Been thinking about my new build... trying to decide if a refugium is needed. It seems like if you use enough media reactors, one can avoid the need for a refugium. What do you guys think? I guess one advantage to a refugium is that it cost less than buying media. I've never had a refugium, is there additional maintenance that's important to consider? Are there key advantages of a refugium that can't be replicated by a media reactor?
are refugiums outdated?
- Thread starter jbdreefs
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<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I have one because everything I read said you needed one. Some use center return and a spray bar to promote flow in the fuge side and some to center fuge. With mine it appears that most of the flow just goes across the top and does not churn the water as is needed for cheato to grow. I use grape algae and it grows super fast. </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">The theory is algae is going to grow somewhere, so why not promote or give it a place to grow. This will reduce the chance of it growing in the DT. I have a 100w CFL 6500k bulb. They only sell 5000k at HD. the light comes on at 11:30pm and goes off at 9:30am. it is said to run the fuge light when you DT lights are off so keep the parms semi level.</span></span>
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<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">The theory is algae is going to grow somewhere, so why not promote or give it a place to grow. This will reduce the chance of it growing in the DT. I have a 100w CFL 6500k bulb. They only sell 5000k at HD. the light comes on at 11:30pm and goes off at 9:30am. it is said to run the fuge light when you DT lights are off so keep the parms semi level.</span></span>
eagle9252;786987 wrote: <span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I have one because everything I read said you needed one. Some use center return and a spray bar to promote flow in the fuge side and some to center fuge. With mine it appears that most of the flow just goes across the top and does not churn the water as is needed for cheato to grow. I use grape algae and it grows super fast. </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">The theory is algae is going to grow somewhere, so why not promote or give it a place to grow. This will reduce the chance of it growing in the DT. I have a 100w CFL 6500k bulb. They only sell 5000k at HD. the light comes on at 11:30pm and goes off at 9:30am. it is said to run the fuge light when you DT lights are off so keep the parms semi level.</span></span>
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Can you verify 100W CFL?
That's like a 400W MH equivalent...
Thanks for the feedback, I'm curious to know what some others think too. Do you refugium guys run media reactors (gfo, etc)
I'm going to start a list of pro's and con's:
Pro's:
-Excellent (and proven method) or nutrient exporting
-Environment for pod community
-Stabilize parameters through the use of alternating light schedules and increased water volume
-No (or little?) need for media reactors
Con's:
-space
-additional maintenence
-more electonics (lights, etc.)
I'm going to start a list of pro's and con's:
Pro's:
-Excellent (and proven method) or nutrient exporting
-Environment for pod community
-Stabilize parameters through the use of alternating light schedules and increased water volume
-No (or little?) need for media reactors
Con's:
-space
-additional maintenence
-more electonics (lights, etc.)
A refugium's purpose is to provide a safe place (refuge) for organisms that normally get eaten (such as isopods and copepods).
A sump provides a convenient place to locate equipment, like reactors, skimmers, etc.
Sometimes these are combined into one structure/container, with sections for each purpose.
I just wanted to clarify.
A sump provides a convenient place to locate equipment, like reactors, skimmers, etc.
Sometimes these are combined into one structure/container, with sections for each purpose.
I just wanted to clarify.
i also run 2 reactors. one has carbon and the other is phosban i think.
Edit:
i dont understand... please explain.
if you have a sock then you should not hae detrius build up. why would it fuel nutrients. as stated its a save place with less flow under the surface tention for pods. or am i missing something?
Edit:
i dont understand... please explain.
if you have a sock then you should not hae detrius build up. why would it fuel nutrients. as stated its a save place with less flow under the surface tention for pods. or am i missing something?
Detritus is comprised of many things and a major component is dead bacteria.
Filter socks don't prevent bacteria, and any healthy system will contain them as well.
If you have little or slow detritus build up, it tells me you likely have an excellent skimmer and may be carbon dosing.
There are also bacteria products (additives) which are selected to consume that detritus.
Filter socks don't prevent bacteria, and any healthy system will contain them as well.
If you have little or slow detritus build up, it tells me you likely have an excellent skimmer and may be carbon dosing.
There are also bacteria products (additives) which are selected to consume that detritus.
my sump is a 4 chamber system with return in the center, main intake line drops into smaller chamber NO Sock, runs into skimmer section then return section, on other end is a fuge that has 3" bed of sand and 20lbs or so of rubble. I discontinued cheato or any other type of algae years ago. the fuge is a great place for pods and the way I have the line Tee'd off coming from the main display the majority of detrius runs thru the skimmer
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i dont think they are outdated, but I've ALWAYS questioned their validity and never gone to the trouble of setting one up.
IMO they COULD BE VERY effective, but they would need to be SUBSTANTIALLY larger than most ppl set up.. for instance... a 120g display with a 120g tank underneath filled w cheato would prolly do the trick, but a softball size chunk... mehhhh.. whatever.
B
IMO they COULD BE VERY effective, but they would need to be SUBSTANTIALLY larger than most ppl set up.. for instance... a 120g display with a 120g tank underneath filled w cheato would prolly do the trick, but a softball size chunk... mehhhh.. whatever.
B
yellowreef
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This might help a bit??
It goes over everything. Including the detritus issues.
<div class="gc_ifarem_title">How To Setup A Sump Refugium - YouTube</div>
It goes over everything. Including the detritus issues.
<div class="gc_ifarem_title">How To Setup A Sump Refugium - YouTube</div>
i dont think they are outdated either.some of the most respected reefers in this club still run them.who actually dates this stuff,if it worked 2 years ago,it should still work today.
outdated equipment is one thing but biological filtration always has its place.
outdated equipment is one thing but biological filtration always has its place.
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It's not like I never believed in them, lol...I had one for five or so years...and when I had my pipefish I had two...
Well, it's simple...
Detritus, and the like will find a place to settle....in your display, overflow, or sump/fuge.....
Your socks will collect a lot, but not all...so the rest is contained in your "fuge/Cheato ball" which actually adds to the nutrients of your tank quicker than it can consume.....
With the advent of carbon dosing (6 years now or so), GFO, Rox Carbon, and the fact that you can't clean a fuge with a wetvac....you will eventually have a nutrient factory....a little ball of Cheato will not remove enough nutrients anyway for SPS on its own....
And because one member has success, doesn't mean he/she has had continuous success...even if he did, he must be using other methods which offset this fuge....or has Algae galore in his frag tank connected....
:up:
you knew who i was referring to huh Ralph!lol
i agree,fuges alone are not enough for sps tanks.
you knew who i was referring to huh Ralph!loli agree,fuges alone are not enough for sps tanks.
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I have a whole 20 gallon for a fuge that is in series behind the frag tank and before the sump. I find it a cool environment on its own. I have pods and a population of mysid shrimp that feeds the display tank. I have several types of macro algae. I don't have any reactors other than calcium in a heavy sps thank but I have been thinking about adding a couple.
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