Refugium setup?

ashiWaza · Sep 7, 2020

Hello everyone,

I have a new Waterbox 35.1 AIO, and I want to add a refugium for copepod purposes. Does anyone have any experience doing this to an AIO? I have researched for close to a month now, and my research just brings up more questions than answers. A few issues I'm currently dealing with:

1) I've seen people create a refugium out of one of the chambers in the AIO portion of the tank, and lighting it from behind, etc. Would my return pump not just shred the copepods upon feeding them back into my DT?

2) I've also debated going the route of an "in tank" refugium, or possibly a "hang on back" type. There are several brands, and I just posted some pics to give you a general idea. This idea seemed great, although I'm not sure how effective it will be in keeping pod populations; with the macroalgae in my DT, inside that compartment, would my lighting not be suitable? I've read that usually you will use a light on the chaeto, etc., in an opposite schedule to your display tank light (also, why? I cant find a reason). With this box in my DT, it obviously wouldn't have it's own light.

If anyone has done a different method altogether, please let me know! And also, greatly appreciated if you can also post some pics

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Labora · Sep 8, 2020

I'm stuck on refugium ideas as well. I was told a HOB can risk emptying your tank so I'm kind of terrified to do that now.

Probably best to fit one in the back of the AIO, put a mini 10w light over it and be done with it.

I highly doubt it shreds them because nobody would have AIO fuges, HOBs or Sumps if that was the case.

ashiWaza · Sep 18, 2020

Labora said:
I'm stuck on refugium ideas as well. I was told a HOB can risk emptying your tank so I'm kind of terrified to do that now.

Probably best to fit one in the back of the AIO, put a mini 10w light over it and be done with it.

I highly doubt it shreds them because nobody would have AIO fuges, HOBs or Sumps if that was the case.

I eventually ordered a waterbox 'intank' media basket that is designed to hold chaeto, with a removable middle shelf. It's also blacked out to prevent light spill into the DT. However, I'm still concerned about the small volume, so I'm thinking of ordering a HoB refugium today. My only concern there is the extra weight hanging on the back of my tank. Also, after some research, I learned that most HoB refugiums pump water into the refugium, but use an overflow to put water back into the DT, and so there is no risk of the copepods being chewed by the return pump. I've read that they are usually small enough to avoid being shredded, but it's still a possibility.