Do I have a refugium?

[demantoid]

I keep reading about putting things in the refugium to help the tank. Is the refugium the tank where water ends up after going through the overflow (and before going through the bio balls), or the tank after the bio balls where our pump is?

Also, ours is under the main tank in a cabinet so it's dark in there all the time. Can you still put in the good algae or does it need light?

 

[Reefing Madness]

3 Chambered Sump
1st chamber, inlet
2nd or middle chamber, has the rock, or sand or macro algae
3rd chamber, return pump

You'll need to add a light over the fuge area.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-150-Watt-Incandescent-Clamp-Light-CE-300PDQ/100354511

 

[Wiz]

the difference between a refugium and a sump is largely what is in it. What you would call a sump is the tank underneath that would hold your extra filtration skimmer heater those sort of things. A refugium is the tank underneath or on the back that would have plants live rock possibly sand. You can have both in one it's all in how it is set up. Mine is a sump/fuge. The middle part is the fuge. The rest is sump.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

My sump with built in refugium in the middle.

 

[demantoid]

Oh, so I would need to remove the bio balls and use that part of my system as the refuge. I get it now. Thanks!

Not sure I'm up to doing that now though. I need to get more experience.

 

[Wiz]

Just my opinion. But bio balls are not great. I would research them and decide if a better media or fuge would be better.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Bioballs are definitely not good for saltwater tanks. Freshwater, yes. But saltwater I hear they're more of a "nitrate factory"

 

[Finnaddict]

Bioballs are definitely not good for saltwater tanks. Freshwater, yes. But saltwater I hear they're more of a "nitrate factory"

Well that depends on what kind of tank your building. What are you goin to use for biological filteration if you don't have LR. Gotta use them sometimes. As long as you keep them clean you will be ok

 

[Wiz]

Well that depends on what kind of tank your building. What are you goin to use for biological filteration if you don't have LR. Gotta use them sometimes. As long as you keep them clean you will be ok

Again my opinion. But I think there are much better medias than bioballs. Even in a no live rock tank. Bio balls can be bad. Really bad. The idea is surface area for bacteria. If you clean too often you defeat the purpose. There are high surface medias that are superior to bio balls without the hazard of trapping waste. Or at least as much as bioballs. I believe bio balls to be poorly designed. But we should all do our own research. And I would beware of any advice that is given as fact. Different strokes for different folks. ;-)