How long to wait before setting up a refugium?

[RazorD]

I’m upgrading my current tank that doesn’t have a sump to a new one and want to set up a refugium. Is this something I can start off right away when transferring my current livestock over or does the tank need to mature for a while first?

 

[laverda]

There is no reason not to set it up right away.

 

[JBKReef]

It’s a nutrients game. Does your current bioload support the requirements of a refugium. If you’re just setting a tank up with dry rock, brand new sand, and only a couple fish I doubt a refugium will be able to sustain. If you’re experiencing detectable phosphate and decent nitrates ( in my experience >10) then a refugium could thrive.

I would say set the refugium up from the start but ease into actually growing macro, if not waiting for the tank to mature a couple months.

 

[Flippers4pups]

It’s a nutrients game. Does your current bioload support the requirements of a refugium. If you’re just setting a tank up with dry rock, brand new sand, and only a couple fish I doubt a refugium will be able to sustain. If you’re experiencing detectable phosphate and decent nitrates ( in my experience >10) then a refugium could thrive.

I would say set the refugium up from the start but ease into actually growing macro, if not waiting for the tank to mature a couple months.

It is used primarily as a means of nutrient export. Refugiums do have their place as a means of refuge for microfauna such as copepods, isopods....etc. But the use of macro algaes for microfauna to thrive, must have available nutrients and light to sustain them.

As @JBKReef has stated, it sounds like a new system your starting and may be difficult at first to keep a healthy refugium going. Factors such as transferring over live rock and sand from an established system may help, but available excess nutrients will be needed to keep algaes such as chaetomorpha or caulerpa alive.

 

[mtfish]

First, congrats on the upgrade. Since you have doing tanks for awhile, I assume you have an idea what you want your new tank to be when it matures. Same thing for your sump. Is this a store bought one? DIY one? How big will it be compared to the DT? Refugium is such a broad term. As stated above, is it for nutrient control only? An actual refuge for small critters to grow? Extra water volume for tank stability? Lots of questions so I will stop. For me, I would set it up from the start how you want it to work. Just like a DT, it will mature over time and become stable. Have fun with your new adventure.

 

[RazorD]

Thanks for the info. It’s a Waterbox 170 and I’m moving up from a 55g tank. I’m moving over a bioload that is likely more than my current tank can sustain. Nitrate and phosphates have been detectable lately so I thought I may be able to start the refugium right away.

 

[davocean]

I don't see any harm in starting up fuge w/ rubble and chaeto.
If there are enough nutrients chaeto will grow, if not it won't, no big deal.

A refugium's primary purpose really and originally is a zone lacking predation and safe place for growing pods, hence it's name, refugium=refuge, but many do look at nutrient export first, but really unless your fuge was huge it's not going to provide a whole lot of nutrient export, but every step in right direction helps.

I would set up now, and keep it simple, just rubble and chaeto, it's all you really need.

 

[RazorD]

Great! Any recommendations for lights? I was looking at the Kessil H80. Any good? Or go larger? Like the H160?

 

[davocean]

I have not used either of those personally but I've seen others mention the 80 as working well.

I just use a PVC dome from HD w/ an LED floodlight, works well for me.