Nano refugium question — Biocube 29

[rja]

I have a Oceanic Biocube 29, got it super modified and it’s missing the paint over the back. I have an InTank media basket coming in next week and I was thinking I could do some cheato in the back next to it because my LFS sells it super cheap.
My questions:
- Is it even worth it? Will it do anything for Nitrates? (Tank is cycling so i have no “issues” yet) My freshwater planted tanks are literally maintenance-less due to plants so I do believe in their scrubbing capabilities.
- what light should I use? Just a generic NICREW planted tank light should suffice right? I see a couple of the pink spectrum ones on Amazon for pretty cheap. This would work right?

Please don’t hesitate to drop some knowledge on this reef rookie here!

 

[blaxsun]

Sure. Whether it ends up being significant or not depends on a lot of factors, but it should definitely help in the long run. Any kind of refugium grow light will work, really. Note that you may want to "black out" the rest of your tank to prevent algae growth/spread beyond your refugium area.

 

[GrizFyrFyter]

I use the middle chamber for a refugium. I line the bottom of the chamber with rock pebbles and brightwell media. I cut the chaeto in half once it gets big enough to stop tumbling.

I have 5 fish and I feed heavily, I am seriously struggling to get a detectable amount of nitrates (salifert kit). I've reduced my refugium light schedule to just 6 hours a day.

 

[rja]

I use the middle chamber for a refugium. I line the bottom of the chamber with rock pebbles and brightwell media. I cut the chaeto in half once it gets big enough to stop tumbling.

I have 5 fish and I feed heavily, I am seriously struggling to get a detectable amount of nitrates (salifert kit). I've reduced my refugium light schedule to just 6 hours a day.

That was another question I forgot to ask was how long I should run the light. 8-10 hours to start?

 

[MaxTremors]

I’m not a fan of trying to grow macro algae in the back chambers of AiOs. It will remove some nitrates, but it’s not enough room for it to be a primary source of nutrient export, and it’s a hassle to keep it contained. The much better option would be to get a HOB refugium. I have the Fijicube HOB refugium on my Nanocube and I love it. It grows tons of macro algae, is contained, and at least with the Fijicube one, it has ports for dosing tubes and a lighting mount. IMO it’s well worth the price.

As far as lighting, I’m using the ACKE LED plant light and my chaeto and caulerpa more than doubles in size in a week or so, it’s an excellent fuge light (would work well for a back chamber fuge). It’s like $25, just search ‘ACKE plant light’ on Amazon.

 

[rja]

I’m not a fan of trying to grow macro algae in the back chambers of AiOs. It will remove some nitrates, but it’s not enough room for it to be a primary source of nutrient export, and it’s a hassle to keep it contained. The much better option would be to get a HOB refugium. I have the Fijicube HOB refugium on my Nanocube and I love it. It grows tons of macro algae, is contained, and at least with the Fijicube one, it has ports for dosing tubes and a lighting mount. IMO it’s well worth the price.

As far as lighting, I’m using the ACKE LED plant light and my chaeto and caulerpa more than doubles in size in a week or so, it’s an excellent fuge light (would work well for a back chamber fuge). It’s like $25, just search ‘ACKE plant light’ on Amazon.

I’m not a fan of trying to grow macro algae in the back chambers of AiOs. It will remove some nitrates, but it’s not enough room for it to be a primary source of nutrient export, and it’s a hassle to keep it contained. The much better option would be to get a HOB refugium. I have the Fijicube HOB refugium on my Nanocube and I love it. It grows tons of macro algae, is contained, and at least with the Fijicube one, it has ports for dosing tubes and a lighting mount. IMO it’s well worth the price.

As far as lighting, I’m using the ACKE LED plant light and my chaeto and caulerpa more than doubles in size in a week or so, it’s an excellent fuge light (would work well for a back chamber fuge). It’s like $25, just search ‘ACKE plant light’ on Amazon.

Not opposed to running a HOB fuge at all! Just wondering how loud it may be, any trickle?

 

[MaxTremors]

Not opposed to running a HOB fuge at all! Just wondering how loud it may be, any trickle?

There was a little bit of a trickle, but I put a little sponge in the return/spout (I cut out a few pieces that fit exactly, and swap them out every 3-4 days, I just rinse them out thoroughly and reuse them), and it’s now silent.