Refugium

b9ofus · Sep 22, 2013

I've been thinking about setting up a refugium. The extra tank I have is a 35 G. I've read that it is a very good idea. What are the advantages/disadvantages? How much sand should I use (one web site said 6")? What kind of lighting? How long should the lighting be on (same web site said 24 hrs/day)? What macro algae should I get? Kerry

ChrisKey · Sep 22, 2013

Advantages are nitrate removal increased water volume, safe place for pods and small critters to grow. Disadvantage may be extra pump and overflow possibility. If you want the best results get miracle mud but you will be looking at $100+ just for the substrate. Otherwise anywhere from 3-6". I just used a compact fluorescent light in a shop light and keep it on opposite of my tank so it is on for about 14 hours a day. I keep chaeto, Caulerpa Prolifera, red dragons breath, and mangroves in my refugium.

TrishW · Sep 22, 2013

What is your nitrate reading Chris?

ChrisKey · Sep 23, 2013

Between 2 and 3.

pickupman66 · Sep 23, 2013

Chris, dont forget that beast of a clown in there too.. I heard you found her a boyfriend...

ChrisKey · Sep 23, 2013

Haha, yes she is in the fuge, so another advantage is a place to put beast fish that are punks. And yes, she has been doing great with the new male GSM I have put in there so far.

b9ofus · Sep 23, 2013

Chris, thanks for the feedback. Greatly appreciated. Pump I have, basically just need the substrate, everything else is not an issue.

eric.battani · Sep 23, 2013

one thing that was left out is they are great places for extra live rock. I have one and under my frag system loaded with live rock to help with the bio-load. would like to have the mud but right now its not in the budget. also you want a slower flow unlike a sump. you are wanting to create a safe place for the pods, now they are a great place to put ''bully'' fish but usually those fish will chow down on your pods.

b9ofus · Sep 23, 2013

Eric, how do you have your system draining? Is your frag system draining into your refugium? Chris, if I remember correctly, you have your frag draining into you refugium then into your sump?

b9ofus · Sep 23, 2013

Chris, I think I got that backwards. Your refugium draining into your frag then you sump?

eric.battani · Sep 23, 2013

I don't have a sump per say on my frag system. I use an algae scrubber which hangs over my refugium. Water drains from my two frag tanks into a filter sock then goes through my refugium filled with live rock and macro algae then over to the return chamber and back to the frag tanks

eric.battani · Sep 23, 2013

But if you are going to use a sump I would have refugium after sump.

ChrisKey · Sep 24, 2013

I have my return pump feeding a separate refugium then that drains to the frag tank which drains back to the sump.

beaslbob · Sep 24, 2013

eric.battani said:
But if you are going to use a sump I would have refugium after sump.

how is that even possible.

the sump by definition is the lowest container in the system

so how the the sump drain to the higher refugium.

beaslbob · Sep 24, 2013

perhaps the refugium is actually the sump.:wink:

beaslbob · Sep 24, 2013

I know I know

Picky picky picky.

eric.battani · Sep 24, 2013

what I am getting at is if you are running a skimmer I would have it before the refugium that way the skimmer pump does not get macro algae in it or the skimmer skim pods.

Rothgar · Sep 26, 2013

What are you guys using as a cleanup crew for your refugiums?

ChrisKey · Sep 26, 2013

I do have a group of 6 peppermint shrimp (use them to also clean up frags of aiptasia and it works wonderfu), about 20 blue leg hermits, 20 cerinth snails and a turno snail or 2.