Do you run a refugium or not?

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ive run fuges on all my tanks(save one right now), from a 5 gal pico that ran 2 years to my current 55. Its just easy.
Ive never seen a nutrient "spike" that effected anything in the tank, but i have had unexplained explosions of growth in the fuge, and yea, tested and the nutrients were higher. I hate caulerpa, but leave some of it in because that stuff will BLOW UP if nutrients spike, like you can almost watch it grow. Ive seen this happen more than a few times.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What kind of light bulb are you using?

I was getting ready to ask same question!! I'm looking for a light setup for mine and don't want to spend $$$$ on one when I can piece one together at Home Depot for $

imo any full spectrum bulb. 48 to 50 k is better.
Im a fan of the phillips par 38 led. it color temps a 48k. has enough blue and red/orange. als make a smaller version. the big one is powerful. we also grow orchids with it.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I run one as well!

 

[jenreefer]

I was getting ready to ask same question!! I'm looking for a light setup for mine and don't want to spend $$$$ on one when I can piece one together at Home Depot for $

LED 60W daylight 5000K 800 lumens any brand is fine. It is a screw in bulb and I use the cheap metal light holder from lowes. Total cost maybe $10.

 

[mpjmeyer]

Awesome!! I screen shot that so I remember what to get. Here's another question: anybody running a small powerhead in their fuge? Or will the return flow provide enough movement?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Awesome!! I screen shot that so I remember what to get. Here's another question: anybody running a small powerhead in their fuge? Or will the return flow provide enough movement?

depends on the fuge......how vague is that? LOL. I do have one my current 55. IMO IME more flow is better.

 

[mpjmeyer]

Yes I guess I could have been more specific with the question but I suppose it depends on the size of the fuge. Mine is only 10 gallon

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes I guess I could have been more specific with the question but I suppose it depends on the size of the fuge. Mine is only 10 gallon

its also about the return rate and configuration of the incoming water , and by vague i meant my answer.
ive seen fuges in the second chamber that the chato is clearly clogged and the water is clearly traveling over the chato. Mine drops in as the first baffle set is higher and makes the water flow into the fuge deeper.
laminar flow over the top macros doesnt do much good imo ime

 

[Xathron]

This is from 3 months ago... I need to get a current FTS.

IMG_4278 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_6123 (2) by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_5753 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_6285 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_4402 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_6490 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_7088 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_7102 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

Very Nice and Clean

 

[Xathron]

Very nice setup! I see you are in Pasadena. I'm just north of you in kingwood.

Thanks TR, yeah not to far from you in Kingwood.

 

[Mike_J]

This is from 3 months ago... I need to get a current FTS.

IMG_4278 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_6123 (2) by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_5753 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_6285 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_4402 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_6490 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_7088 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

IMG_7102 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

Stop posting pictures of your setup, it's making the rest of us look bad! Always enjoy looking at your insanely beautiful tank. It makes me work harder on my own!

 

[sergiofrp]

Very nice setup! I see you are in Pasadena. I'm just north of you in kingwood.

We are all close I live in Galveston.

 

[Roberto CRC]

I use refugium, but in many occasions I have wanted to get rid of it because it generates a lot of detritus.

My big question and why I have not removed the refugium is: and the microfauna what is done in the refugium does not need for the tank and some fish like the Diamond goby, yellow coris, wrasse cleanner?

Viewing tank photos from some R2R members, such as @Broadfield , the sump looks flawless and that's what I want in my tank, but I ask: What foods add to keep the microfauna? Add Pods?

At night I hope to upload a photo of my shelter with the shelter.

 

[Xathron]

We are all close I live in Galveston.

Nice glad to see people in the area may need to fall back in local help. Never know

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Nice glad to see people in the area may need to fall back in local help. Never know

(frag swap)

it generates a lot of detritus.

Filter socks, or like me a dsb with lots of worms and snails maybe crabs, some that you may not want in the display.
for most i usually recommend bare bottom with Live rock or just macros and be prepared to clean it. avoid rubble. when I ran bare bottom I did the water changes from the sump to vacuum the detritus. same with an all in one or bio cube.

My big question and why I have not removed the refugium is: and the microfauna what is done in the refugium does not need for the tank and some fish like the Diamond goby, yellow coris, wrasse cleanner?

I like pods and bugs. Its free cleanup crew, and free fish food. Hunters like to hunt.

 

[TetoCCB]

My refugium is in the center section of my Biocube 14... Matrix on the bottom with codium (sp?)... Plenty of pods and bristle worms...

 

[Eddie_cb7]

75 bowfront dt. 29g fuge with skimmer. Does good for me. I keep crabs and pods in the fuge. Got a mix of corals.

 

[Damon]

My cheato tub pond, and display.. I also run a turf scrubber and pellets. But my pellets are purposefully turned down low, to allow the fuge and scrubber to thrive. All bare bottom, and the bugs do great between the rubble rock in the sump/scrubber area, and now, the tub/pond. My next move is to add a few mangroves to the back of the tub.

 

[mah0031]

Kind of small due to space limits up on stand easy to service,(20 gal long on a 75 gal tank), live rock and a lot of micro algae,Fast growing micro algae, gets trimmed couple times a week. I move a lot of water thru it but it works well note modified skimmer I'm cheap Still came in late and way over budget LOL

 

[mandarin417]

I am up in Cypress, Texas and getting ready to add one to my 120 gallon reef. On the other side of the wall where the tank is a long walk though closet. I already have my top off tank behind the wall and will add the refugium. I have to work around my wife’s clothes so instead of putting in a separate glass tank, I am going to put in a 55 gallon heavy duty plastic barrel fed from a pump in my sump. I am going to keep the sump to refugium flow low but keep the refugium stirred up with a pump in the barrel spinning the chaeto around. I will post some pics when it’s up and running.