How do you setup a small refugium under your tank?

[Labora]

My tank is 15g and already has copepods. I want to sustain them but also improve water quality by adding refugium. Right now I have a smart ATO undernearth the tank.

Some things I have :

Extra light,
2.5 gallon aquarium,
10 gallon aquarium (too big?),
extra smart autoaqua ATO unit (pump and hose)
Mighty jet

Would I need a pump? Or is a refugium sump done via gravity?

I was doing some research and saw that too big of a refugium will supposedly strip the nutrients from your main tank. Is this true and there a ratio to follow to avoid "too big"?

 

[piranhaman00]

Do you have a sump? 15 gal tank doesn’t need a fuge IMO

 

[Labora]

No sump. Filtration is in the back section of the tank like a Nuvo.

 

[piranhaman00]

No sump. Filtration is in the back section of the tank like a Nuvo.

HOB fuge is an option but plumbing a sump for a fuge would not work well in that size tank imo

 

[punziracing]

Although not a very safe option, It can be done with an external overflow, you would need a pump in the fuge to return the water back to the tank.

As far as stripping any nutrients, It all depends on how much you let the macro grow.

 

[GlassMunky]

HOB fuge is an option but plumbing a sump for a fuge would not work well in that size tank imo

I’ve drilled and plumbed a 14g biocube into a larger system before.
why do you say a fuge wouldnt work?
Especially when it’s almost the same size as the display it will def do something

 

[Reef.]

Do you have a sump? 15 gal tank doesn’t need a fuge IMO

I agree it might not need one, most tanks don’t need half the equipment they have but if it can be made to work, then I think it would benefit the tank, depending on why the op wants one, it could be to reduce water changes, a place for pods to live etc

My biggest concern with this would be the practicalities of making it work, getting a return pump silent enough, a return in a stand has the potential to be noisy, and if there is ever a blockage or the return fails you risk emptying the tank...love the idea tho.

 

[piranhaman00]

I’ve drilled and plumbed a 14g biocube into a larger system before.
why do you say a fuge wouldnt work?
Especially when it’s almost the same size as the display it will def do something

It would work yes but I’m not sure it’s worth it?Weekly water changes would work better and be easier.

 

[GlassMunky]

It would work yes but I’m not sure it’s worth it?Weekly water changes would work better and be easier.

But by doubling the water volume that also allows a bigger window of error if anything did happen to the system As well as contributing to a more stable system due to the larger volume of water.