Refugium yes or no

[Mark Gray]

I put a fuge in a little over a year ago, best thing I did. But they need good light cause they are sort of competing with your DT

 

[Jason aguila]

Are you doing a build journal for it, I'd be interested to follow it!?

No I did t start one yet but I definitely will

 

[Jason aguila]

this was my first sketch but after cutting some cardboard I reaised my scale was way off. my refugium chamber would of only been 4" but 17" wide

 

[Pntbll687]

do you have any photos of how your running yours?

I'll try and get some pics in a little bit for ya.

It's very simple. Socks are mounted into the same chamber as chaeto, then next chamber is rock rubble and skimmer, then return pumps.

I often run it without socks. I mainly use socks when I want to clean off the rocks of detritus.

 

[BoomCorals]

what would be your reasoning behind that? I'm not aposed to it. just would like to know.

With natural nutrient export methods such as ATS or fuge, you can never really get too low on nutrients. With things like nopox or GFO you can.

 

[Pntbll687]

With natural nutrient export methods such as ATS or fuge, you can never really get too low on nutrients. With things like nopox or GFO you can.

I'll second this!

I had been running gfo before the fuge to try and lower nutrients. Well I did, and stripped everything out and nearly crashed the system.

With the fuge I get a reading in the single digits on nitrates every once in a while. After growth really started, I rarely test. I just check salinity once a week to make sure it's in line.

 

[NS Mike D]

you can run carbon and gfo in the same media reactor, you should only run gfo if you need to lower your phosphates and that can only be answered after the tank is up and running and the water tested. I view carbon as an an insurance policy for when (not if) a coral gets mad or dies and starts a toxin war or something else gets in the water and needs to be removed quickly. While carbon isn't essential, I would not have a tank without it running for peace of mind. It also helps the water stay clear - a plus for ensuring proper lighting reaching corals

you can start with carbon in the reactor and then, if still needed, add gfo. easier to do than trying find space for a reactor after everything has been set up.

 

[Pntbll687]

That's how mine is set up.

It's about time to trim the chaeto

 

[Jason aguila]

you can run carbon and gfo in the same media reactor, you should only run gfo if you need to lower your phosphates and that can only be answered after the tank is up and running and the water tested. I view carbon as an an insurance policy for when (not if) a coral gets mad or dies and starts a toxin war or something else gets in the water and needs to be removed quickly. While carbon isn't essential, I would not have a tank without it running for peace of mind. It also helps the water stay clear - a plus for ensuring proper lighting reaching corals

you can start with carbon in the reactor and then, if still needed, add gfo. easier to do than trying find space for a reactor after everything has been set up.

thanks for the feed back. I couldn' agree more.

 

[Chef Tommy]

No I did t start one yet but I definitely will

I second the build journal [emoji4]

Btw, I actually do not run socks, the photo was taken during a cleaning of tank to catch debris. All the stuff just settled into refugium and breaks down there. The algae does its thing and then water flows to skimmer then return. I have the manifold feeding the display refugium and a reactor with carbon.

 

[Jason aguila]

I second the build journal [emoji4]

Btw, I actually do not run socks, the photo was taken during a cleaning of tank to catch debris. All the stuff just settled into refugium and breaks down there. The algae does its thing and then water flows to skimmer then return. I have the manifold feeding the display refugium and a reactor with carbon.

I'll make sure I document everyhing an get that jounal together. I'm actually pretty new to the forms idk why it took me so long (I been reefing for over 9 yrs) I'll have to take a look an see how people are piecing them together.

 

[Jason aguila]

this is what I came up with. still trying to decide where I want to add the skimmer. the first baffle will be cut down this is just a rough cardbard cut. Any thoughts ?

 

[Mark Gray]

I run my skimmers after my Fuge

 

[Jason aguila]

after looking at my sump for the last 20 min. I have another idea. going to cut some cardboard. an post pics.

 

[najer]

Skimmer before fuge here.

 

[Jason aguila]

in my main system I have a separate 20gal long for a refugium. so trying to cram it in one is driving me up the wall. I know it' all preference.

 

[Jason aguila]

I second the build journal [emoji4]

is there a special section that I add a build journal? I ready to start one. thanks

 

[Rakie]

I removed mine, it was too efficient for my previous bioload. But now, it might work fine -- which means 'it depends' is the correct answer.

 

[Mark Gray]

I removed mine, it was too efficient for my previous bioload. But now, it might work fine -- which means 'it depends' is the correct answer.

Yeah that can be a problem but i like to feed a lot my grandson was over today so we feed 3 times while he was here

 

[Jason aguila]

Yeah that can be a problem but i like to feed a lot my grandson was over today so we feed 3 times while he was here

I will only have a few fish in this system as it' going to be a true frag system. a tang an a blenny if needed. but I do plan on feeding my frags a lot