AIO Chamber Refugium Worth It?

[NY_Caveman]

I have a JBJ 45 Flat Panel AIO and I am considering a small refugium in one of the second compartments (3.5” x 4.75” x 14”). My question is, would a roughly 1 gallon in tank refugium still be beneficial in a system with 35 actual gallons of water?

That is roughly 3% of the system volume, where most would typically consider a minimum 10%. It would operate on an inverse light schedule to the display. Assuming I was not interested in other options at this time, would there still be a benefit to such a small refugium?

What should I expect in terms of nutrient export, water chemistry (and pH), pod support, other plant benefits, etc.? In other words, I expect it will be minimal, but is It so small as to be a waste of precious space?

Thank you!

EDIT: Chamber 2

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Great question Caveman! I'm following to see the reponses! Curious to see if the benefit outweighs the cost (manufactured fuge) and if we can recognize any real benefits.

 

[Retro Reefer]

I was debating the same thing when I set up my Biocube and it just didn’t seem to be worth the trouble, the tank is 2.5 years old and has done just fine without the refugium and actually runs a little to clean for my liking

 

[Laffy]

Following. I’m debating getting rid of my skimmer (micro bubble disaster) for a fuge, as well

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Since this was posted early perhaps a little bump will get it going...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not familiar with the exact device you are asking about, but any lit refugium with macroalgae is useful.

Are you comparing it to something else?

 

[JBKReef]

Its useful, but I think the question is "can it be a primary source of nutrient reduction"

The 10% of water volume seems to be in line with running a triton tank... The nutrient reduction will always be beneficial but should be supplemented with other chemical and mechanical filtration. IMO

 

[NY_Caveman]

I'm not familiar with the exact device you are asking about, but any lit refugium with macroalgae is useful.

Are you comparing it to something else?

Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley. No device per se. it would just be some Chaetomorpha in an InTank Fuge Basket in the chamber. There would be an LED light outside the side of the tank shooting in. I should have made that clear.

My main concern is would it have any effect being so small. Sounds like you feel it would not be wasteful, even if minimal.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Its useful, but I think the question is "can it be a primary source of nutrient reduction"

The 10% of water volume seems to be in line with running a triton tank... The nutrient reduction will always be beneficial but should be supplemented with other chemical and mechanical filtration. IMO

This is about what I was thinking. I would be running a Skimmer as well (running now in chamber 4 in my diagram above). I would not run a refugium this small as primary nutrient export, but feel it may provide some. Frankly, I feel there are benefits to having Macroalgae that we do not fully understand.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I personally like the santamonica drop algae scrubbers. I think they are better bang for the space.

That being said I've seen a lot of people enjoy the mini refugiums they create in the small chambers.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley. No device per se. it would just be some Chaetomorpha in an InTank Fuge Basket in the chamber. There would be an LED light outside the side of the tank shooting in. I should have made that clear.

My main concern is would it have any effect being so small. Sounds like you feel it would not be wasteful, even if minimal.

I think you can only see by trying, but I would.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I think you can only see by trying, but I would.

Great. Thank you.

 

[Hanfam1111]

I have a 90 Gallon Mixed Reef. I put on a Cheato Reactor using the large phosban reactor and red and blue LED lighting. It took me from 10 ppm NO3 to 2 ppm. Perfect. It grows fast. So I vote yes!

 

[Hanfam1111]

Here is a pic

 

[Katrina71]

I use a refugium in mine. I have an AIO as well. I'm not sure about nitrate reduction (yes, it does) as much as I've seen stabilization with my nitrate levels. Fee free to comment.

 

[NY_Caveman]

@Katrina71 i know you will see my other comment elsewhere, but I add it here for completeness

FWIW, I considered [a macroalgae reactor]. I love the concept. It seems like a very efficient way to grow Macro (which I believe is beneficial beyond simple nutrient export). For the size of my tank though (45 gallon JBJ AIO) and its placement in the house I decided to refrain from adding any pumps or plumbing outside of the tank. it just seemed like an unnecessary risk. If I had a sump the reactor is the way I would go.

My tank is also probably too young though to make it worthwhile, but I did drop some Chaeto with a grow LED in one of the back chambers.

I do have one external pump for the ATO, but that is a small, peristaltic pump with only RO/DI which is less damaging. I do not have to undo plumbing to swap the reservoir out.

 

[Catchemall]

Here is a pic

And heres the thing what water % is that tiny little reactor but yet look what its done to a tank the size of yours. so it wouldnt have to be a large size at all to make an impact on a tank the size of the one in question.

 

[Keaton]

+1 for the algae reactor

 

[Ktran350]

I have a JBJ 45 Flat Panel AIO and I am considering a small refugium in one of the second compartments (3.5” x 4.75” x 14”). My question is, would a roughly 1 gallon in tank refugium still be beneficial in a system with 35 actual gallons of water?

That is roughly 3% of the system volume, where most would typically consider a minimum 10%. It would operate on an inverse light schedule to the display. Assuming I was not interested in other options at this time, would there still be a benefit to such a small refugium?

What should I expect in terms of nutrient export, water chemistry (and pH), pod support, other plant benefits, etc.? In other words, I expect it will be minimal, but is It so small as to be a waste of precious space?

Thank you!

EDIT: Chamber 2

Any updates to this? Thinking about doing the same thing.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Yes, thank you. I took it down. Although the Chaetomorpha did not die, it did not grow either. I decided my system was too young and the nutrients too low (I usually hover around 1-2 ppm Nitrate and <0.05 ppm Phosphate). I did grow a lot of hard to scrape green film algae on the acrylic and glass panes in the chamber and Cyanobacteria over the Chaetomorpha. That nuisance ultimately made me decide to give it up for now.

I did leave my grow light in place, so as my system matures, livestock is added and nutrients rise, I may try again.