DIY refugium aka veggie filter

[Bred]

LOL
yeah, I thought so...
Well maybe I'll use a smaller pump for now, then. Because I've always wanted to keep these shrimp!

[Bred]

RTR, I think I remember you mentioning on the old forum that the overflow should not dump directly into the sump. I took this to mean that the outflow tube should not be submerged below the surface of the sump... Is this right, and why?

[RTR]

I like to flow-break without massive disturbance in the body of the sump/tank/refuge. I have run with the overflow/whatever feeding below the surface of the sump, but with a baffle beside it (under flow from the area of dumping, then overflow to the main sump volume - or the opposite - anything to keep the sump fom splashing), or had a multi-T manifold below the surface to break up the flow mainstream. That all started back in SW days, with salt spray issues, then continued in FW refuges/veggie filters.

I just counted - right now I have 4 which feed under the surface (baffled) and 7 which feed over the surface (three onto a planted shelf, two into above-surface large manifolds, two just at the surface with large-diamter outlets bisected by the meniscus).

It is all splash/bubble and flow control for me.

[Bred]

Great, thanks for the ideas. The final design of my sump will incorporate baffles. In the meantime I am setting up a very simple refugium and wanted to feed below surface to eliminate noise. I simulated normal operation with the pump returning to a measuring bucket instead of the main tank. With a timer I determined the system has a flow rate of about 110gph, this using a 10g sump. Turnover is much more reasonable now.

[RTR]

That is how I measure also. You will always find measured rates to quite different fron calculated rates - at least I do.