[skeletor121]

I have decided to have a separate refugium and sump. Since I have decided this, all I have is more questions.

I am planning on having the overflow piped directly to the sump. I would then like a pump to be connected to the sump and travel back to the tank. I will most likely have an out of sump skimmer. I would like to have the skimmer be connected to the return line for supply and also for discharge. I would like to have the refugium piped to the sump for supply and to the return pipe, connected after the pump, to be returned to the tank. This would allow me to keep most of the good "stuff" from the refugium to make it to the tank.

I am pretty positive that this type of set up can be accomplished, but am not exactly sure how. The reason I believe that this will work is that they make syphons out there that connect to your faucet to drain tanks. I know there are also devices out there to de-water ships using their firemains (an eductor system) using this type of system. I think it is a venturi type of system, but not sure. Basically it uses the suction created by rushing water past an opening to suck the water out of another area.

I am wondering if anyone out there has devised a way to take that syphon technology and place it into their plumbing? If you have please let me know what parts are needed to accomplish this.

I would also like to know where I can figure out flow rates of different size pipe. This way I can limit the speed of turnover in the refugium and in the skimmer. Example: pump pushes out 1000 gph. Skimmer wants maybe 400 gph supply and discharge (not sure flow rates in skimmers, just a guess). Refugium wants about 100 gph discharge. How can I regulate these flow rates without using partially opened valaves?

I will post a diagram of this setup once I get it completed.

Thanks for reading.