Refugium benefits??

[Fatmike92]

I’m looking to build a custom sump and tie a refugium into the custom sump.

but is it needed?? What are the benefits?? Pros? Cons?

please let me know your experiences!

 

[Spare time]

I don't do water changes on my tank. I have the refugium uses the skimmer space. No cons other than I have to flip it over every few days. Having no skimmer and only a refugium likely allows me to keep things like flame scallops for years by have a rich environment for filter feeders. I run carbon and socks too. No one should start a sump without a refugium.

 

[Lavey29]

I don't do water changes on my tank. I have the refugium uses the skimmer space. No cons other than I have to flip it over every few days. Having no skimmer and only a refugium likely allows me to keep things like flame scallops for years by have a rich environment for filter feeders. I run carbon and socks too. No one should start a sump without a refugium.

How big is your tank and fuge. I really like the natural approach.

OP, I have a 15g sump with a 13x13 fuge. I think it is really helping stabilize my nutrients with balanced export. Pods everywhere now and in the DT. I like that it keeps PH stabil overnight. Little messy but not bad. So far easy to maintain and I see no negative aspects only positive.

 

[X-37B]

120 display with 30g remote fuge with 3" sanbed. I do not need or use po4 reducing media anymore.

 

[Spare time]

How big is your tank and fuge. I really like the natural approach.

OP, I have a 15g sump with a 13x13 fuge. I think it is really helping stabilize my nutrients with balanced export. Pods everywhere now and in the DT. I like that it keeps PH stabil overnight. Little messy but not bad. So far easy to maintain and I see no negative aspects only positive.

I have a 75 gallon display with a a fiji cube sump (fiji 20? first gen). I feed flakes and sometimes frozen a few times a day, roughly 35-40ml reef energy daily, brightwell amino omega hufa (2 glass pipettes or so a day so maybe 10ml?), vitachem daily (something like 5ml), and sometimes seaweed or seaweed pellets (I am out atm). I also add calanus to the tank frequently (sometiems daily). My nitrates as of yesterday were 3.7ish ppm (hanna HR), and phosphates were 0.03ppm. I clean carbon bi-weekly (if I can) and swap it monthly. I swap the socks out every 3 days or so. My pH last time I checked was either 8.3 or 8.2 ish but I can't remember exactly.

 

[Gtinnel]

If you have space for a refugium there isn't really a downside. It reduces nutrients, it can help with pH, and it gives a place for your pods to multiply.

I ran my tank without one, and then when I added it I realized how great they can be. I would keep it just for the pH boost at night alone.

 

[Lavey29]

I have a 75 gallon display with a a fiji cube sump (fiji 20? first gen). I feed flakes and sometimes frozen a few times a day, roughly 35-40ml reef energy daily, brightwell amino omega hufa (2 glass pipettes or so a day so maybe 10ml?), vitachem daily (something like 5ml), and sometimes seaweed or seaweed pellets (I am out atm). I also add calanus to the tank frequently (sometiems daily). My nitrates as of yesterday were 3.7ish ppm (hanna HR), and phosphates were 0.03ppm. I clean carbon bi-weekly (if I can) and swap it monthly. I swap the socks out every 3 days or so. My pH last time I checked was either 8.3 or 8.2 ish but I can't remember exactly.

Wow that's cool balance for all that food import.