Do you run a refugium or not?

Paul B · Dec 2, 2016

I do not run what most people would call a real refugium but I do have a 5' trough at the back of my tank that was added to grow algae. After a few years it filled with corals and stopped growing algae so I just use it for amphipods which it is full of. I also use an algae scrubber.
Once or twice a year I stir up the entire tank making a typhoon with a diatom filter to suck out extra detritus.
Here is whats in the trough

It's above the water to the rear. It also blocks the light from hitting the rear glass and I like the look of that.

Jizu Puentes · Dec 2, 2016

I dont have a refugium but I do have a macroalgae tank connected to my system. The tank is 110 gallons but sparsely populated with algae.

In this tank I have red grape kelp, codium, dragons breath, an unknown red branching algae and a variety of cyrptic sponges. I like using macroalgae because its a natural way to absorb excess nutrients and depending on which ones you grow you can sell pieces of them.

TetoCCB · Dec 2, 2016

Paul B... Do you have a FTS of your trough?...

Paul B · Dec 2, 2016

Here is an old picture with my MH lights.

It's the white thing on the left.

TetoCCB · Dec 2, 2016

Thanks...

I like the idea of a full sized sump at DT level...

Your trough looks like a great place for pods and provides them easy passage to the DT without having to go through the 'blender'...

Roberto CRC · Dec 2, 2016

This is my sump, the refugium are second stage.

R_C · Dec 2, 2016

I am currently running a small refugium on the right side of my sump. I know I did not need it but I wanted one. I'm even housing a condi anamone in there at this time.

SaltCreeper · Dec 2, 2016

I have a refugium in my second chamber. I have LR, Macro, and Pods for a pair of Mandarins.

cracker · Dec 2, 2016

Broadfield, May I ask the ratio of rock per gallon in your tank? beautiful man !

SaltCreeper · Dec 2, 2016

Just realized that wasn't a question for me. Sorry I am new to this hobby and posting on forums. Got really excited about positive feedback. Well below are the details in case anyone is interested.

My Display is 75 gallon with about 90lbs of LR. I have another 5-10lb of LR in my Refrugium.

usernam invalid · Dec 5, 2016

I run a small 65g refugium [emoji57]on my system
120g SPS display 300g system

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/120g-SPS-display-300g-system.225542/

usernam invalid · Dec 5, 2016

More recent pic of the Fuge

saltyhog · Dec 5, 2016

I've never had a refugium make any notable effect on nitrates but do like the microfauna it encourages. I think our small refugia in the sumps are simply too small to be effective for nutrient management. I do plan on putting some chaeto in my middle chamber with my ceramic media in the near future.

mpjmeyer · Dec 5, 2016

Can you place heaters in the refugium or should those be in the sump?

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 5, 2016

saltyhog said:
I've never had a refugium make any notable effect on nitrates but do like the microfauna it encourages. I think our small refugia in the sumps are simply too small to be effective for nutrient management. I do plan on putting some chaeto in my middle chamber with my ceramic media in the near future.

Hmm. I've run tiny hob fuge on picos and nanos plus my sumped tank I've always seen nutrient improvement and less green on my glass and usually les Cyano.

This year I let the fuge really grow out and actually stripped the no ano Po from the system to undetectable numberes.

mpjmeyer said:
Can you place heaters in the refugium or should those be in the sump?

Most of my sump is a fuge and my heater is in it.

saltyhog · Dec 5, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
Hmm. I've run tiny hob fuge on picos and nanos plus my sumped tank I've always seen nutrient improvement and less green on my glass and usually les Cyano.

This year I let the fuge really grow out and actually stripped the no ano Po from the system to undetectable numberes.

Every tank is different I guess. When you say nutrient improvement do you mean NO3, PO4 or both? How much did they improve after setting up a refugium?

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 5, 2016

saltyhog said:
Every tank is different I guess. When you say nutrient improvement do you mean NO3, PO4 or both? How much did they improve after setting up a refugium?

Both.
I was a slacker back in the day so when I put the fuge on the glass stayed cleaner. When the glass got green I knows it was time to clean the fuge. Lol. That was th 5 10 30 and 30 using a $14 hob breeder box with chato.
Runs off an air pump. I didn't get much cyano in the 5g I recall ups and downs I suppose. It was long time ago now. The longest that tank was up was just over two years.
This year I put the hob on my 30 cube I had to save from a cyano BOMB the was a jbj cube and used the fuge and high light to get the Po from 1 down to normal. I didn't really test much just watched the cyano fade. Took a few months.
In may this year I worked out of town and the talbot damsel in my 55 shredded the Dsb. Best sps growth ever but the Po landed at .25. And I couldn see Thoth the glass the day I got home.
One clam came back to the tank I fed a little les heavily than the mrs and just kept the chato an calurpa in trimmed and jut trimmed to keep flow and light.
Stripped no Po to undetectable on API and shrank my Zoas. And Xenia too.

Done right it works well. Good light good flow. Flow is the one most don't do well on. IMO.