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I was just wondering if there was any benefit to running a fuge, instead of a sump, with a FOWLR? What about a FOWLR with a few softies?
any advantages to a fuge on a FOWLR tank?
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a fuge/sump whatever is a better filter than any skimmer (not saying you shouldnt have one by any means). I have had my 55 hex up for 6 months with no skimmer on it but it does have a fuge. I have had 3 firefish for 4 months and 3 sh's (2 for almost 2 weeks and 1 for 2 days). it also has 3 corals and a bunch of lr.
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Either way Im doing a sump or a fuge. But I guess what I was wondering was having the fuge portion really that much of a benefit compared to a plain sump with a skimmer, return pump and some filtering media?
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advantage
i put a 20 gal eco-system on my 55 gal reef and saw huge improvements on the tank and all the life. definately worth doin.
i put a 20 gal eco-system on my 55 gal reef and saw huge improvements on the tank and all the life. definately worth doin.
Huge advantage. I have a 150 FOWLR. I addded a fuge to my tank 6 months ago. Really my fish have never looked better. I also put some of the macro in my tank on a clip and my angel is in heaven. My Nitrates went from 20 NO3- to 0 in a few months. I don't think I would ever run a tank without one again. In my humble opinion one of the best things to come along since the power head. Now, I run a sump and a skimmer with the fuge. You can not believe how healthy and fat my fish are. They hang at the inlet pipe a lot so I know it is spitting out little stuff for them to eat even though the fuge is attached to my sump so whatever must make the trip through the pump first. I built it for less than $20.00 plus my magnum 300. You won't be sorry.
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THe thing that concerns me is that I received advice on here to make the return pump area as big as possible. ALso to seperate the skimmer and return pump. I was originally going to do a fuge section and a skimmer / pump section. But now I guess I need to do 3 sections. BUt this will only leave me 8-10"x12" for the fuge. Seems kinda small to me? IS this still a good idea, eventhough its small? I could make the fuge larger if I only had 2 sections.
I had a 29gal. sump\fuge under my 75gal. tank... I had 12" for the skimmer and heater, 13" for the fuge, and 5" for the return pump. I fit a mag 7 and 12 and a rio 2500 in the 5" space... You really dont need a ton of space for the return, use as much as you need and reserve the rest for the fuge.
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OK, But i was given advice on here that the return pump section needed to be as large as possible due to water level fluctuations and evapration concerns? So that is BS? The fuge should be as big as possible and the other just big enough to fit the skimmer, or pump?
Well, I see their reasoning for that now... But, I used a drip bucket that kept that level steady. I got a $1 plastic trash can and a $3 drip line and drilled a hole into the bottom of the trash can and used super glue gel to bond the drip line into the hole. It's very easy and cheap and you only have to fill it up every couple of days. It's up to you, I'd rather use the space for the fuge.
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I know I wont have much more room under my stand. But do you have some pics of this "drip line" system? Sounds very interesting!
I had the trash can setting beside the tank and above the sump, it won't drip unless it's above the sump. Beside the sump just won't do it. It depends on what you have room for I guess. I know it's alot less hassle than having to fill up the return chamber a couple times a day.
I have no pics but it's real simple.
"I got a $1 plastic trash can and a $3 drip line and drilled a hole into the bottom of the trash can and used super glue gel to bond the drip line into the hole."
I think that explains everything but I don't know how your viewing it either... Let me know if there's anything you don't understand or if you have any questions.
I have no pics but it's real simple.
"I got a $1 plastic trash can and a $3 drip line and drilled a hole into the bottom of the trash can and used super glue gel to bond the drip line into the hole."
I think that explains everything but I don't know how your viewing it either... Let me know if there's anything you don't understand or if you have any questions.
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1,139 Posts
So its just a plastic can with a piece of plastic tubing glued to the bottom? So the can doesnt fill up the return portion of your sump?
The can has a hole drilled into the side at the bottom. I took the plastic drip line and inserted it into the hole. I took super glue gel and used it to seal the hole and bond the line to the can. When you fill the can with water the water will flow through the line. The line will have a valve in it so you can adjust the drip rate. Drop the end of the line into your return section to keep it full and adjust the drip rate to keep the water level steady.
i have a 55 sps/clam tank. I run a fuge and i had a wet dry and the difference is unreal the fuge is the way to go. i use a kalk drip bucket and a in line drip limiter that i got from deep blue reefs it costed me $14 to create it and the results are awesome well worth it.just look at the pics.
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