got board so i built a rubermaid refuge today

[BCOrchidGuy]

Looks like a great great set up, can you tell me what kind of flow you are sending through it? I'm giving alot of thought to a refugium so any input would be appreciated.

[StirCrazy]

I am using a maxijet 600 which is lifting the water about 3' so it is just a gental flow. I would say 100gph at max split between 2, 1/2" inlets

Steve

[BCOrchidGuy]

I was considering either one of my 20s or a 33 or even my 45 for a refugium, I thought refugium volume two times/hour would be sufficient

[StirCrazy]

i would use 2X as a min and 5X as a max, if you don't use a heater in your refuge you want enuf water flow to maintain the temp.

Steve

[Bryan]

I have often wondered how those rubbermaid containers hold up after a year or so. I suspect the saltwater will make the plastic brittle and prone to cracking.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Bryan

I have often wondered how those rubbermaid containers hold up after a year or so. I suspect the saltwater will make the plastic brittle and prone to cracking.

the salt water *shoulden't* do anything to it.. it is the UV from lights that will do that.. My refuge is not going to be for growing weeds but rather for raising pods so from what I am understanding I *shoulden't* need a light but I might put a small power compact on it just to permote a bit of algae growth.

Steve

[BCOrchidGuy]

Bryan thats a great question but I suspect the thing that would age them most is ultra violet rays. Salt water on food grade plastic isn't much of a concern IMHO. Besides if it does get brittle it isn't like you need to budget for a new one.

[BCOrchidGuy]

Steve, what I was thinking and the operative word there is "thinking" anyway, what I was thinking is, buy a 108 or even a 135 but I can get a 5ft 108 for a song. I have a 72 reef right now and I can leave that intact until I get the 108 running. I have a 77 that is collecting dust so that would be a sump, and I have a shallow 45, 36 x 18 x 18, that I could use as a refugium. I figure with a portion of that as a DSB, and a large portion for live rock I may even put some Miracle Mud in the sump I should have a good healthy stable system. I figure run the refugium out of the sump and let it gravity feed back to the tank.

[EmilyB]

I only replaced mine because the heater burnt into the rubber...

[enzo54321]

Were do you guys get all youre plumbing parts, bulkheads, fittings, tubbing...???