Got New Euro-reef ES5-2 but one problem with Refugium

[freshwater]

On my 72G tank with 20g refugium I have replaced my prizim with ES5-2.
The only place I can put my ES5-2 is in the Refugium. But the Refugium has substrate, LR and macros. So if I run the pump its going to suck in the macros which should be wrong. I like to keep my macros but should i put a foam or some thing else on the pump input. And if I do put a foam then thoses white surf level will come down.

What should I do gurus so I can run the ES5-2 in the refugium.
I dont have space for a sump and my Refugium is under the stand and its from Amiracle Mudd Filter.

Thanks.

 

[t gallo]

you will destroy the pump if you put in the refuge, maybe you can hook a hose to the skimmer pump and have it draw water from a better spot in your'e sump/ refuge.

 

[Saltykirk]

You can get a second container large enough to house your skimmer. You can run two sumps. The skimmer sump could be first. Just have the exit bulkhead towards the top of the sump not the bottom. The water will run from the skimmer sump to your refuge. I believe the footprint on that skimmer is 9"x9" right? A 10 gallon tank is small enough to fit under a 72 and still house that size skimmer I believe. 8)

 

[freshwater]

What I have done so far is to cut a small piece of micron bag and tie wrap on the input of the pump in this way nothing will go inside the pump and the length of the pump stays the same. Next i will cut a piece of plex and try to create a baffle inside the refugium so that macros stay away from the skimmer.

So far its creating the white surf but NO gunk may be its going to take some time to prime. before I was using a prizim skimmer HOB and it used to do a decent job and kept my tank very clean even that prizim from last week was not pulling any gunk (may be water is too clean) so
I will give some time for this ES5-2 to break in.

My last resort will be to add 10G sump which I hate because of more plumbing issues.

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got space issues and an ES5-2 in the sump too.. - Currently using a 10g sump for the skimmer w/ no room for a 'fuge at all... Planning on a larger tank to run the skimmer & a small 'fuge.. Check this..

The 11" is plenty for the skimmer, 11.5" for the 'fuge. 4.5" is snugging in my Mag5 return, the 1.88" should allow room to drop in carbon or poly as needed.

I'm not planning on a DSB for my 'fuge, otherwise I think this plan would be a little too tight too.. - But, if I were, I think I'd heighten the first wall to like 12" and change the dimensions around so the 11.5" is up front and make that the 'fuge with the skimmer running after it. Then probably plan on sponging off the bottom of that 1.8 to help keep microbubbles from passing into the return. - Hhhmmm.... - 8) Just might have to do that...

Either way it won't leave much leeway for evap before the return runs dry... Theres only 2g of space where the return sits and the pump inlet sits up off the bottom a little. - Make sure to have a reliable drip/topoff system.

Hope this helps, I'm planning the same sorta setup right now obviously...

 

[Anonymous]

DOH! - Hang on, my measurements were off.. :x

Here we go... - Revised for 'fuge w/ DSB up front.

Use 1/8" acrylic sheet, GE Type I Silicone (NOT KITCHEN AND BATH).

Sorry if I'm just suckin up bandwidth here, kinda thinkin' out loud...

 

[freshwater]

After reading so much on the sump/refugium I think You need to put the skimmer before the refugium in that way skimmer will skim beter and refuge will send pods to the display tank.

Also the 7.5" baffle need to be 4" and the last baffle need to be 9-10" then your return pump will have more water.

my .02 cents.

thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah! - Guess I'd be chewing up pods and spitting them into the skimmer wouldn't I?

Good call on the last baffle too.. Guess I need to sit down and do some more planning. (Need to find a way of pushing all the flow through a small area of some sort for carbon/poly occasionally too..)

Thanks!