a couple refugium q'S

[ams153]

ok i got questions i want to build a refugium now.. ive been looking up info for a long time now and alls thats really left that i need to know is what types of things should i use and what all do i need like piping, overflow, kinds of return pump, etc... so if you all could let me know all that i need and good brands of that stuff to get that would be awsome,
and the second question is for a refugium would it be ok to use it as a reef tank and get corals and anemones and crabs and fish instead of strictly a refugium would it still be beneficial?
thanx in advance for all the help
Sanchez

 

[1journeyman]

Well, as for parts you might be better off checking on the DIY section of this forum.
Here's what I did... I bought a 20 gallon acrylic tank (had to order it online cause no one around here sold acrylic tanks at 20 gallons

). I placed the tank above my display tank. Bought a nano pump and airline hose to push water into my tank. Drilled three holes into the acrylic tank (the side... where I want the water level to be) and inserted plastic hose connectors into the holes (glued with apoxy really well). I used plastic eggcrate to make a type of "curtain" around the drain pipes to prevent algae from clogging up the drain, and I use an overflow monitor to shut off the pump in case the drains to plug up.
My refugium is full of macro algaes... the flow rate is slower, not sure how you could make a mini reef tank also be a refugium...

 

[ams153]

hmmm my refuge would actually be under my tank.. would that way still work id have a hard time getting it above.. and yea the mini reef thing i thought might be a little hard im not to sure if ill do it or not but if its doable i deff want to go for it i just restarted and am doing an aggressive but i really want a reef to so im still a little confused on what to do
thanx for the help any more suggestions would be awsome

 

[1journeyman]

Well, a below tank refugium can definitely be done... is your tank drilled for a sump already? I got my tank for an insanely cheap price used so i couldn't complain about it not being drilled...
Anyway, if your tank is drilled you just do it in reverse... let gravity feed your refugium and put a pump to put water back into the tank.
If your tank is not pre-drilled they make "overflow" boxes that you hang on the side of your tank and they siphon water down... I've never used one so can't help ya there.
But, if you are doing this below your main tank, why would you want to make it a reef? you'd never see it, hehe. Plus the heat of the lights below your tank would probably constantly be an issue.

 

[murph]

My fuge is off to the side of my tank. I am not much of a stickler for fancy cabinets and hiding things for a Living room type of display tank. Things have come a way since this pic but gives a general idea
https://home.comcast.net/~martinmurphy1/fugetank.jpg
Take notice of my DIY chiller located directly behind fuge.

Laugh if you want but it actually works well. Keeps my tank at a consistent 79 degrees over a very hot Florida summer and gets shut down at about ten PM to save a few bucks on the old electric bill.

 

[seahorse11]

Has anyone used an Aquafuge HOB refugium? I saw one on another website and it looks easy and perfect for my tank.

 

[ams153]

yea mine is actually in my bedroom and it taking up the entire wall already so i have no room for it to be right next to the tank.. but my tank is open underneath so i could still see it.. nd ill deff go the overflow route it seems simple enough i currently have nothing in the tank im building the refugium for lol its almost done cycling then itll be an aggressiv tank.. i just want a refugium to get some things off my main tank andadd to my water volume but im not to worried about it doing much else for me in the end if it does those two things id be quite happy oh and looks good lol but yea thanx for all the help ive got some ideas now and the pic was helpfull so thanks if theres anything else please let me know
Sanchez