Just trying to get some feedback- what do you think the interest would be in a refugium like the one shown below? Well-made, acrylic, including intake & pump, able to use cheap available lights. Also, what would pricing need to be?

The CPR guys are your target market IMO. So it depends on length. On the cheap end, aquatraders sells these as well.

The hole of the left is a bit odd. Shouldn't that be on the top for the pump intake?

The hole of the left is a bit odd. Shouldn't that be on the top for the pump intake?

If you'll take a close look, the hole is above the bottom of the overflow, so the intake plumbing will be above the top of the tank.

& thanks- I'll check out aquatraders.

Ahh... my suggestion would be to use a pump that can pull water and not have a submersible. I think that is the major knock on most HOB setups. It is hard on a Mag to suck water dry for a couple seconds, but since it only has to do it once in a while and it isn't very long, I would run the pump dry and have it feed the system so you don't see a big black pump hanging in the tank or putting additional heat in there. Just a thought.

^^^Excellent suggestion- I was thinking the same thing. Plus, it wouldn't be too hard to flood the inlet before starting up the pump, so I wouldn't have to worry about running the pump dry.

I would consider buying one if it didn't have a pump that dropped down into the water and there was just an inlet an inch or so below the surface of the display tank.

I would consider buying one if it didn't have a pump that dropped down into the water and there was just an inlet an inch or so below the surface of the display tank.

Thanks for the feedback! How does an adjustable inlet tube sound? What type of pump do you think would work best? And the overall length could be custom-sized.

Adjustable tube is good, but I would be happy with a set of say three tubes of varying lengths that are removable. Whichever would be cheaper to produce is probably best.

To me the Eheims would be best, but for cost reasons the mags are hard to look past. I personally like the queit one pumps, but they tend to be hit or miss on the quite aspect.

Length and almost as importantly depth that is selectable would be great. I know jhutto would have bought one if it was narrower than the CPR. I would love to have one about twice as deep and fit between my overflows.

Well I had the CPR Hob refugium on my 46 Gal. tank.I would have to say it was a waste of money.Not really big enough to cultivate anything that would actually be beneficial to your tank,other then maybe a few Pod's.Yeah you can grow some Chaeto or whatever,but is it enough to make a difference,ummm I dont think so.I would suggest saving your money and buying some corals instead.If you have room under your stand or somewhere for a larger refugium then that whe way to goould be t.Just my opinion of course :)

What size is your tank BTW, Bryan? Are you thinking about Manuf. these?

Actually, I've already got a fuge under my tank, but b/c my tank is a 72 bowfront and the sump takes up most of the room, my fuge is pretty small. Mostly I just want to play with acrylic!

I've been looking for a HOB refugium/overflow. Let me know if you need a guinea pig!

I've been looking for a HOB refugium/overflow. Let me know if you need a guinea pig!

Yeah? Well tell me, what length and height would work best for you? Also, do you have a min. depth requirement?

Haha Zman is my best friend so ill talk to him and figure out what would be best. Does anyone know a place where you can find clear tubing that is that size? I guess really big rigid airline tubing?

Does anyone know a place where you can find clear tubing that is that size? I guess really big rigid airline tubing?

Like clear vinyl tubing? HD or Lowes carries it.

I ordered a refugium from Aquatraders, it was terrible. I recieved it June 1, started efforts to return it the very next day. It's July 4 and I still dont have my money back. It IS far too small to do anything with and my biggest problem was it leaking. They hang on the back via the plumbing pipes. When the unit fills with water, the wieght puts a lot of stress on those pipes, and they pull apart. I think the threads were too fine and the plastic pipes were too soft. Could be fixed if siliconed, but that would have voided the return policey. My sun room was soaked twice, I'd have never felt safe leaving it unattended after that. I've paid more to ship this thing twice than it cost me originally, still don't know if I will get my money back. I would not recommend Aquatraders.com to anyone at this point. They sell junk and with their "one-sided" return policeys, you are kind of stuck with what they send you.

The model I ordered had a built in skimmer, which was so cheaply designed, I don't feel it could ever work proberly.

The whole idea of a skimmer/refugium combo is flawed anyway. Skimmers need to move water fast to do its job, refugiums need a slow flow to do its job, the two together in one unit is counter-productive.

I've made several purchases from aquatraders.com. My light was over two years old when the ballasts blew, replacing them costs more than the fixture, so its a piece of junk now I'm going to give to Tony at the next meeting, the UV I bought worked for 4 days before the cheap couplings broke, and I had to mod it beyond recongnition to get it to work, and the refugium didn't work at all. In fact, the only floods I've had was because of Aquatraders merchandise, and I've been in this hobby for 20+ years.

I would curse Aquatraders more but my fingers are tired.... LOL

Well what if you were able to specifically design your own custom refug for a reasonable amount of money that was made locally so if you had any problems you could get it fixed within a few days? From what I am hearing there is a market for a HOB fug that is made to the specs of each persons tank.

I think if you could do that type of service/product, you would be on to something!

I have a CPR HOB fuge and I absolutely love it. I would definately recommend to anyone who has a small tank to get one.

Well Dakota that is what Bryan (wbholwell) and I are trying to do. We have a couple of products planned out including an inexpensive wave box, ATO, HOB fug and a few other cool things that we think there might be a market for. We saw that alot of people need something custom built to their specs. We are still in the design stages currently for things but we will let you know as it progresses!

I am interested in a ATO if you ever get it done and I can trust it.

Let me add to the list... a freaking hang on probe holder. I have rigged one up, but it sucks and I HATE suction cups.

What is the recommended spacing between the probes?

I think the common answer is about 3", but I think 2" is fine.

Hey Cameron let me know when I can come by and you show me exactly what you want and I will see what I can do. I am in Alpharetta today and tomorrow and can come anytime.

We're also thinking of making a much cheaper version of the Tunze Wavebox. What does everyone think?

Here are a few updated refugium pics:

So far, I'd say it looks like a superior design to the aquafuge type fuge as the pump is housed outside the main tank, and I find the intergrated outlet to be a big plus, as leaky plumbing on the outlet is the reason I returned my refugium. So far, so great!

Gimme a prototype and I'll review it for you<grin>! I already know the short comings of the aquafuge type refugiums.

Have you considered the wieght limitations? Just how much water can you hang on the side of a display tank?

Keep us posted! Looks like you are on to something!

So far, I'd say it looks like a superior design to the aquafuge type fuge as the pump is housed outside the main tank, and I find the intergrated outlet to be a big plus, as leaky plumbing on the outlet is the reason I returned my refugium. So far, so great!

Gimme a prototype and I'll review it for you<grin>! I already know the short comings of the aquafuge type refugiums.

Have you considered the wieght limitations? Just how much water can you hang on the side of a display tank?

Keep us posted! Looks like you are on to something!

Thanks! And yes, I've considered the weight of the filled refugium, although I haven't performed any stress analysis. But as you can see in the preliminary design, the hanging brackets and the sides are all one piece for increased strength. The thickness of the side pieces can be increased for additional strength, and a center hanging bracket can be added for even more strength. The final design will incorporate a safety factor of about 3. As far as your question, "how much water can you hang on the side of a display tank?"- well that's kind of a loaded question. I wouldn't want to hang 7 or 8 gallons off a 15 gallon tank, but frankly it all depends on how you hang it.

Oh, and I assume the first ones we'll sell very cheap- near cost- as they'll be prototypes.

Yeah we can even make the hanging part out of 1/4 inch if someone has a real big tank that they need a hob fug for. The great thing about this is that they will all be custom built to YOUR specs!

I have a 30 long tank 36"x16", could you do a hang on to span the whole back? I think that would be a cool look, but then again, my tank is out kind of in the middle of the room where 3 sides are viewed.

I have a 30 long tank 36"x16", could you do a hang on to span the whole back? I think that would be a cool look, but then again, my tank is out kind of in the middle of the room where 3 sides are viewed.

It's possible, but it'll require several special considerations. PM me if you're very interested.

That will be a TON of acrylic. lol

After my dissapointment with the refugium I ordered, I started a DIY refugium that may or may not hold water, if it leaks when I test it today, I'm trashing it and giving you guys a call.

Oh, and went to add rep points for you after all your cool HOB fuge ideas and accidentally gave them to Cameron the first time, but you got them on the second try.

thanks

Prototype probe holder is working great. Thanks guys.

No prob, im glad it got your seal of approval. If anyone needs one let me know and ill pm you to get the specs you need.

My tank has one overflow to the refuge, and the other goes directly to skimmer. Realizing that not all water gets treated all the time, I still think it works pretty well.

My tank has one overflow to the refuge, and the other goes directly to skimmer. Realizing that not all water gets treated all the time, I still think it works pretty well.


All of your water gets "treated" potentially by the skimmer just not through the fuge...

I would be interested to see the wave box and test it out... I also need some black acrylic!!!

We dont have any black acrylic but we will be painting the boxes black once the prototypes are completed and we start production. We plan on having a starter model with a modded mj 1200 and then a high end model with a high power pump that wont have any sound issues like the clicking of the mj 1200. Keep an eye out for new updates!! Were about to start taking orders for acrylic probe holders that can be custom made to your specs and however many probes you have. No more having to rubberband your probes in place. This way you can very easily clean the probes off to keep them accurate and only the sensor will be in the water!

How is this project going? I need (ok, want) a new refugium of particular deminsions.

Can (would) you guys do a stand-beside refugium? Problem is I need a rather large one 18x10x20. Glasscages wanted 165.00 for basically a 12g tank. Thought I'd shop around. My DIY refugium works (i.e. holds water), but now it's the wrong deminsions to fit the new tank which is on the way.


Thanks