Turn my sump into a Freshwater Refugium?

[malawi500]

Looking to remove the filter sock, plumb the inlets direct into far left chamber on left.

Fill the second chamber with PFS up to the 'black' glass level, throw some plants in this are? Type? And maybe some shrimp or something? Snails? Ideas? Light will be situated above this section

Then keep the bio media where is but add some filter floss just before last chamber.

Thoughts?

 

[duanes]

All those things will work, I have FW refugiums, some above the tanks, some below.

I find there is always a bit of particulate with this system, so if you are looking for absolute clarity you may find this disconcerting. I use a separate sump for pumps and filter socks to help cut back of the constant supp;y of floating particles.

 

[malawi500]

I have now removed the 2 glass baffles on the left hand side so it is now as follows:



I will put the filter sock at the back far left.

Questions

1. Should I lower the water level so that the water height is the height of the first baffle? this will reduce water volume in the system by approximately 5 gallons, but will gain surface agitation at the first and last baffle.

2. Would the first chamber (now it is larger) be the best place for a refugium?

3. Would say 2" of PFS be okay in that section?

4. Would could I keep in there? Cherry shrimp? If so, how many? will they breed? What do I feed them? Will the fact a filter sock is before it mean they will miss out on nutrients?

5. I have the previous baffle still, could they be utilised somewhere else in the sump? Maybe to increase the height of the first chamber?

Thanks

 

[Miguel]

You can do it, of course. Just put the plants where the unfilted water falls. And good light.

Remove all old stems and leaves, once they die, they simply devolve everything back into the water....

 

[Miguel]

duane, how do you cope with those hyacinths? I forget the number of filters their roots destroyed.....