Why isn't everyone using a refugium?

[jbholasingh]

After adding a refugium to my system I was a reduction in nitrate from 25ppm to 1ppm in 1 week. Why even bother with other export methods?

 

[LgTas]

Seems to work better for some than others.

I have three tanks, no mechanical filtration (filter socks, rollers, skimmers etc.) in any of them just refugium. Works for me.

 

[blaxsun]

Some of us aren't a fan of the maintenance.

 

[Spare time]

There is an idea in the hobby that, when setting up filtration, a skimmer is always the number 1 priority, and then add a refugium if you have the room. I believe this is horrible advice, and that the hobby needs to reconsider skimmers as a tool for specific jobs rather than a universal tool. Refugiums are better as the universal tool.

 

[Spare time]

Some of us aren't a fan of the maintenance.

You mean tearing a piece out every week or other week and selling it for cash or throwing it away? I am not sure what maintenance I am doing for my refugium, but its less than having to drain and clean a skimmer.

 

[vetteguy53081]

After adding a refugium to my system I was a reduction in nitrate from 25ppm to 1ppm in 1 week. Why even bother with other export methods?

Some use AIO tans and others like myself have other components in lieu of fuge or some faced with no space or desire.
Mine has rock in first section, scrubber and UV in next section, skimmer in 3rd section and then to return pump

 

[Dan_P]

After adding a refugium to my system I was a reduction in nitrate from 25ppm to 1ppm in 1 week. Why even bother with other export methods?

What algae are you growing?

 

[fishmonkey]

Does anyone have to dose the trace elements and nutrients refugiums end up using?

 

[jbholasingh]

What algae are you growing?

Chaetomorpha. Its the very thin variety. I think these massive results are because I use a very powerful hydroponics grow light (rated for 3x3 ft veg coverage). Had a smaller light for a month which did nothing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are lots of roads to Rome, and lots of people along those roads saying “this is the best way to get there”. lol

 

[Auquanut]

I am very happy with my fuge, but some folks have a hard time keeping a detectible level of nutrients. For them, a fuge would be bad news. All tanks are different, and while I never have been able to find my way to Rome, I gotta agree with @Randy Holmes-Farley.

 

[LgTas]

You mean tearing a piece out every week or other week and selling it for cash or throwing it away? I am not sure what maintenance I am doing for my refugium, but its less than having to drain and clean a skimmer.

I agree! I only look at my refugium when the macro needs to harvested. Much easier than when I used to have to wash filter socks every 3 to 4 days or purchase expensive rollers. I've never used a skimmer and have never seen any indication that I need to in any of my Mixed LPS SPS, Seahorse Softy, or Mixed Nem tanks.

 

[Dan_P]

Does anyone have to dose the trace elements and nutrients refugiums end up using?

A daily dose of ChaetoGro once per week keeps my Ulva going strong. This also seems to have caused my coralline to grow.

 

[EugeneVan]

After adding a refugium to my system I was a reduction in nitrate from 25ppm to 1ppm in 1 week. Why even bother with other export methods?

Same here. I have a 4 inches of harlequin tuskfish, power blue and power brown and 10 small fish. I feed them twice a day and they all eat like pig and I can still manage to get N03 around 7 and PO4 around 0.07. Beside the oversize skimmer, I think the chaeto in the refugium are the working horse.

 

[blaxsun]

There are lots of roads to Rome, and lots of people along those roads saying “this is the best way to get there”. lol

And also plenty of people holding up these signs:

 

[DE FISH]

Got no sump that’s why

 

[moz71]

I think size of fuge of capable having is also a factor. My fuge when going just can’t keep up and wouldn’t even sent nitrates. But I just liked it. I would also have to dose iron and likes keep it growing. Which in fact feeds the GHA. So I am seriously thinking of giving up on it and just sticking with other ways to Rome.

 

[DannoOMG]

I tried 3 times to put a refugium in my tank and forcing to go in a certain spot but it just won't work. Melts every time. Not enough flow over the chaeto to make it work. I'd love to have it just for pods.

¯\_(° ͜ʖ °)_/¯

 

[WhiskyTango]

Refugia takes place in the recesses of our rock. Growing algae in a sump is just algae scrubbing, so pretty much everyone has a refugium in their tanks.

 

[Little c big D]

Laziness