Active vs. Passive flow in a Refugium - Which is better?

yearofthenick

yearofthenick

Active Member
I've heard of some people who get a refugium that is a part of their sump... it goes from the DT to the skimmer, then past the refugium, and then to the return pump. This is what I consider to be an actively flowing refugium.
but I have also heard of people who add on a refugium and run very small amounts of water through it, and it overflows into the sump where it gets returned... hence "passive" flow.
Which is better????
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
you are going to hear votes for either way. i would say, if you want pods to enter your display from the refugium, you might want the flow to be more than just a small amount.
as far as the macros absorbing nutrients- either way is just as effective.
 
hurt

hurt

Active Member
Depends on your Macro.
Chaeto-fast. Caulerpa-slow.
Most people realize Chaeto is the better macro, so taken as a general statement-fast.
 
yearofthenick

yearofthenick

Active Member
I'd use socks for the sends... not sure where I'd put the carbon though. I like that the sending half of the fuge is grated at the top, although I could put something like that on myself.
What do you think about the glass piece being so low in the refugium? shouldn't it be a litle higher so it doesn't affect the chaeto as much? or is this a better application?
I will be using chaeto and probably miracle mud.... but what makes miracle mud so "miraculous"?
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
Originally Posted by YearOfTheNick
http:///forum/post/2710361
Also, can I grow brine in my fuge? they eat chaeto, right?
nothing eats cheato that I know of. I think brine are brackish but not sure (what ever the case I have never heard of anyone rearing them in a display system fuge). If you have cheato you dont have to worry about growing anything, it will take care of itself. Its like the boom boom room for pods. High flow for cheato. I dont like low flow fuges but I guess it depends on what its a fuge for.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
My Blond Naso(RIP) used to love cheato. I'm sure there are many things that will eat it. Just nothing that really is obtained just for the purpose of eating it. It's best to pull it as this removes the DOC's it consumes. IMO a fast flowing fuge is best. Not all areas of the fuge will have a fast flow. Especially in the fuge you have pictured. The flow will move along the top of the fuge. IMO this is not ideal. Installing a baffle above the short baffle leading to the fuge, with about a 1 to 2 inch space between them, would be more ideal. This will cause the flow to move up through the fuge diagonally and divert the flow through your macro better. Creating a more even flow through it. Still allowing a slow spot near the exit baffle for debris to fall out.
I had the miracle mud....I got tired of particulate matter being moved up to the display. I pulled it out and replaced with a 6 in deep sand bed. It works for growing macro because it contains things in it that algae need to grow. Like iron, probably phosphate(all things contain phosphate) silica too I believe. This is why macros grow so well in it. It just seems to me that having it was like having a big gob of algae growing goo in there....which algea was exactly what I was trying to eliminate....
I dunno
But I definitely do feel that my display is nicer than ever, and my cheato is growing like weeds....er.... uh
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
Originally Posted by YearOfTheNick
http:///forum/post/2710870
So nothing eats chaeto??? not even pods???
there are a few fish that will eat it but usualy indescriminate algae eaters. My tangs wouldn't touch it. pods eat micro and phyto.
 
yearofthenick

yearofthenick

Active Member
Ok, the purpose of my fuge is to grow copepods and also help lower nitrates/phosphates. I thought the pods would eat the chaeto, and the chaeto also lowers your nitrates/phosphates. Is this correct? If not, then I'm pretty pissed at my LFS.
So my purpose again is to grow copepods... what is an ideal environment for growing them?
Lowering nitrate is just an added bonus.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Cheato helps with trates and phosphate, as well as nutrients. Pods help by eating debritous. You manually remove your macro to pull out what it took up. LRR pile is best for growing pods. This can be done anywhere, even in the DT if you like. I have three seperate piles myself. Pods do love the cheato, but you loose some when you pull it. Also, pods are good fish food.
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
Originally Posted by YearOfTheNick
http:///forum/post/2710965
Ok, the purpose of my fuge is to grow copepods and also help lower nitrates/phosphates. I thought the pods would eat the chaeto, and the chaeto also lowers your nitrates/phosphates. Is this correct? If not, then I'm pretty pissed at my LFS.
So my purpose again is to grow copepods... what is an ideal environment for growing them?
Lowering nitrate is just an added bonus.
the cheato uses nitrates and phosphates to grow. One it grows enough to fill out your fuge you remove a portion (export) so it has room to grow again and suck up nitrates and phospates while its growing. the pods are for fish food, eating micro algae at night and the larvae helps feed corals.
 
nofish

nofish

Member
Sorry i gotta jack the thread for a min.
.what macro is better for a refuge. (75 gal) cuz i got room..
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
chaetomorpha is best because it has no chance of a sexual episode that could toxify your tank. i use a mixture of a few different macros. i trim the refugium regularly, and trade the macros at the LFS for credit, so i've never had a problem with a sexual event thus far.
 
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