sum/ refuge question

i am thinking of changeing some things up what are yalls opinions i dont like the live rock around my skimmer because it is a true pain to get it out to clean so where should i put the live rock and skimmer? opinions is what i need ideas anything just want eazy maintanence and the sump/ refuge to work right







the area on the left is where my over flow comes in and i have it full of live rock and my protein skimmer in there(dont like) then there is a divider with slots at the top that lets water go into my refuge with live rock and macro, then three dividers set-up like a bubble trap that water goes throught and falls into my return area. how else can i set this sump/ refuge up?

Why not just keep your overflow and skimmer in the left, move all the live rock to your middle (refuge) and leave the return the way it is?

I have my sump set up kind of like you do, left side overflow/skimmer, refuge, return. All my macro and live rock is in the middle for my refuge. Works great and I love the way it looks.

My fuge is bare bottom, when i do my weekly wc i suck out the sediment. Works good for me, i think physically removing that muk often helps with water quality and the bare bottom makes cleaning super ez. The cheato n caulerpala still grow like crazy, and at the end of the day that macro algae is why we have the fuge in the first place or am i the only one with that logic?? What I'm tryin to say is if u don't like those rocks take em out lol

Win wrote:My fuge is bare bottom, when i do my weekly wc i suck out the sediment. Works good for me, i think physically removing that muk often helps with water quality and the bare bottom makes cleaning super ez. The cheato n caulerpala still grow like crazy, and at the end of the day that macro algae is why we have the fuge in the first place or am i the only one with that logic?? What I'm tryin to say is if u don't like those rocks take em out lol

Same here John.

I agree. Mine are all set u basically the same design as Gabe's and Winn's and work just fine. Like Winn said bare bottom and full of macro with the live rock. The macros are what remove all the crud.

Live rock in a refugium will give you space for feather dusters, sponges, other filter feeders and pods to reproduce and grow without competition and predators. That's valuable enough to leave the live rock in the middle section with the macro for me. I wouldn't go with sand or any mud though. Bare bottom as suggested for cleaning.

What are you guys using to suck out your fuge?

reileywatts wrote:What are you guys using to suck out your fuge?

I use the hose from a gravel vac. Not the big plastic part, just the hose.

I do exactly the same with the same lol

Same

Will move most of the live rock to the middle refuge and leave some where the over flow comes in, probally just rubble rock and protein skimmer. Where would y'all incorporate a ggoner/carbon reactor? I really want to get a good bit of Cheato because the calerpula grows a little then some of it will turn white and die off so I have to prune it once a week cheato isn't that demanding. Any one have a bag full they want to get ride of just let me know.

I can fill a quart bag for ya if you get to lgv... its just a ten gallon sump, but it is packed n i need to prune, honestly you would be doin me a favor

I should mention there's quite a bit of caulerpala in there too btw... i didn't know if u wanted straight cheato or what...
Here's a pic of my Sump, super simple single baffle design to get the most out of a ten g, my ato and return are to the left out out the photo

https://2img.net/h/i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd44/spawntriad/2012-04-11080410.jpg

https://2img.net/h/i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd44/spawntriad/2012-04-11082621.jpg

for sure i will take it. i have caulerpala in mine now with hardly any cheato so i dont mind it being mixed but would like more cheato since i already have the other but not picky at all just glad to get some. i will let you know when i can make it to longview i make deliveries over there randomly during the day sometimes so will let you know but i may get by there on a weekend to i need to pick up some zoa's from matt to so mabey i can meet both of you?

903-917-2737

I'm home most of the time, if you get this way gimi a call n ill bag it up for you... gonna tax u tho n make u take back a few red shrooms before they cover everything in my tank lol jk

Lol, sounds good only have a couple red one mainly purple