Refugium - Feed from drain or return?

[thanhreef]

I have 30 gal reef sump.

I am building the manifold which can feed the refugium. I think it's kinda a waste to use that flow towards the refugium. I'd rather use that flow to power various reactors.

I'd "T" a drain line and run a line to the refugium with a ball valve to control flow and divert the rest of the drain water to the sump.

Which option is the best?

thank you

 

[eagle9252]

On my newest sump I think I prefer the flow through fuge better and as you stated use the manifold for reactors

 

[jef4y]

Personally I'd just use the overflow water to feed the fuge. The fuge grows algae which needs crap to survive. Give it the nasty water that flows off the DT.

 

[ichthyoid]

From overflow for me.

I want that crap going into a fuge, to feed all my little creatures.

 

[johniii]

I feed my fuge from my overflow. It then gravity feeds to my sump. No extra pumps to run.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

 

[seth the wine guy]

Amici;812370 wrote: That's really a toss up as far as what you will keep in the fuge and your overall goal. If you don't mind the detritus that comes with the overflow feed then do it from there. If you want the fuge cleaner and mainly to clean the water in the form of lowering phos and trates then use the return. Even if you sock the overflow to help with detritus you will still have some make it in so maybe throw a few critters in that help with that too. I've run both ways and can't say one is right or wrong. However if you want pods to have a chance of actually making it into the DT then I would use your return pump to recirc the water.

I think this is an accurate break down and consistent with my experience having run mine both ways.

 

[eagle9252]

<span style="font-family: Calibri"><span style="font-size: 13px">I have cyno growing in the left side fuge area behind the spray bar and on the back wall and on the tumbling algae. Thinking of using red slime remover on just the fuge area. I truly prefer the flow through design better. </span></span>