Better to have...?

macawmagic · Oct 18, 2010

I'm trying to figure out my new setup and I only have enough room for a sump thats big enough to hold either a refugium or have a skimmer in the sump. If it were you, which on would you choose? I've never gone without a fuge...but I already have a SWC 160 cone. I don't have room for both of them! URGH!

Troylee · Oct 18, 2010

I have never used a fuge and never will... Deterius trap IMHO... And If I could only have one I would 100 percent have a skimmer... A fuge will never take place of a skimmer...

Joost's reef · Oct 18, 2010

fuge with HOB skimmer

macawmagic · Oct 18, 2010

Joost's reef said:
fuge with HOB skimmer

lol...that reminds me...I do have a hang on fuge. LOL Gotta love having a garage/attic filled with old goodies! Gunna have to pull it out and measure it to see if it'll fit.

Troylee, I've never gone without one...LOL Isn't it funny how we find the things that work for us and are so scared to change?

MitchReef · Oct 18, 2010

They are totally different things. A properly set up fuge is the farthest thing from a detritus trap that could exist, but given the option to have just one or the other I would go with the skimmer.

KLR · Oct 18, 2010

Joost's reef said:
fuge with HOB skimmer

+1 to this...look at aqua c remora h.o.b. skimmers, i really really like mine!

MitchReef · Oct 18, 2010

I had a Remora for a smaller tank and was thoroughly impressed. They are mighty little skimmers indeed.

KLR · Oct 18, 2010

Yea i like mine on my 75gal

They have 3 sizes so maybe the pro remora(or something like that) would wor with the XL tanks

clowns101 · Oct 18, 2010

My old aquaC remora didnt last me but 6 months =(pump was not the best on it I guess......=(

I lthink a Skimmer is better than a fuge IMO,but Im a SPS guy and they are just what we like,fuges are nice,I have one,but its a 10 gallon one on a 125 gallon tank...LOL,not right size at all for my tank,I dont like it,I have sand it in,and thats where all the junk of my tank ends up,I have to clean it out every week vs. a skimmer cup that takes me literally less than 5 min.

dan10342 · Oct 18, 2010

Really depends on what type of reef you plan on keeping.

I have never had an issue with a skimmer. I also have seen many successful tanks without them. (and without a fuge).

I've seen a handful of fuge tanks that end up becoming a slight nutrient sink. (which some corals dont mind at all... since some corals really do poorly in nutrient stripped tanks)

Troylee · Oct 18, 2010

Any fuge that's not at least 20 percent volume with a very large surface area for a sand bed really provides no benefit...

ronnie · Oct 18, 2010

troylee said:
Any fuge that's not at least 20 percent volume with a very large surface area for a sand bed really provides no benefit...

I disagree - but this is opinion - so take it for what its worth.

A fuge needs to be at least 1/2 the size of your DT volume before you start to see any real benefits. 100g display/50g fuge - the more the better. if you have room for a 100g fuge on a 100g tank, then do it for sure.

If you can't hit 50 percent - then go with a skimmer - and if you can hit 50 percent, then get a skimmer anyways, because they are that important, IMO.

Troylee · Oct 18, 2010

From what I have seen most so called fuges are pod factories and that's about it... I would go with the 50 percent Ronnie but most can't fit that... In this case especially where it's a skimmer or a fuge it's gonna be tiny... I would agree with that.. I have a seen a ton of fuges and most have a dsb with a surface area of like a sq ft or less... That doesn't provide any benefits...

ronnie · Oct 18, 2010

Yep - detritus factory for sure!

I have a chamber in my 40b for a fuge - have some chaeto in there, as well as some xenia. That water is dirty, so the xenia like it, and it isn't growing in my main tank trying to take over my sticks.

Troylee · Oct 18, 2010

Hows the Xenia working for ya in a fuge??? A bud of mine always swore by that, he said they reduce nitrates but I never found any really true evidence to back it....

Reef Rat · Oct 19, 2010

Skimmer if you can only accomodate one. But both would be better.

nayrgaijin · Oct 19, 2010

I am so going with a skimmer on this!

What's the setup like?

ronnie · Oct 19, 2010

I just got it a few weeks ago. I've read that it can reduce nitrates as well. I figure it is worth a shot. I'm not having any nitrate issues, just trying to be proactive.

I've got a 70w MH on the fuge, so there is plenty of light. I will keep an eye on it and see how it does.

fsn77 · Oct 19, 2010

What about neither and going with an algal turf scrubber?
I'm certainly not an expert on ATS, just throwing out another potential option.

If the choice is strictly skimmer or refugium, I'd go with the skimmer myself.

beaslbob · Oct 19, 2010

Fuge.

No skimmer does does all this:
convert ammonia, nitrates, phosphates, carbon dioxide to fish food.
remove carbon dioxide
add oxygen
bioaccumulate (filter out) toxins like copper.
stabilize operation and prevent tank crashes by consuming ammonia over nitrates.