Gozer_1

Having recently found my self suddenly and unexpectedly unemployed, I have too much time on my hands. While it's been great for my clean up efforts, it also allows me way too much time to invent, reinvent and experiment. I love to experiment and DIY different little ideas. I've had one crazy idea for a while now and have been running a prototype in a 20 gal attached to my main system. I call it a refugium for lack of a better word. It's unlit with about 3 inches of sand and gravel mix with a few pieces of rock stacked in the middle. I figure some pods and such might take refuge. The crazy experiment part is the return flow setup. It's pumped down through an under gravel filter, in theory spreading the flow more evenly through the tank. I've had it set up for about a year now and have been happy with the results. The flow in the refugium seems even and slow and I haven't had a problem with gunk building up underneath the plate. This setup allows me to turn over more volume with out the direct flow of more traditional returns. It also helps keep detritus pushed up out of the sand where I easily vacuum it off the surface.

Now for the crazy part, I built one for my display. I used 1in class 200 PVC, egg crate and plastic screen mesh. I built a rectangle of pipes with a single up pipe centered in the back. The return source is pumped down into the rectangle and discharged along the front piece of PVC. I drilled a series of holes that will pump the water toward the back of the tank along the bottom glass. Over this rectangle I placed a sheet of plastic egg crate and a layer of screen mesh. The rear portion of it is a single layer of screen and the front portion will have several. I want most of the flow to come from beneath my rock work and I don't want too much swirling up through the sand. I'll have to get a picture of the crazy contraption. I want this distributed flow because most of what I have coral wise appreciates slow water. Namely my Fox LPS. I've always struggled getting the poor thing in a spot where it's truly happy. I think this set up will allow me to have the flow through rate I want with out direct currents. Hopefully that will keep things moving with out blasting the Fox.

So, now that I already built it (it's been in the garage for months), I'm asking for some opinions before I order the last few fittings and start planning to completely remove everything from the display. I think the ol' tank could use a remodel anyway and pulling everything would give me the chance to really clean up the rock work and kill some pesky vermitids. Well, what do you think, am I crazy or should I run with it?