Fuge in AIO

[HairyFrog]

Good morning,

I want to add a refugium into my WB 25 Peninsula. Is this feasible? Has anyone successfully made their AIO sump into a fuge? Which lights work best? Does the Chato have to tumble? Any success/failure lessons from previous attempts?

Ty for your time.

 

[Formulator]

Check out the tunze eco chic fuge light. It is fully submersible so you could put it vertically in a chamber and worry less about tumbling. Tumbling is mostly to ensure all sides get sufficient light. As long as the flow is good enough to keep it from turning into a slimy ball of detritus, and you get lighting on all sides, tumbling is not essential. Mine does not tumble but I have the tunze light underneath and an LED above the chaeto. It grows like crazy.

Another option to consider if you are space constrained is a turf scrubber or chaeto reactor. Though if you are intending the fuge to be a home for pods, those don’t work as well.

 

[bubba005]

I have had a fuge running in the rear chamber of my 31 gallon AIO for a few months now and it has been very successful. I have an abundance of pods living in it and have to remove significant chaeto portions twice a month to prevent my nutrients from bottoming out. For lighting, I use the hygger 24/7 submersible aquarium light (on amazon for $15) for 8 hours per day. I do not tumble the chaeto, I just make sure it is receiving decently high flow. At this point, the chaeto is my only filtration and it has grown enough to not only be a great means of nutrient export, but an effective mechanical filter as well. IME, the most difficult part of running chaeto in the AIO chamber is feeding enough to keep nutrients high enough for coral and micro-fauna, but this issue is easily addressed by semi-regular testing and removal.

 

[HairyFrog]

Ty! I just ordered the Hygger light, I'll see how it goes.

 

[Formulator]

I have had a fuge running in the rear chamber of my 31 gallon AIO for a few months now and it has been very successful. I have an abundance of pods living in it and have to remove significant chaeto portions twice a month to prevent my nutrients from bottoming out. For lighting, I use the hygger 24/7 submersible aquarium light (on amazon for $15) for 8 hours per day. I do not tumble the chaeto, I just make sure it is receiving decently high flow. At this point, the chaeto is my only filtration and it has grown enough to not only be a great means of nutrient export, but an effective mechanical filter as well. IME, the most difficult part of running chaeto in the AIO chamber is feeding enough to keep nutrients high enough for coral and micro-fauna, but this issue is easily addressed by semi-regular testing and removal.

Wow, I wish I would have known about this light before I dropped $100 on the tunze light! I thought the submersible light was innovative. Guess the Chinese thought so too!

 

[Dave Clark]

I have had a fuge running in the rear chamber of my 31 gallon AIO for a few months now and it has been very successful. I have an abundance of pods living in it and have to remove significant chaeto portions twice a month to prevent my nutrients from bottoming out. For lighting, I use the hygger 24/7 submersible aquarium light (on amazon for $15) for 8 hours per day. I do not tumble the chaeto, I just make sure it is receiving decently high flow. At this point, the chaeto is my only filtration and it has grown enough to not only be a great means of nutrient export, but an effective mechanical filter as well. IME, the most difficult part of running chaeto in the AIO chamber is feeding enough to keep nutrients high enough for coral and micro-fauna, but this issue is easily addressed by semi-regular testing and removal.

I just got the Hygger 6watt submersible light for my chaeto. What color and intensity settings do you use? I was considering full spectrum at 100%. Thanks in advance.