HOB refugium HELP

[KINGROWLAND1217]

Hey, I have a 55 gallon tank that I am trying to put coral in(soon). I am trying to add or make a refugium for my tank.I currently have a fluval 110 on the back now as a regular HOB filter w/ chemipure elite, ceramic rings, and a sponge as the media. I've been thinking about changing it into a refugium. My real question is would it even be beneficial to have that small of a fuge with a tank that big? I realize a 55g isnt THAT big, but still,would it help? lol. To save space, I'd like to basically use half the filter for a fuge, and half for filter media. Has anybody tried this? I really dont have the space to add a sump/fuge w/out completely building and piping one from another room. Thanks for any advice or help given.

 

[jent]

Your question is loaded....I personally believe _any_ fuge will help _some_. The question is really will it help enough to justify the cost, the system complexity (which always adds points of failure), and enough to offset the reduced filter capability (assuming you otherwise would use it for additional media).

So I personally would like to send your question back to you. What are you trying to accomplish with the fuge? What are you hoping it will help with?

I think it's important to recognize that most things a fuge can provide can be accomplished with different means (and not necessarily costly means given a tank of your size). Even though I personally choose to run a fuge, it is certainly not required. Given your requirements I probably would vote to have the additional filter space rather than a minimally beneficial fuge.

 

[beaslbob]

any size refugium is helpful. several people have replaced hob filters with chaeto and reported good results. they also added a small light.
On my old 55g I just crammed in a piece of egg crate (1/4" square plastic grid) about 3" in front of the back glass and added 2 4' 2 tube utility fixtures behind the tank pointing forward.
The chaeto and grape caulerpa (plus pods as well) expanded and thrived in the refugium behind the egg crate. Nitrates dropped to unmeasureable in three weeks with phosphates a few months later. my two tangs were constantly grazing on the macro that poked through as well.
Just a though worth at most.
.02

 

[KINGROWLAND1217]

Jent-thats exactly what I am trying to figure out....is it worth the cost,and is it worth the time. I am trying to keep my nitrates and phosphates down to keep nuisance algae out of my tank. I had a cyano outbreak and as soon as I got that calmed down, algae took over. I got some new LED's so I could add coral and have had problems ever since and I dont want to add coral until my tank is stable for the long haul. I'm just getting real frustrated. Im pretty sure I know the cause of the excess nutrients....from not using RO/DI water. But I am just trying to get a plan together for when I get my RO/DI unit in to keep the nitrates/phosphates down.

 

[KINGROWLAND1217]

I was also thinking about adding a fluval c4 power filter($55) so I could use the whole fluval 110 for a fuge. That would allow me to have both filtration and a semi large fuge...Thanks for responding so quick btw

 

[jent]

Jent-thats exactly what I am trying to figure out....is it worth the cost,and is it worth the time.

I personally think that using a GFO reactor will help MUCH more than a tiny fuge. Given the tanks size I think that water changes and additional filtration will help more with nitrates/phosphates than a small fuge.

 

[KINGROWLAND1217]

Ok cool thanks. So essentially they both have the same benefits? The GFO just does a better job of it?

 

[jent]

GFO is a subset of what a fuge _can_ provide. But as far as removing phosphate a GFO reactor can be DRAMATICALLY more effective than a small fuge. GFO will not remove Nitrates AFAIK. But IME phosphate has been a more up hill battle than nitrates.

 

[Zacco]

Run GFO in a reactor. Ever since I started running GFO I have had zero nuisance algae problems. Going the cheap route get a Two Little Fishes Phosban Reactor and BRS GFO.

 

[Hopkins1031]

I have a 40 gallon breeder. I just bought a CPR Medium HOB fuge. I have chaeto, LR and I was going to add ROWA PHOS and Carbon. Will this be sufficient?