Refugium vs Skimmer
- Thread starter KnightlyBuzz
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mdb_talon
2500 Club Member
If it is one or the other I would say skimmer for sure. It helps remove organics before they break down into nitrates/etc. However it does not in itself remove nitrates once they are in the tank. A refugium on the other hand can reduce nitrates, but is also a great place for pods, etc to flourish which is also a good thing.
Weasel1960
Valuable Member
Currently planning my build. Due to space constraints my sump will be on the small side so planning on skimmer and refugium. Also considering other macro algae in main display as part of the display.
AdamB
Valuable Member
Both now . Only had oversized skimmer in first tank but second tank I run both . It was a little tricky at first with tank at 0 nitrates but now I have added 8 fish in an 80 gallon rimless mixed reef with a good pod population in refugium.
Tastee
Valuable Member
Currently Skimmer only in both my tanks (65g & 130g). The 130g has a ‘fuge section so as it matures (1 year old now) I may add one. At the moment I am more interested in raising NO3 and PO4 than lowering it as my corals are consuming most of what I produce. As I increase the fish load in the 130g that may change.
Brady4000
I just wanted a Mantis Shrimp.
Ran a skimmer in my Biocube 32 for a bit, nitrates were out of control due to my over feeding. Yolo.
Put a Refug on the back, now I have 0 nitrates, and I can overfeed all I want, so I took off skimmer. Plus I couldn’t get the micro bubbles under control. I also run filter floss and chemi pure.
Crazy I am the only vote for Refug, out of 43... I must have missed the memo lol
Put a Refug on the back, now I have 0 nitrates, and I can overfeed all I want, so I took off skimmer. Plus I couldn’t get the micro bubbles under control. I also run filter floss and chemi pure.
Crazy I am the only vote for Refug, out of 43... I must have missed the memo lol
ReefBeta
Valuable Member
It's all about space. If you have enough space, both is no brainer. But unless you have a big sump under a big tank, space is usually the limiting factor. In that case, get a suitable skimmer first. If there are enough space left, then do a refugium. Don't waste effort in tiny refugium.
That is the planning order. The execution order is reverse. After cycle is done, turn on your fuge light first. Skimmer can wait. Run the refugium for a month or longer before turning on your main light is the best way to avoid or reduce ugly phase.
That is the planning order. The execution order is reverse. After cycle is done, turn on your fuge light first. Skimmer can wait. Run the refugium for a month or longer before turning on your main light is the best way to avoid or reduce ugly phase.
ReefBeta
Valuable Member
Nano tank is probably the only case where skimmer is useless. It's just that small skimmer performs bad, especially those with body smaller than 4".
ReefBeta
Valuable Member
Lol I think that is one of those things that h won't put in my tank even you pay me to.
xxkenny90xx
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Incorrect......
ReefBeta
Valuable Member
Incorrect......
Have you used that? I used a Tunze 9001 for couple years, never perform too well. It's working to some extend, but far far behind what a 4" skimmer can do. Also it's so sensitive in tuning it's actually annoying to tune it in. At the end it really didn't feel worth keeping. This one you post I can't imagine it will work better than the Tunze one.
Belgian Anthias
Valuable Member
A " refugium" is an algae filter? A refugium can be used for many things, for example for a combination of a remineralization filter or and an algae filter, for keeping animals that can not be combined with a reef or and each other etc...
A sump is a refugium.
A refugium and an algae filter have not the same purpose. A refugium is used to isolate its content from the main display using the same system water.
A skimmer creates an unbalance in the availability of inorganic nutrients and may be considered one of the main reasons for nitrate and phosphate to build up a reserve as those inorganics are left behind. A skimmer removes +- 30% of DOC and very selective, hydrophobic or hydrophilic, polar or apolar compounds?
A growth-based algae filter can remove phosphate and or nitrate only if all other essentials are sufficiently available. if that would be the case, why nitrate and or phosphate may build up in a well-lit LNS, a system with a very low bio-load?
If a growth based filter is used, why using a skimmer? An algae filter will not correct the unbalance created by the skimmer. A combination of effective remineralization and a good algae filter will keep DOC low and inorganic nutrient availability low and in balance.
Combining a skimmer and an algae filter? Restoring the nutrient balance can be done using AAM, active algae management. In this case, the desired growth capacity is installed and maintained. The filter is conditioned to support the bioload. For example: If the daily nitrogen overproduction is estimated to be 50mg NO3-N, a minimal growth capacity of 50mg N daily is installed and maintained. The growth capacity can be managed as desired.
A sump is a refugium.
A refugium and an algae filter have not the same purpose. A refugium is used to isolate its content from the main display using the same system water.
A skimmer creates an unbalance in the availability of inorganic nutrients and may be considered one of the main reasons for nitrate and phosphate to build up a reserve as those inorganics are left behind. A skimmer removes +- 30% of DOC and very selective, hydrophobic or hydrophilic, polar or apolar compounds?
A growth-based algae filter can remove phosphate and or nitrate only if all other essentials are sufficiently available. if that would be the case, why nitrate and or phosphate may build up in a well-lit LNS, a system with a very low bio-load?
If a growth based filter is used, why using a skimmer? An algae filter will not correct the unbalance created by the skimmer. A combination of effective remineralization and a good algae filter will keep DOC low and inorganic nutrient availability low and in balance.
Combining a skimmer and an algae filter? Restoring the nutrient balance can be done using AAM, active algae management. In this case, the desired growth capacity is installed and maintained. The filter is conditioned to support the bioload. For example: If the daily nitrogen overproduction is estimated to be 50mg NO3-N, a minimal growth capacity of 50mg N daily is installed and maintained. The growth capacity can be managed as desired.
Laith
Well-Known Member
