Eshopps R-200 Refugium / What to put in it?

[hdsoftail1065]

I posted this in the wrong area a few minutes ago (DYI), still learning the layout....sorry.

Ok reef friends, I admit my wife and I are new and have only messed with Biocubes 29 gallon a few years back and currenty running a 32. I am building up a 144 1/2 moon and went with the eshopps r-200 refugium as recommended by my LFS. I have read so many posts on what to put in it and how to set it up I'm totally lost, confused and frustrated. Looking to tap into some knowledge from the reef masters. Heard, miracle mud, no mud, rocks only, bare bottom, sand, etc. Looking to do a mixed reef with a few tangs and some other fish, not sure what fish yet. I am still researching the fish, corals and putting together my wish list.What is the right way to set up the refugium? I want to take it slow and right the first time...if possible. Lol

 

[jsker]

Lets see if we can get some answers for you

 

[Crabs McJones]

My own recommendation would be to do a bare refugium with chaeto (the most popular) or caulerpa or dragons breath. and a horticulture grow light consisting of blue and red leds. Personally I really love the Kessil H380. However there are less expensive options on amazon that work as well

 

[Steve Jewell]

I have the same. I have Coralife 150g Skimmer, Finnex Titanium 500w heater, Jecod DCT-8000, and Coral Box A100 ATO.

I have it set up with shallow sand/ rubble. Will be putting chaeto in it...cycling now.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have the same. I have Coralife 150g Skimmer, Finnex Titanium 500w heater, Jecod DCT-8000, and Coral Box A100 ATO.

I have it set up with shallow sand/ rubble. Will be putting chaeto in it...cycling now.

Make sure you wait until after your cycle is completed and you have some nutrients built up. If you add the chaeto to soon or when your tank is still cycling it could prolong your cycle and if you dont have nutrients built up for the chaeto to consume itll die off

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback! Sounds like the options are limitless! Will pods survive and thrive with bare refugium with chaeto? R2R is great and so are the people willing to share!

 

[madweazl]

Is the tank 144 gallons? Which generation R-200 do you have? The 3rd gen has very limited space for a refugium and the R-200 is about 50% too small (even if it were a 2nd gen) to run a refugium with much/any benefit.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Yes 144 gallon. It is the r-200 second gen. I hope it's big enough, I quized a couple of stores in my area and explained it would be set up in a room behind the tank and they all told me yes go with this one. Now I'm starting to worry. Today is the last day to return to amazon. This is an example: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001...opps+r-200&dpPl=1&dpID=31gL6DOHcYL&ref=plSrch

 

[madweazl]

That's actually the 3rd gen refugium pictured in the link. The issue is that the refugium compartment only holds about three gallons which will be around 2% of your total volume; my opinion is that it is far too small to be of any benefit to the system. I would return it and find a sump with a compartment that holds closer to 10% of the total volume if you want to use a refugium. Generally, a sump that holds roughly 30-35% of the display tanks volume should provide enough capacity to do that.

Note: regardless of version, the R200 and R300 lack compartments large enough to provide an adequate refugium if nutrient control is the goal.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Bummer. Thanks for the feedback, guess after work I better get that returned.

 

[Kevin Mataya]

Check out their advanced sump the adv-200. Its a better option with that brand.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Bummer. Thanks for the feedback, guess after work I better get that returned.

What other equipment were you going to utilize? Skimmer or any reactors?

 

[hdsoftail1065]

I have no clue but open to suggestions.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have no clue but open to suggestions.

What kind of budget are you looking at? The bigger the sump the better, more water volume and as other users have stated, bigger refugium.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Not really sure about the budget, I have buying a piece at a time. I will keep doing that until my wife takes me out at the knees. At the end I want a heathy and astetically pleasing to the eye ecosystem.

 

[madweazl]

Check out their advanced sump the adv-200. Its a better option with that brand.

Eshopps uses the same basic sump size (e.g. all 200s share the same footprint) for all options; they do not offer a standard solution that is large enough to incorporate a 10% by volume refugium.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Eshopps uses the same basic sump size for all options; they do not offer a standard solution that is large enough to incorporate a 10% by volume refugium.

What would you suggest?

 

[madweazl]

I'm not recommending for or against any option in regard to your sump setup, this is a decision you'll have to make but if you want a 10% refugium, you'll need something with about 14-15g in that chamber. Rough dimensions for something like that would be 20x18x9 just for the refugium which probably doesnt work if your tank is a corner design. You can mitigate the length with additional depth but that can make it difficult when it comes to maintenance depending on location (e.g. height of stand etc. if that is where you place it).

Edit: If the footprint of the sump is a factor, perhaps something like an algae turf scrubber (ATS) or algae reactor would be a better option for you. I have little first hand experience with either so I dont know what the appropriate size would be.

 

[Franco323]

That's actually the 3rd gen refugium pictured in the link. The issue is that the refugium compartment only holds about three gallons which will be around 2% of your total volume; my opinion is that it is far too small to be of any benefit to the system. I would return it and find a sump with a compartment that holds closer to 10% of the total volume if you want to use a refugium. Generally, a sump that holds roughly 30-35% of the display tanks volume should provide enough capacity to do that.

Note: regardless of version, the R200 and R300 lack compartments large enough to provide an adequate refugium if nutrient control is the goal.

So if my main display tank is 180 gallons and my sump dimensions are 48x13x18 would that be big enough for my display tank or should I consider also looking for a bigger sump for my tank

 

[Franco323]

I'm not recommending for or against any option in regard to your sump setup, this is a decision you'll have to make but if you want a 10% refugium, you'll need something with about 14-15g in that chamber. Rough dimensions for something like that would be 20x18x9 just for the refugium which probably doesnt work if your tank is a corner design. You can mitigate the length with additional depth but that can make it difficult when it comes to maintenance depending on location (e.g. height of stand etc. if that is where you place it).

Edit: If the footprint of the sump is a factor, perhaps something like an algae turf scrubber (ATS) or algae reactor would be a better option for you. I have little first hand experience with either so I dont know what the appropriate size would be.

So since my display tank is 180 gallons I would need 18 gallons in my refugium section so it could be beneficial ?