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A good synopsis of a Refugium!
What is a refugium?
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A refugium is a small aquarium that either sits next to or hangs onto an existing saltwater or reef aquarium. This is used by a growing number of aquarists to continually cycle water into and out of the existing tank. A refugium typically contains aragonite live rock, macroalgae, and a deep sand or mud bed. A refugium is the best representation of how http://javascript<b></b>:popupWin1('/dictionary_term.cfm?term=nutrient&cls=16', 50, 50, 350, 300)"><span style="color: #0000ff;">nutrients</span></a> are handled in nature. It recreates, on a small scale, the seagrass beds that are commonly found in association with a natural reef.
[B]How does a refugium work?[/B]
With a refugium, instead of the detritus and uneaten food becoming trapped in a mechanical filter where it decays, this material will settle within the rock and deep sand in the refugium, where the micro crustaceans such as amphipods and copepods will feed upon it. As a result, and since there are no fish in the refugium, the micro crustaceans multiply, thereby adding a natural food source and biodiversity of the aquarium.
A macroalgae, usually of the [I]Caulerpa</em> genus, is then grown above the rock and sand, and feeds upon the nutrients within the water. This not only aids in keeping these levels from becoming problematic, but will also reduce the number of water changes that are required.
When the refugium is illuminated opposite of the main aquarium, it provides essential oxygen during the nighttime hours when the main aquarium is not illuminated, thereby reducing the nighttime pH fluctuations.
[B]What are the benefits of refugiums?[/B]
Refugiums provide many benefits to saltwater or reef aquariums. They:
<ul>
<li>Provide existing aquarium inhabitants with natural food sources such as phytoplankton and zooplankton</li>
<li>Filter water naturally (dramatically lowering nitrate and phosphate levels) and decrease the frequency of water changes that are needed</li>
<li>Stabilize water conditions (especially oxygen level and pH)</li>
<li>Help control algae growth in the existing aquarium</li>
<li>Add trace elements back into existing aquarium water</li>
<li>Serve as temporary acclimation tanks for new inhabitants</li>
<li>May possibly aid the immune systems of fish (it is speculated that many species of macroalgae release compounds into the water that boost immunity in fish)</li>
<li>After development, provide considerable aesthetic value to the system.</li>
</ul>[B]But after reading this I still have some quesitons:[/B]
1. Would adding inhabitants such as snails, shrimp and even some small fish be beneficial to the refugium or detrimental since they can eat the copeds, amphipods?
2. What inhabitants do you put in your refugium?
3. Advantages/disadvantages of each inhabitant?
Thanks for the replies in advance!
What is a refugium?
A refugium is a small aquarium that either sits next to or hangs onto an existing saltwater or reef aquarium. This is used by a growing number of aquarists to continually cycle water into and out of the existing tank. A refugium typically contains aragonite live rock, macroalgae, and a deep sand or mud bed. A refugium is the best representation of how http://javascript<b></b>:popupWin1('/dictionary_term.cfm?term=nutrient&cls=16', 50, 50, 350, 300)"><span style="color: #0000ff;">nutrients</span></a> are handled in nature. It recreates, on a small scale, the seagrass beds that are commonly found in association with a natural reef.
[B]How does a refugium work?[/B]
With a refugium, instead of the detritus and uneaten food becoming trapped in a mechanical filter where it decays, this material will settle within the rock and deep sand in the refugium, where the micro crustaceans such as amphipods and copepods will feed upon it. As a result, and since there are no fish in the refugium, the micro crustaceans multiply, thereby adding a natural food source and biodiversity of the aquarium.
A macroalgae, usually of the [I]Caulerpa</em> genus, is then grown above the rock and sand, and feeds upon the nutrients within the water. This not only aids in keeping these levels from becoming problematic, but will also reduce the number of water changes that are required.
When the refugium is illuminated opposite of the main aquarium, it provides essential oxygen during the nighttime hours when the main aquarium is not illuminated, thereby reducing the nighttime pH fluctuations.
[B]What are the benefits of refugiums?[/B]
Refugiums provide many benefits to saltwater or reef aquariums. They:
<ul>
<li>Provide existing aquarium inhabitants with natural food sources such as phytoplankton and zooplankton</li>
<li>Filter water naturally (dramatically lowering nitrate and phosphate levels) and decrease the frequency of water changes that are needed</li>
<li>Stabilize water conditions (especially oxygen level and pH)</li>
<li>Help control algae growth in the existing aquarium</li>
<li>Add trace elements back into existing aquarium water</li>
<li>Serve as temporary acclimation tanks for new inhabitants</li>
<li>May possibly aid the immune systems of fish (it is speculated that many species of macroalgae release compounds into the water that boost immunity in fish)</li>
<li>After development, provide considerable aesthetic value to the system.</li>
</ul>[B]But after reading this I still have some quesitons:[/B]
1. Would adding inhabitants such as snails, shrimp and even some small fish be beneficial to the refugium or detrimental since they can eat the copeds, amphipods?
2. What inhabitants do you put in your refugium?
3. Advantages/disadvantages of each inhabitant?
Thanks for the replies in advance!
