refugium size

[Joseph Montreal]

I'm setting up a 500 gallon reef.

Ihave the oportunity to use a 75 gal tank as a refug or a 120 gal tank as a refuge tank.

I thought of useing the 75gal as the refuge and the 120 as a settling sump.

Is 75gal over kill as a refuge? Or is it a good size?

Does any one wish the had a bigger refuge or smaller refuge?

Joseph

[One Salty Dog]

I don't think so ... 75 gallons is not even 1/5th the display tanks volume and is no different then using a 20 on a 100. you will also not likely fill it to the 75 gallon mark so it will likely be around 55 or 60 net gallons.
Rob

[Joseph Montreal]

Do you suggest that the 120 should be the refuge?

[Flame*Angel]

I'd use the 75 as a refugium and the 120 as a sump. You could do water changes just from the sump without affecting the water level in the tank. That's going to be a great system!

[tang_man_montreal]

I agree.
Use the 75gal as a refugium and the 120 as a sump. When you look at it proportionally, it sounds right.

[Joseph Montreal]

That was what I had in mind. The room I making has 1 wall that is 75" across with a drain on the floor. So the 120g (6' by18" by 24"h) will be elevated 10" with a serries of baffle It will have a bottom drain with a vavle so when changing water I just open that valve and flush 100g of water.The refuge (48"by 18" by 21"h will be above it towards the right right being where the overflow come down.

The refuge will have an overflow that will be directed to the section of the sump that the pumps are located for the return.

I was wondering is it bad that the part of the main tank overflow goes through the refuge before going through the sump? I mean any detrius will be settling in the refuge before it settles in the sump. I was thinking that I should have all of the overflow from the main first going through the sump. Then I would install a smaller pump from the sump to the refuge. So this way the water going to the refuge should already be settled out of any debris.

Is this a good plan. I will try to draw a sketch out and post it.