Remote Sump/refuge?

[SteveDola]

ATM I have a RSR 250 with sump under (in stand). The stock sump is just that...stock. I am interested in adding a refugium for water volume to the tank and nutrient export. The tank has been set up for a little over 2 years. Going well but getting some nuisance algae. I was interested in either setting up a separate refuge in the closet next to the tank OR drilling down through the floor into the garage below to install a larger (say 55g) tank for the skimmer, reefroller, etc... and a refuge. I have concerns about putting in a non-heated garage in northeast. Will the car exhaust fumes from coming/going get pulled in and cause issues? (serious concerns from me). Will the cold temps in Dec to April lead to the heater(s) overworking or struggling to keep up? Is it even worth the added issue when I can probably achieve what I need with a closet refuge? It would be nice to have all my top-off and dosing equipment remotely located for cleanliness. Id also gain my closet and stand space but is it really worth? IDK. Plus there's the cost for a remote sump (new pump, larger sump).

Any experience with this type of issue and concern? Thoughts?

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Imo I wouldn't put it in the garage. During my upgrade and remodel of the downstairs I put a 300 gallon Rubbermaid trough in in heater garage, elevated and wrapped with insulation. 1500 watts of heaters that kept things reasonable while things progressed inside until we had a couple of really cold days/weeks where ambient temps were in single digits. 90% of my acro collection gone in no time, still dealing with some repercussions from it with pieces hanging on or waiting to get the side eye before going poof.
I'd imaging the carbon monoxide and whatever else from the vehicles wouldn't be good either.

 

[SteveDola]

Thats my thoughts too. I guess I need a bigger house then ;-)

 

[afboundguy]

I would save no to garage as well. Can you add a simple 2.5, 5 or 10 gallon tank and make it a simple gravity based fuge and drill a bulkhead so that it flows into the main sump?

 

[Cooper2]

I run a 20L sump with a Fiji Cube kit. You can position the baffles where needed. Just a thought if you are handy or enjoy DIY additions to your system. I think your cabinet would hide this and you get all the features you want.

 

[SteveDola]

I would save no to garage as well. Can you add a simple 2.5, 5 or 10 gallon tank and make it a simple gravity based fuge and drill a bulkhead so that it flows into the main sump?

Thats kind of what im doing with a 20g tank with overflow. Ill have a small sicce pump to pump out of the sump into the 20g with overflow back to pump. im going to plumb it into my 10x6 closet next to the tank and have it be a kind of display fuge.

I run a 20L sump with a Fiji Cube kit. You can position the baffles where needed. Just a thought if you are handy or enjoy DIY additions to your system. I think your cabinet would hide this and you get all the features you want.

I dont have space in my cabinet for anything. its completely full. the sump is the stock sump that 20" long and houses the fleece roller/skimmer/return/heater/dosing tubes (etc). I had thought of adding a scrubber over the sump return chamber but im not interested in 699 unit. DIY options are my next step if the display fuge doesnt work out. But Ill have to plumb that to the closet too bc of the space limitations.

 

[Reefried]

A display fuge would be cool. I have always said that is the only way I would do one. I personally hate the idea of having one in the sump. Also I believe that the basic ball of chaeto style fuge is a weird balance. While it may contribute to less algae in the display, and definitely consumes nutrients, I don’t think it helps to balance nutrients. If you think about when you harvest 2/3 of your chaeto, then obviously this raises tank nutrients as there is less getting consumed. Then as it grows and uptakes more, the tank nutrients drop, causing this constant wave. A display fuge with some different slower growing macros would be cool. Maybe even some tiny fish. It wouldn’t be as proficient at consuming nutrients but certainly wouldn’t hurt. I cannot wait to see it!!