REFUGIUM YES OR NO ?

[Neilth1]

In my past reef tanks I have used and not used a refugium. I am interested in R2R members thoughts, the pro and cons for running a refugium. If it is better to or not for a certain type of reef tank.

 

[JPergamo]

I have always felt like my tanks are healthier overall when I have a fuge growing macros. In the process of building a remote external fuge in the next few weeks.

 

[Leo58]

A refugium make my life easier. I was able to save my Mandarin and avoid going through the many nasty stages of reeftank cycle such as diatoms and hair algae stage because of my refugium.

 

[theMeat]

Refugium

 

[Neilth1]

A refugium make my life easier. I was able to save my Mandarin and avoid going through the many nasty stages of reeftank cycle such as diatoms and hair algae stage because of my refugium.

what algae do you have

 

[Leo58]

what algae do you have

I have dragon breath, dragon tongue, botriocladia,gracilaria hayi, red fern, two other red algae that I don't remember the names, shaving brush, halimeda plants, two types of caulerpa and chaeto.

 

[Hemmdog]

I have dragon breath, dragon tongue, botriocladia,gracilaria hayi, red fern, two other red algae that I don't remember the names, shaving brush, halimeda plants, two types of caulerpa and chaeto.

Leo knows how to party

 

[RELLIK-REEF]

As an option I say yes anytime possible. I even run 55gal on our 170gal fish only, We are building an 85gal sump with 50 dedicated for mud and cheato for our reef.

 

[Neilth1]

I just tried dragons tongue it didn't do good so I took it, out but I have always had good luck with chaeto

 

[Neilth1]

 

[Leo58]

If you want nutrients export sticks with caulerpa or chaeto. The other types are for fun just like you said party on

 

[Jvesche20]

Yes use it. I had a tank without and my tank suffered from hair algae for the longest time. Made a refugium and fixed my problem. Don’t see any more hair algae in the DT. It all grows in my refugium

 

[Musovski]

Well depends. i wouldnt add macroalgae to a new tank. id wait before adding a fuge.

 

[RELLIK-REEF]

I always start with a refugium with a 4inches of miracle mud. Have always had luck going this route, and I've helped set up hundreds of tanks now.

 

[Leo58]

Actually I beg to differ, as soon as the tank has cycle properly get the chaeto and put it in the refugium by then there should be nitrate and phosphate in the tank to grow it. If the chaeto die wait a week and try again. Do not turn the lights on the main tank and any algae problems will be relegated to the refugium only which can be easily dealt with. Once the chaeto threatened to take over your refugium, you can buy some decorative macros for your main tank and turn the lights on but be sure to have enough macros to out compete the nuisance algae and then slowly replace the macros with corals. If you don't have enough macros some nuisance algae will be there but the chaeto in your refugium should take care of it eventually.

 

[Musovski]

Actually I beg to differ, as soon as the tank has cycle properly get the chaeto and put it in the refugium by then there should be nitrate and phosphate in the tank to grow it. If the chaeto die wait a week and try again. Do not turn the lights on the main tank and any algae problems will be relegated to the refugium only which can be easily dealt with. Once the chaeto threatened to take over your refugium, you can buy some decorative macros for your main tank and turn the lights on but be sure to have enough macros to out compete the nuisance algae and then slowly replace the macros with corals. If you don't have enough macros some nuisance algae will be there but the chaeto in your refugium should take care of it eventually.

reason it dies is because the tank parameters arent stable. yes there is nitrates but if stability isnt there, there will be loss. Also other life forms need to develop to gain decent chaeto growth. Nitrate and phos arent the only thing needed to maintain chaeto.

 

[Musovski]

A little portion taken from @Rakie which was researched.

What does Macro algae need? -- On top of nutrients, it is wholly dependent upon metals, and other important trace elements. The metabolic processes within macro algae, like all life forms, are reliant upon trace elements. As time has gone on, I have seen more and more people have issues with chaeto because they aren't taking care of it. Nutrients alone, are not enough. Lighting alone, is not enough. The trace is critically important for chaeto, and all corals in your tank.

im not going to comment further on this. Nor will i respond to the replies i get because i do not want to talk on this topic after this post. Macroalgae is like a political thing people get heated on but dont understand that they can be quite difficult.

 

[Leo58]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you since there is nothing in the tank except rocks and sand so once the tank is properly cycle pH and alkalinity should stabilize by then. Using chaeto in reeftank is like using duckweed in freshwater planted tank to start a planted aquarium. This is a try and true method in planted aquarium and I have done it with my own reef tanks twice with the same success. Chaeto are very tough even when you think they die, they make a surprise come back on you. Do not let the chaeto get into your main tank or you might not be able to get rid of them.

 

[Nokiaec11]

Refugium is good for helping reduce the water change requirements...without one, those excess nutrients will just recirculate back to the tank, and you have to stick with a set water change schedule, or unwanted stuff will start growing

 

[jtl]

I have always had a fuge.