Fuge or No?

acesfull44 · Apr 14, 2016

I am curious to hear feedback on if you have a fuge in your sump? IF so, why? What have been the pro/cons? I know what a fuge does, as I currently run one in my existing sump, but I am building a new one, and I am specifically looking for personal feedback/results here. Thanks in advance for your input.

Tegridy Reef · Apr 14, 2016

Love my fuge wouldn't set up a tank with out one

spspirate · Apr 14, 2016

If done right I think they can be multi beneficial. A refugium is not necessarily a must but IMO if you have the room to do one go for it!

zoomonster · Apr 14, 2016

Two main reasons... nutrient export and refuge. I have some sand, small live rock and a massive amount of chaeto. That chaeto works better than a sponge for micro bubbles that may come out of the skimmer/sock compartment, sucks up nutrients and provides a refuge for pods and other small crustaceans. Some of those critters make there way to the tank where they are dinner. Between CaRx and Kalk stirrer I have a very stable PH range but I still run the fuge light 24x7 which prevents plants from going asexual, dying and polluting tank.

No real cons for me.

NY_Sea · Apr 15, 2016

A place for pod breeding is alone a reason I run one! My Chaeto grows quick and sucks our nutrients which is another plus. Overall a more natural approach and I believe helps to clean and buffer the water

twilliard · Apr 15, 2016

With a diverse refugium you will see a reduction in po4 and no3

beaslbob · Apr 15, 2016

agree with all the above.

One thing sometimes overlooked from this old geeky engineer is stability.

Macro algae like most green plant life actually prefers to consume ammonia.

But in a mature established system, aerobic bacteria has built up and is consuming that ammonia.

So the algae is forced to consume nitrates instead.

But when there is ammonia present, as in a new setup or an established system that got a "bump in the night" the macros are more than happy to consume that ammonia while the bacteria builds up. This prevents (or at least lower) the dangerous ammonia spikes which can cause system crashes. So the system is stable in that is returns to the normal or desired state.

BTW with this geeky stability definition. Stability and constant are actually different. Stability defines the ability of a system to return to a "steady state" should it deviate from that state. If it does that is positive stability. If it remains at the deviated state that is neutral stability. If it further deviates from the steady state that is negative stability.

As an example it is possible to have a normal daily ph variance. But that variance can be stable in that should it be larger one day the system provides more calcium carbonate and returns to that variance. So the pH if varying and stable.

And it could also be that the pH is constant but unstable. And if it rises or drops, it continues that rise or drop until the operator intervenes.

Ditto for ammonia spikes and other parameters.

my .02

saltyfilmfolks · Apr 15, 2016

While I was away for a month, my tunze skimmer slowed down. A clog I guess. I was dumping a near half full cup of med wet DARK sluge twice a week. My wife emptied only it twice in the month.

Guess what happened.
Nothing.
except my dragons tongue is twice its size the chato tripled, the calupra doubled, the dragons breath doubled etc etc etc.

and no, theres no cyano to be seen in the DT