Hey everyone...I was a member of the club back in 2004 but have since moved to an area where there aren't many reef resources, so I still come to the forums for information. I'm hoping you'd be kind enough to help me out with a couple questions.
I am planning to add a 20 long sump/refugium to my 29 gallon. I'll be using an external overflow rated up to 600 gph. I've read about making sure to not go too low on the flow otherwise air bubbles will build-up and eventually break the siphon.
I'm planning on configuring a 20 long to a set-up similiar to what's on Marc's website, where the first section is the tank drain/skimmer followed by bubble trap baffles and then combination fuge/return section. I was hoping to place my HOB remora skimmer in the first section, however I'm not sure I can do that because of the amount of flow coming into that section if it's around 600 gph (read a lot about flow being 3-5x tank size, but maybe that applies to only in sump skimmers).
My questions are primarily around the flow/layout. How low could the flow be with the HOB overflow before microbubbles are an issue. If it needs to stay around 500 gph, can I still have that kind of flow come directily into the skimmer/tank drain section if I want to have my HOB remora there. Will there be too much flow through the fuge section at 500 gph?
Should I be considering a different sump/fuge configuration? Maybe skimmer/fuge section on the ends and the return in the middle? I want to maintain as large of a return section as possible to prevent having to top off everyday.
I appreciate any help/thoughts you can provide.
I am planning to add a 20 long sump/refugium to my 29 gallon. I'll be using an external overflow rated up to 600 gph. I've read about making sure to not go too low on the flow otherwise air bubbles will build-up and eventually break the siphon.
I'm planning on configuring a 20 long to a set-up similiar to what's on Marc's website, where the first section is the tank drain/skimmer followed by bubble trap baffles and then combination fuge/return section. I was hoping to place my HOB remora skimmer in the first section, however I'm not sure I can do that because of the amount of flow coming into that section if it's around 600 gph (read a lot about flow being 3-5x tank size, but maybe that applies to only in sump skimmers).
My questions are primarily around the flow/layout. How low could the flow be with the HOB overflow before microbubbles are an issue. If it needs to stay around 500 gph, can I still have that kind of flow come directily into the skimmer/tank drain section if I want to have my HOB remora there. Will there be too much flow through the fuge section at 500 gph?
Should I be considering a different sump/fuge configuration? Maybe skimmer/fuge section on the ends and the return in the middle? I want to maintain as large of a return section as possible to prevent having to top off everyday.
I appreciate any help/thoughts you can provide.