Do I need a refugium? What are the pros and cons?

[redfishbluefish]

I'm guessing to export the nitrates in it. So you leave some and then more grows, right?

You got it! That's how it's done. You're in the export business.

 

[MikeyAl]

Ideally you want some means of exporting nitrates and phosphates. A refugium is an easy way to do this by growing some type of algae.

But you could do this by using other means:

1. Water changes
2. Biopellets
3. Algae scrubber
4. Denitrification system (Natureef, as an example)

So Yes, you can run a system without a refugium. But, even if you only have a little extra room in the sump, it's so easy to throw a little light in there and some cheato, and you're now off and running.

Plus 1 on ATS

 

[glb]

So do I run the light on a timer at night or should I run it all the time?

 

[abruzzo62]

I keep mine on 24/7. Seems to do alright.

 

[glb]

So if I get a clamp light with a screw-in led light, my guess is it won't heat up the sump area too much. Will I have algae problems in the other parts of the sump? I'm sort of a neat freak.

 

[MikeyAl]

So do I run the light on a timer at night or should I run it all the time?

If you are talking about ATS go 18 hrs. 6 pm until noon.

 

[glb]

If you are talking about ATS go 18 hrs. 6 pm until noon.

I'll probably do chaeto first.

 

[MikeyAl]

I'll probably do chaeto first.

If you are interested - I have a used Santa Monica drop .2 you can run in your sump.
No charge. Just reimburse the shipping.

 

[glb]

If you are interested - I have a used Santa Monica drop .2 you can run in your sump.
No charge. Just reimburse the shipping.

Thank you! Is that an ats?

 

[MikeyAl]

Yup. A small one. All you need to do is attach the tubing to a small air pump and the power cord to a timer. Run it for 18 hours- I recommend 6 pm to noon.

My wife is cleaning out all my old stuff so if you are interested let me know. I am 99% sure she didn't do anything with it.
I think I can probably ship for about $5-10. If so, I will cover the shipping. It works well

http://www.santa-monica.cc/DROP2-dr...-surfaces--02-cubes-feeding-per-day_p_47.html

 

[Wiz]

Personally I would never have a reef without one. I love the macro they are beautiful and do well cleaning the water. A fuge provides a place for pods and macro fauna to breed and populate in safety which is invaluable for the natural food source. Love my manderins!:-D you can offset lighting sched to stabilize ph and when working well I trade the excess algaes for lfs credit.
In fairness certain macros are known for alelopathy (I think. Lol) and stand accused of harming corals. But I run carbon before my return and have no issue.

 

[glb]

Yup. A small one. All you need to do is attach the tubing to a small air pump and the power cord to a timer. Run it for 18 hours- I recommend 6 pm to noon.

My wife is cleaning out all my old stuff so if you are interested let me know. I am 99% sure she didn't do anything with it.
I think I can probably ship for about $5-10. If so, I will cover the shipping. It works well

http://www.santa-monica.cc/DROP2-dr...-surfaces--02-cubes-feeding-per-day_p_47.html

Thank you! I'll take you up on it. Let me know about shipping and I'll cover that for sure. I'll private message you my address. You're the best!

 

[s2nhle]

I would rather run my reef system without the refugium. It is just another place to collect the debris

 

[Broadwave]

Here are a couple of YouTube videos on Refugiums that may answer most of your questions around sizing, daylight periods, etc... from 2 very reputable sources.

<-- Tidal Gardens review of Refugiums

<-- How to set up a refugium from American Reef

 

[Atif]

So do I run the light on a timer at night or should I run it all the time?

 

[Atif]

Yes light 24/7 on it

 

[badstorm48]

There's no need for a refugium really. Of course depending on what your trying to do. If your trying to build up a copapod population yeah they are good but they can be a nitrate wasteland if done wrong. I'm just going to do a skimmer and call it at that. I am in the middle of finishing my 40 gallon build. All I have to do is order the skimmer and hook it up and I'm done. Though, with the refugium it is personal preference. Everyone has different styles of reefing and not everyone is right. I decide who to follow based on how there tank looks if I like what they have going on then I listen. So, what works for me may not be what you like. I just look at is the water good are the fish happy and thriving and are the corals happy and thriving. There's a million ways you can set up a reef and all of them aren't necessarily wrong.

 

[Happy Jon]

You don't NEED anything but salt, rock, RO/DI, and a HOB Walmart filter, BUT.............,,

 

[Reeflogic]

A properly set up fuge brings a whole new aspect to your system, especially if you seed it with lots of critters, well, critters that chew on detritus. I'm currently fugeless and MISS IT! I used to sit and watch the pods, micro brittle stars, worms and other microfauna, almost as much as I watched my main display!! Folks that say they are nitrate factories and collect debris usually don't have them set up correctly or lack some type of pre-filtration. I always used mine more for the pod production than a nitrate removal, but they can be very effective at removing nitrates. However, if you are a neat-freak, you will be cleaning the sump walls and skimmer, etc. quite a bit. Warm white lighting will kick up some algae on everything in its path. Looks like you got an ATS though

 

[RCs reef]

I also have the cube nano. It's on my 24 jbj nano. I have since added an ato to keep my prams in check so I don't have a crash again.