Refugium

[Jagg]

Hi can anyone offer any advice for a new 1800 gallon set up. My very first set up was a deep sand bed in the main tank and slotted plastic trays. I last used Tunze 18 yrs ago (still have the gear) and various DIY sumps with ceramic and bio balls. Things have moved on - for one we now have internet and a much wider source of more easily available info! WOW. maybe too much sometimes.

This time I’m all about nature and creating an entirely self sufficient ecosystem ..... and I am all for minimising husbandry and water changes. Been watching all the help BRS utubes but I would like to get into the nitty gritty stuff for my own specific needs. Also interested in views about mixing natural refugium with say and fluidised sand filter?

 

[Ron Reefman]

An 1800 gallon system! Really? And a self sufficient system is a dream. If you aren't prepared to do the work to maintain the system, you are wasting your time. But if you mean a system that relies more on natural systems than fancy hardware... that can be done.

I'm all for not using the high tech approach. My tank is basically the tank (90g 36"x30"x20"), a good led light fixture, a small sump, a fuge with chaeto, a skimmer and filter socks. No carbon, no GFO, no phosphate reactor, no apex.

 

[Jagg]

Of course. What I’m trying to ascertain is the size of the cheato tank for an 1800 system. I’m after a large enough tank that will give me sufficient reserve and not require harvesting on too frequent a basis, say as a minimum 4 week capacity in case I’m away. I appreciate it will vary but it ought to be capable of being worked out in some fashion. As an example what is the size of your cheato tank and how frequently are you harvesting it? How heavily populated is your aquarium? Thanks