Refugium conversion

[lion king]

A very high nutrient system, 180g aggressive predators. I built a simple flow through sump with a refugium section equaling 25g. The macro stays healthy but doesn't seem to grow much, it does not work as efficient as I'd like. I believe the flow is likely too fast for the macro to do a really good job.

What would you do in that section of a sump to add nutrient reducing properties; I've already added an ats. I don't want it to be just an empty space but the refugium is pointless.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I don’t belive the flow is the issue.

I assume the growth was slow before the Ats was started.

You could try some media blocks , like marine pure etc.

 

[lion king]

I couldn't figure why with the capacity of the refugium I wasn't seeing the results I expected. I've used similar lighting and schedules with good results, so I want to rule that out. I added an export brick and nopox; eventually added the ats; which has started putting a dent into the no3/po4. I'm trying to figure out what to do with space. I find the macros aren't doing it for one reason of another. Do you think miracle mud planted with caulerpa would be worth a try.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I wouldn’t mix methods too hard in general. Makes trouble shooting hard.
MM is basically a dsb (like live rock and sand or media , just surface area for bacteria ) and calurpa just a macro for export.

If he ats takes off, might as well just have an empty space in the sump.

If you want the fuge or mm mud fuge , I’d look again at flow and light.

And a fwiw , I’ve changed nothing in the last 5-6 months and my fuge has slowed down a lot. Higher nutints still. No light change , but the chato is failing. No clue why.
Corals are fine fish are fine.

 

[Rjramos]

Right along with saltyfilmfolks, I have to agree to stick to ATS or refugium with caulerpa or chaeto. That way, the issue with receiving necessary nutrients for growth is ruled out. Lighting is important too. Lighting 24 hr, I switched from 2- 65 watt PC 6500k/10000k to a home made 45 watt LED(15- 3w LED’s all in the white spectrum, full power, might need a dimmer to make it work, lol, about 6 months now and the chaeto is not even close to what I was doing with PC’s! Going back to PC’s right now. I do use Miracle mud along with protein skimming in all my set ups. According to Ecosystem aquariums on their web site, there is a recommended refugium size,min and max flow to using their MM, I stick by these charted guidelines with good results,( check out my post). I don’t know how and how much water from display returns to your refugium, but if it is your whole turn over rate, it’s probablytoo much in a 180gal. Hope this helps.[emoji1303]

 

[Dickeybrazil]

What kind of lights in main and fuge?

 

[lion king]

I'm leaning towards the flow is too fast for the macros to uptake at a high level. The macros are healthy and colorful, no dying off at all. I was just trying to figure what to do with the space, besides just leaving it open. The ats will likely handle it on it's on anyway.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I dunno. The trendy rage the Triton followers use is a higher flow.
My self , I am and have always been at 10x return.

 

[lion king]

I dunno. The trendy rage the Triton followers use is a higher flow.
My self , I am and have always been at 10x return.

I've had more success with macros using less flow, like 500gph even less. I didn't consider that when I built the sump.

 

[lion king]

I'm thinking xenia?

 

[Forsaken77]

I would definitely add some bio products. Instead of MP, I would suggest a large jar of Seachem Matrix and some coarse media bags. Matrix does a better job of denitrification even though it's smaller. You also don't have to worry about it leeching anything. For the record I have both.

 

[Lasse]

I have a flow of 2500 litres an hour over a 30 litres refugium with chaeto - the growth is more than excellent. Use own build light with 660, 630, 450, 430 and 410 nm. Total of 60 W. For me - the flow is not a problem in spite of a turn over in the fuge of 80 x

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Skep18]

Common theme I hear is lighting quality. Cheaper lights will yield lesser results.

 

[lion king]

I have a flow of 2500 litres an hour over a 30 litres refugium with chaeto - the growth is more than excellent. Use own build light with 660, 630, 450, 430 and 410 nm. Total of 60 W. For me - the flow is not a problem in spite of a turn over in the fuge of 80 x

It's not about turn over, it about flow. 2500l is 660g, if that's the rating of your pump you aren't getting that as flow through your refugium. I'm using a par 38 bulb and have had good results, every other refugium I ran had flow from 200gph to as high as 500gph with great results. The flow is the only factor that is different. I'm liking getting about 1200gph flow, and as I stated before the macros are healthy; just the nutrient uptake is not where I wanted or expected.

 

[Lasse]

Its not the rating of the pump - its the real flow.

We work with closed recirculated systems. For nutrient uptake - it will be the same if you run 1000 litres an hour or 25000 litres an hour. The total contact time per hour will be the same because its the same water that coming back.

Sincerely Lasse