Refugium... issues

[Baffels]

Ok, I messed up. It happens. The skimmer I bought (and that is too late to return) is tooooo big. So, looking at the diagram below, it has to go in the section marked C in my sump. The base is .5" to wide to fit in B. The original plan was to put it in B, refugium going in C. Section A is getting removed as soon as my fleece roller arrives (cmon BRS, its been preordered for a while now). D is return pump.

I definitely want a refugium, not only for export but for pods. So, options:

A. (easiest option) Refugium goes in B, but then it would be before the skimmer, rumor has it this is bad, especially with pods.
B. Take the ATO res that came with the redsea and make a refugium that is pump driven. I've seen posts, but looks like a pain.
C. Try to sell this skimmer and get a smaller one that will fit in B.
D. ... trim the base of the skimmer down?

Or any other suggestions you might have...

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Forgive me for not noting your labeled sections, I can’t see much at all. In a Reefer it usually goes filter socks/roller, refugium chamber, skimmer chamber, return chamber. So, typically the fuge is before the skimmer, with a divider with a weir to separate them. Some of them have different positions for the divider, to give you a larger skimmer section, or larger fuge. If you’re modifying the sump for a roller, you’ll probably lose the second slot for the divider. Anyhoo, fuge before skimmer is fine, if that helps. Give me a pass if that’s not what you were getting at.

 

[Baffels]

Forgive me for not noting your labeled sections, I can’t see much at all. In a Reefer it usually goes filter socks/roller, refugium chamber, skimmer chamber, return chamber. So, typically the fuge is before the skimmer, with a divider with a weir to separate them. Some of them have different positions for the divider, to give you a larger skimmer section, or larger fuge. If you’re modifying the sump for a roller, you’ll probably lose the second slot for the divider. Anyhoo, fuge before skimmer is fine, if that helps. Give me a pass if that’s not what you were getting at.

That would work great. I just keep hearing and/or readying that the skimmer will wipe out pods if its after the fuge. But like all things in this hobby, there are many opinions.

 

[Lavey29]

Mine is before the skimmer and pods still make the perilous journey.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

That would work great. I just keep hearing and/or readying that the skimmer will wipe out pods if its after the fuge. But like all things in this hobby, there are many opinions.

As they say, opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one. Pods are resilient and most will survive going through the return pump. Some may end up in the skimmer, but in the grand scheme of things it’s not an issue. If you are worried about it, you could put a check valve on your main drain. That would keep the sump from filling above the weir when the pumps off, but I think that’s not necessary.

 

[Baffels]

Mine is before the skimmer and pods still make the perilous journey.

This is what I like to hear!

 

[Baffels]

So, the next question I have. Is there an issue with the refugium being in the same compartment as the fleece roller?

 

[damsels are not mean]

I think a tiny tank under the display will not contribute much compared to the rock in the display as far as pod populations anyways. I would not worry. The roller is more likely to take wayyyy more pods out of the system than whatever fuge pods you lose to the skimmer.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

So, the next question I have. Is there an issue with the refugium being in the same compartment as the fleece roller?

No. When I modified my sump for a roller I moved the piece of glass I cut out over to separate the sections. I only did this as I didn’t want chaeto getting into my probes.

 

[Spare time]

Yeah I wouldn't worry. Just don't use macroalgae like caulerpa which could easily clog up that skimmer and you can put the refugium in part B.


PS using all three of those is going to make it difficult to accumulate any nitrate or phosphate, so you might want to look at only running the skimmer at night

 

[vetteguy53081]

So, the next question I have. Is there an issue with the refugium being in the same compartment as the fleece roller?

No fuge with a roller as the roller

 

[Baffels]

No. When I modified my sump for a roller I moved the piece of glass I cut out over to separate the sections. I only did this as I didn’t want chaeto getting into my probes.

Theres a piece of glass on this sump that I thought would just pull out... but looks to be harder to remove.

 

[Dan_P]

Ok, I messed up. It happens. The skimmer I bought (and that is too late to return) is tooooo big. So, looking at the diagram below, it has to go in the section marked C in my sump. The base is .5" to wide to fit in B. The original plan was to put it in B, refugium going in C. Section A is getting removed as soon as my fleece roller arrives (cmon BRS, its been preordered for a while now). D is return pump.

I definitely want a refugium, not only for export but for pods. So, options:

A. (easiest option) Refugium goes in B, but then it would be before the skimmer, rumor has it this is bad, especially with pods.
B. Take the ATO res that came with the redsea and make a refugium that is pump driven. I've seen posts, but looks like a pain.
C. Try to sell this skimmer and get a smaller one that will fit in B.
D. ... trim the base of the skimmer down?

Or any other suggestions you might have...

Select the easiest solution “A”, put it in section B. Pod production isn’t that important.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Yeah I wouldn't worry. Just don't use macroalgae like caulerpa which could easily clog up that skimmer and you can put the refugium in part B.


PS using all three of those is going to make it difficult to accumulate any nitrate or phosphate, so you might want to look at only running the skimmer at night

This is as true as it gets….,times a hundred if you started with dry rock and a bare bottom. That’s why I straight up murdered my fuge. Plus it’s a bit of a pain. Or a nightmare if you get your chaeto from the lfs…..and it has Aiptasia hidden in it! I trust no one that claims to have clean chaeto…unless they have a completely separated and sterile system for it.

 

[RichieE46]

This is what I like to hear!

Also as a side point, is the skimmer the correct size for the volume of water or is it too large for the tank?

If it's the correct filter size, I would just do what Lavey29 did.

 

[Spare time]

This is as true as it gets….,times a hundred if you started with dry rock and a bare bottom. That’s why I straight up murdered my fuge. Plus it’s a bit of a pain. Or a nightmare if you get your chaeto from the lfs…..and it has Aiptasia hidden in it! I trust no one that claims to have clean chaeto…unless they have a completely separated and sterile system for it.

I have 100% confidence in algae barn's stuff. I have ordered several things from them over time with absolutely 0 pest hitchhikers

 

[Lavey29]

This is what I like to hear!

Although I see pods make their way to my return pump chamber past the skimmer and past the bubble trap, it is not a lot. But I didn't seed my fuge with pods either. They just showed up along with a variety of other critters to.

I think the main reason for having a fuge is a natural way for nutrient export and running light opposite your DT helps keep PH from dipping. I have been able to maintain 10 to 13 nitrates fairly easily and typically. 07 to .1 phosphate to. I have to prune back the chaeto every week or 2. It grows fast. I rotate it by hand also about every week for light purposes. Don't really see any loose pieces getting to the skimmer at all.