Best Refugium setup? ....

[Pete H.]

So, looking to add a Refugium to my tank and wondering what you recommend for adding to the fuge.

Is one macro the best? Which one?

Is there a good combination of macros?

Can they inhibit each other's growth?

What might be good to grow for tang food?

What about live rock? Or sand? With cuc to clean sand?

What about mangroves? That worth it?

Best lighting? Wavelength and color temperature?

What about flow rate? Can it be too fast or slow?

What's the best way to grow copepods and what type are best for your tank and fish to eat?

Sorry for all the questions. I figured it would be nice to spur some discussion. Feel free to add you 2 cents.

 

[Pete H.]

Nobody have any good thoughts on this?

 

[gpdno]

I have a 55 gal tank set up as the refugium for my 150 gal DT. I run two 5000k LED lights from Lowe's which are cheep and work great. I have about 4" of sand and a few pieces of live rock. The lights grow a bunch of algae. My lights are on 18 hrs a day and opposite the DT. Lots of pods and feeder shrimp. I also have a number of sailfin mollies to help eat algae. I do usually remove algae from the refugium (export nutrients).

 

[heathd.hd]

I just built mine a month ago and have been posting my opinions based mostly off of researching forums. But what ive learned in my research has been the sump should be refugium / return
pump / skimmer. Bubble trap in the return pump area. If you bring your return from your tank down in a way you can ball valve you can make the refugium slow flow and the skimmer high flow. I have drawings and pictures in my build thread.

 

[mfief]

Following I am about to cross this bridge as well

 

[Finnaddict]

Is one macro the best? Which one? Caulerpa is my favorite but most likely only get your hands on some Chaeto

Is there a good combination of macros? Usually only one species will do

Can they inhibit each other's growth? Yes different species grow at different rates

What might be good to grow for tang food? Tangs will eat Caulerpa but not Chaeto

What about live rock? Or sand? With cuc to clean sand? I use a few pieces of rock in mine, Sand or Miracle Mud, I left my sand critter free but threw a couple snails in there

What about mangroves? That worth it? never tried them

Best lighting? Wavelength and color temperature? I use fluorescent in the 10K but they say lower is better

What about flow rate? Can it be too fast or slow? Around 1000 GPH.

What's the best way to grow copepods and what type are best for your tank and fish to eat? Pods usually just populate with time. Not sure if you could make them grow any faster

Hope this helps.

 

[Pete H.]

So, what are the pros or cons of having sand? I have heard it recommended both ways saying sand is more hassle than its worth or its important. Display is bare bottom if that makes a difference.

Any others that have thoughts on the questions above?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Save yourself the head ache of macro algea and the rest of the stuff.
Make the biggest algae turf scrubber you can stuff under the tank, you won't regret it, thats a much better way to clean your water than running a fuge.

 

[Spinner]

Both Refugiums and ATS work well and either would be a nice addition to your system. They both add some of the same benefits plus some not the same, your research will help you decide which one you would like.
If you decide Refugium 25% of DT volume is a nice starting place and I always use macro algae's with very good success.

Best of Luck!