anyways. thanks all for the replys.
perhaps I'll do a tale of the tank on this set up. the first tank I set up before I knew about njrc.