Remote Display Refugium Build

[RandoReefer]

I've been running my 125g Reef for about 2yrs and haven't had a refugium. With strict feeding policies, solid water change schedules, GFO , and vinegar, I've managed to keep my nitrates and phosphates at SPS -tank low levels. Then I started adding more and more coral and a few dream livestock and quickly realized the benefits that would come with a refugium.....the planning began.

If I was going to build a refugium, it wasn't going to be something hidden under the display. Rather, I would want to show off the intricacies of a whole different type of marine ecosystem. The idea for my "Display Refugium " was born.

 

[RandoReefer]

Location.... Location... Location???

Several nights while viewing my tank I would look around the room and try to figure out where the heck to put a refugium. I talked it over with the wife and she made it clear that no furniture would be moved for this build.

So the only logical choice was to build it on the other side of the retainer wall. Duh.

 

[RandoReefer]

I had a 20g Long sitting down in the basement that was begging to be put into use. So I obliged and got to drilling. I was a bit apprehensive because I had not drilled a tank before, but after some Bulk Reef Supply tutorial videos and some encouragement from my reefing friends, I took the plunge.





Lit with a 2-bulb T5 to get a feel for the look. Painted the back black.

 

[RandoReefer]

Weeks later....Finally we are plumbing!

Fast forward two or three weeks...... The tank is sitting there, empty, and waiting to be plumbed. Finally, I couldn't take my friend's mockery any longer so I made a trip to the big city LFSto pick up some loc-line and some bulkheads with strainers. Once I got them on and fitted, the project zoomed into overdrive!



First things first.... Dry run fitting of the plumbing.




And to clean things up.... A coat of Black Krylon Fusion!

 

[RandoReefer]

Plumbing and Rewiring

I think the most nervous I was throughout the entire build was when I had to cut through the wall. I measured out a big enough square that would allow the plumbing through the wall and allow my Apex wiring harness to come through.

The results.....



Until that point, my entire Apex control was housed inside my DT stand. I knew I was rolling the dice with keeping it under there with the humidity and possible leakage, so it was a bonus that I could move the Apex to a more safe and dry location. The only problem was...... Re-wiring and organizing two EnergyBar-8s worth of cords took almost 6-hours to complete!!

Before cord management zip-tying. (I don't have an after-shot of the anal retentive cord management job, but all of this is nice and neat now!)

 

[RandoReefer]

Water test!!!

And with that..... The Fuge was wet!





The moment of truth.... Power down, sump water level test.... PHEW THAT's Close!

 

[RandoReefer]

Light Bar Build...and Mangroves

I've always loved the look of the heatsink that comes with a giant PAR38 bulb. So in my mind, I knew I wanted to use those instead of an EbayLED box or 6500K CFL bulbs.

I decided to use PVC for the light bar since it was MUCH cheaper than the conduit I had planned for.









And of course.... it had to be black to keep with the "sleekness".

 

[RandoReefer]

Had to jump on a cheap Mangrove deal too....

 

[RandoReefer]

AND the bulbs finally came in!

I finally got the PAR38 bulbs I ordered. Wasn't very pleased with the advertising, product packing and lack of information/customer service from Tmart.com but that's a different story.

VOILA!









Goodnight Reef....Good Morning Fuge!

 

[RandoReefer]

Slightly Aquascaped.......

I have a few Macro-Algae on my wish list.

-Blue Scroll Algae
-Dragon's Tongue
-Dragon's Breath
-Portieria
-Bryothamnion
-Blue hypnea / ochtodes
-Codium Lucasii (Just got a little of this from a friend!)

Tank was cloudy from moving stuff around.



Here is a pic with the water clear. I did get a couple pieces of Codium algae from a fellow reefer.

 

[RandoReefer]

Baby Macros....

-Dragon's Tongue Halymenia



-Dragon's Breath Halymenia


-Portieria hornemannii


-Bryothamnion Sp.

 

[lumbeejerk]

Dang that's nice been lookin at doin the same

 

[RandoReefer]

Up To Speed...

So, again, fast forward to September 2014...

I lost both Halymenia(s), Codium, and Blue Scroll algae. I chalk it up to a sort of "new tank syndrome" and lack of nutrients. I quickly discovered that by simply adding a few more gallons, some bulbs, and macro algae does not guarantee that it will take off and thrive as a refugium. :tongue:

Yet, after a few months of being up and running, I'm finally seeing a shift of nutrient export from the main display over to the fuge. As much as I didn't want it, a big ball of chaetomorpha may have been the kick starter for the nutrient shift. Soon, I will take the ball of chaeto out and replace it with the Halymenia(s) and other sexy macros that I once had.

In the mean time.... SEAHORSES!

**Note: Video compression from iPhone to the web really drags down the quality....but you get the gist. :smile:
VIDEO: Hippocampus erectus


VIDEO: Full shot of the entire system.

 

[RandoReefer]

Still working on this... Got a little side tracked.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/me...ved-order-grow-another-colony-tank-build.html

 

[RandoReefer]

Ok, an overdue update has arrived. There hasn't been much change in the last month or so.

I timed my macro algae additions wrong and all but two melted into oblivion. During the maturing stages of the fuge, the nutrient growing environment hadn't shifted from the DT to the new refugium. My excitement to have display macro algae led to me adding them too quickly and they couldn't survive.

After losing them, I didn't add anything new for quite some time except for a unappealing ball of Cheato (I despise the stuff despite its benefits). This allowed a nasty bout of Cyano to take over. The macros that did survive, as well as the Chaeto, stayed covered in the slimy/snotty mess.

Last week's water-change was focused on cleaning out the fuge and it seems I've gotten a foothold on ridding the nuisance algae. I've opened the return ball valve full bore in order to get some more flow in there. I may add a soft power head as well, as long as the horses can handle the flow.

I'm on the prowl for something I can faction into a seahorse feeder. Although they avidly chase down brine and mysis, I would like to make it a bit easier for them.

Anyway, here are some pictures! [emoji16][emoji4]

 

[RandoReefer]

Update time!

Finally got around to making a solid macro order. Thanks to FinzAquatics for a wonderful pack and great shipping/communication!

These are wonderful macros! I'm very excited. (As you can see, I'm a sucker for reds!) [emoji6]

 

[FinzAquatics]

Looks awesome. I cant wait for my seahorse upgrade to be complete. Still moving everything from the 40 over to the 75gallon... Hoping to have seahorses in there next week!

 

[RandoReefer]

Looks awesome. I cant wait for my seahorse upgrade to be complete. Still moving everything from the 40 over to the 75gallon... Hoping to have seahorses in there next week!

Thanks! 75gal will be a HUGE tank for seahorses! You'll be able to fit hundreds..

 

[RandoReefer]

This little guy just had to come home yesterday. Hopefully he starts pecking at aptasia, but if not I'll be happy with him either way!

 

[FinzAquatics]

Thanks! 75gal will be a HUGE tank for seahorses! You'll be able to fit hundreds..

I plan on just keeping my 8 lol