To refugium or not?

[TJFitz1980]

i have a 40B gal FOWLR only. I have an eshopps 100 hob skimmer and 3 aquaclear 70s for the tank. I am considering taking one of them and making them a refugium.

In doing so I am thinking live rock rubble and cheato. Is that wise?

Know of a small inexpensive light I could use for it? This will be hob so I don't really want a chrome looking shade like you find at a hardware store. Anyone know of a smaller gooseneck setup with a good bulb? Any info would be great. Thank you

 

[cloak]

What are your parameters? Do you have any specialized feeders in the tank like a Mandarin? Unless Copepods are a must or your having problems with Nitrates and Phosphates I wouldn't set up a refugium, especially one that small. Chaeto needs quite a bit of room to grow to really be effective too IME.

 

[TJFitz1980]

My numbers seems to be good. Nitrates were at the most 20. Phosphates low but present. I don't have any specialized feeders.

I was think to set one up to help prevent any future issues.

Seems like it would be more trouble that worth to set one up huh.

 

[cloak]

That's kind of what I was thinking as well. A Nitrate reading of 20 is not that bad either, especially in a FOWLR tank.

 

[lion king]

A small refugium usually doesn't seem to be that efective. I was thinking of doing one like you are thinking on my angler tank. An ac hob with just chaeto, I have plenty of lr in the display, I don't think any additional lr would be necessary. I was going to do it for fun more than necessity. I enjoy running the refugium I have set up in my 125g. This is the light I was looking at, https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-FugeRay-Aquarium-Moonlights-Cliplight/dp/B00LIL7YPE

 

[Ayang90]

I have had a lot of good success with this Reef Radiance led light. However, I needed a little extra help with removing nitrates as I have a mixed reef with a 70g display and a 30g sump. I have the light on 24x7 in the sump and my macro algae grows like gangbusters. The light with the gooseneck is a bit pricy but I have been very happy with it. Good luck.

 

[TJFitz1980]

I'm torn really. Part of me wants to do it for fun. But would it be more beneficial just to use it as a 3rd filter.

 

[lion king]

I ran an eshopps hob 75 with a single ac70 with a very heavy bioload including a jeweled moray eel and my levels with minimum. I ran some seachem matrix and a bag of chemipure blue in the filter and 40 lbs of live rock in the tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Part of me wants to do it for fun.

if its fun, just do it. experiments are cool. you may see benefits you didn't realize or itll just be cool.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I've been in the hobby for 20 years (8 in reefkeeping) and just setup my first tank with a refugium. Therefore, I can attest the benefits are too good to pass up!
First of all, after 8 weeks of setting up the tank my dry rocks is still pretty white - i want some color but at least i'll get coralline to cover it eventually! I had some diatom once the tank cycle was done but now the chaeto is consuming all the nutrients and the tank is just clean! Past tanks I'd have to clean the glass every 2 days without fail! Now I can go 7 days without cleaning the glass! Overall, I think growing macroalgae in a refugium is the best way to manage nutrients naturally. If I overfeed my fish - I grow more algae. More importantly I have less chance of having an outbreak with dreaded algae such as Dino's - (knock on wood)..

Now I know why Julian is Refugiums biggest fan!

 

[reefguy565]

i have a question for all you experienced guys.. if i setup a refugium with chaeto and it starts at the size of a grapefruit for example and after 2 weeks it is 3 times that size how much do you remove? wont there be a problem if your tank has a basketball size chaeto and you remove it to the size of a softball? won't that mess up your parameters?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

i have a question for all you experienced guys.. if i setup a refugium with chaeto and it starts at the size of a grapefruit for example and after 2 weeks it is 3 times that size how much do you remove? wont there be a problem if your tank has a basketball size chaeto and you remove it to the size of a softball? won't that mess up your parameters?

It balances out. its such a small reduction most dont notice. So its not a super exacting science IMO.
On chato, I judge trim by how much flow and light the plant is getting. Clogged up chato wont grow well.

 

[reefguy565]

It balances out. its such a small reduction most dont notice. So its not a super exacting science IMO.
On chato, I judge trim by how much flow and light the plant is getting. Clogged up chato wont grow well.

thank Salty, will i get same results with a santa monica type of algae scrubber ?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

thank Salty, will i get same results with a santa monica type of algae scrubber ?

Yes. They are or can be a bit more aggressive on nutrient reduction depending on the size of the unit, lighting and flow.
I prefer refugiums as they are more passive as far as hardware needs, and with good bugs and diverse macros, Infinitely more interesting.

 

[beaslbob]

To me a refugium full of macro algae is one of the best things for any saltwater tank. It will balance out and stabilize operation by consuming ammonia first then nitrates.

FWIW refugiums do not have to be external systems. You can simply partition the tank with 1/4" grid egg crate so you have a small protected macro section and the larger livestock section. And just add side lights to keep the macros growing.

my .02

 

[Ashish Patel]

This is my refugium with very passive flow. After a few weeks the entire compartment was full as I run 24-7 light. Nusiance algae don't stand a chance and my PH stays at 8.2-8.3. I remove over 50% yesterday because I was getting a foul odor and added some Pods so rather not have to prune it for at least 1 mouth. I added some flow via return to help with the smell and this is definitely helping.

I've never used GFO or reactors and rather not add something that could strip too much nutrients. I have had long term success using a bag a chemi blue in the sump. I feel this always keeps my nitrates at 5-10 and phosphates low - Any additional means of nutrient export would be deadly. If nutrients are unmanageable your better off trying to manage them naturally.

 

[Gustavo Martinez]

Does anyone put live sand, rock rubble or miracle mud in their refugium?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Does anyone put live sand, rock rubble or miracle mud in their refugium?

I do yes. I generally avoid too much rubble as it traps detritus. It is handy to have though.
I have a dsb with live rock and macros.

 

[Gustavo Martinez]

Ok thanks....

What is dsb?

Do you have any live rock in the Fuge at all?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ok thanks....

What is dsb?

Do you have any live rock in the Fuge at all?

Deep sand bed.
And yes quite a bit in the fuge.. but larger pieces. From time to time I find the need to clean it out so large ones dont trap funky stuff.