Refugium Question

[putemup]

I have a 75 gallon tank with about 85 lbs of live rock (half inch live sand bed). I am looking to add at least another 20-30 lbs of LR over the next couple of weeks. Due to the fact that I have only had my system set up for about 2 weeks I have not added any fish yet (I‘m waiting for the cycle to complete).

Currently in my refugium I only have a my system heater, a small compact light that runs for about 10 hrs a day, a small red plant and a green plant that seems to be growing like crazy. No sand or rocks. From my understanding, I thought the refugium was the place that pods were bred. Although I see a lot in the display tank, I see none in the refugium. What else do I need to add to my refugium so that I am utilizing it properly and to its full potential?

 

[william1]

I would add some LS in there kind of like another mini ecosystem with the reveresed lighting. This is a great way to stablize your tank some more and help with any nitrates. Tell us some more about your tank, Skimmer, Lighting, Ect...

 

[putemup]

I currently have florescent lights . I’m purchasing T5’ in about a month. My skimmer is a ASM gx-1. I also have a chiller.

 

[william1]

Nice little set-up just remember no crabs or snails in the refugium. But micro algaes and the sand would be a good start. Also you can put some LR in you sump area if you wanted as well.

 

[salt reefer]

i think you need a deep sand bed in the requim. and use lr or lr rubble in it.the number one algie you want is cheato.hope this helps

 

[schwaggs]

salt reefer;456243 wrote: aloght wntt to thinnkf dong apsnd beedi the reqium .

huh?

 

[schwaggs]

Pods need a home. Put some rock and all your dead snail shells in the fuge. Over time, you will have a pod factory!

 

[salt reefer]

yea i have so many pods its crazy. my display is loaded to the gills with pods .

 

[putemup]

I just noticed some type of alge growing on the walls of the refugium last night. I was considering purchasing both crabs and snails for it. Why should I not put them in the refugium since they only eat detris and alge and won‘t bother pods? What’s the harm?
　
Deep sand bed?

In my display, I only have about a half inch of live sand for a sand bed. Although I’ve heard it all kinds of ways, the sand just seems like a place for harmful bacteria to grow and cause problems unless it is needed for a particular animal?
Once pods are growing in the refugium, how do you get them to the display without killing them? I use one strong pump quiet to power my system entire system (in an effort to keep the heat down). I would think that if a pod made it into the display by way of that pump (due to its strength) they at a minimum would be in pretty bad shape or dead upon arrival.
　
Keep in mind that I am kinda new and these are more questions than anything else so the more detail you can give me as to the reasons why would be much more helpful. Also a site or book on refugiums would be great as well.

 

[salt reefer]

you want the alges to grow and with a deep sand beed you dont want anything to desturb it.

 

[salt reefer]

dont put any filtereing between your rquim and the tank. the pods will be pumped back in the tank. the deep sandbed in the requim wil slowly eat nitrits

 

[salt reefer]

look at my build and you will see my deep sand bed. once they are established they help keep bad stuff out of the display tank.

 

[hackman72]

Here's sort of a starting point on refugiums. There are associated links to other articles about them as well.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm">http://www.wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm</a>

Some pods will die going throught the pump but, a good majority won't. When adding any algae to your system, make sure you know what you're putting in there.I've added some in the past that tried to overrun things. The best types of algaes are either chaeto or any that grow attached to rocks. Those that grow indescriminantly can take over in a hurry in a fuge.

 

[rbredding]

I have a question.. I saw that your heater was in your refugium.. given the slower flow through the refugium, does the water stay several degrees warmer there than in the display tank?

I'm curious about placing a heater in a refugium, i always thought they were better placed in the overflows or in the sump

 

[salt reefer]

my heaters are were the water is forced over a baffle. and my reqium is my sump right now lol. it seems to be just fine temp wise.im actualy down to a small heater in the reqium and i have one on the rena xp4 return. with my mh unit im able to keep the tank at 79 at night and 80 to 82 durring the day.so putemup sould be fine.

 

[putemup]

In reference to my heater:

My display is actually about 1-2 degrees hotter than the sump/refugium where the heater is placed. This is due to the heat of the lights, pumps and power heads located both enroute to and in the display.

 

[salt reefer]

yep you are good then.