Refugiums... where to start?

[TheNowMovement]

Hi all,
I'm a newbie to the community and I have only been in the fish game for about 8 months. I have been looking into research on how to get a good refugium going, and nothing seems to help. Im the type of guy that needs step by step tutorials, so any details that anyone could offer would be awesome. I saw this refugium on bulk reef supply from Aquafuge that is a full on set up... I would be planning on installing it in my sump to avoid light entering the tank at night... Any better suggestions? It seems so confusing at this point!

-Eric

 

[Reef Junky150]

Depends, you can have sand or no sand, rock or no rock. Then you chose what algae/plants you want. Fwiw my fuge has all of the above. It works for me but a lot of people only have cheato in theirs. A good cfl "spiral" bulb and cheap clip on light running opposite of your dt light up to 18hours is a good start in that department.

 

[TheNowMovement]

thats a decent start. But how do you keep it up? when and how do you start to get amphi and copepods? Do they just start to populate your tank, or do you have to physically take them out of the fuge to dose up your tank?

Sorry for all the questions, I just like to have all my bases covered so I can just dive in when Im ready!

 

[Reef Junky150]

I added some to my system from a buddy's established system and they just ride the pipes to the dt. When I pull out cheato when it's growing out of the fuge I take the handful and stick it in my dt in front of a ph to blow out any good stuff before I toss it

 

[erictorres0311]

Depends, you can have sand or no sand, rock or no rock. Then you chose what algae/plants you want. Fwiw my fuge has all of the above. It works for me but a lot of people only have cheato in theirs. A good cfl "spiral" bulb and cheap clip on light running opposite of your dt light up to 18hours is a good start in that department.

Where do you have your return doesn't get clogged up ?

 

[Reef Junky150]

Return is on left with a make shift standpipe. Never clogs. Rocks keep cheato from getting to drain pipe.

 

[erictorres0311]

That's cool should have done that with my wet dry instead of buying a sump lol

 

[Reef Junky150]

That's what this tank was. Someone gave it to me years back found a use for it finally.

 

[TheNowMovement]

Im looking to go for a little more economic approach! I was thinking something like a hang on back refugium that can hang in the sump...I wondered if anyone did that sort of thing... but all info is helpful... maybe one day... lol

 

[erictorres0311]

I have seen the hang on back, work if you have the space for them ....

The one I got from advance acrylic I am limited in space since its a corner tank

 

[Reef Junky150]

I've seen never used one. In theory it should work just fine. If I remember correctly you can get one with s pump lights and all. All you would need is the good stuff for inside

 

[Reefing Madness]

How does a sump work? | Melev's Reef