AquaFuge Hang-On Refugium

nas19320

nas19320

Active Member
I thought about buying one of those once but a few things discouraged me. The outflow tube if it gets clogged will flood onto the floor. It doesn't really provide enough room to grow enough macro to have a significant effect on nutrients. If you put a light on it and want to run the light 24/7 the light shines into the display tank at night. It is a great pod refuge though. These are only things I have heard so maybe someone else can give you a first hand experience. HTH
 
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daniel411

Guest
I have that refugium, though just the 13" model. I think its great personally. Though balancing out the flow/level is a bit tricky.
 
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daniel411

Guest
Also its an awesome planter on your aquarium to grow mangrove trees!
 
hondo

hondo

Member
I had the 19" unit on my 50g reef for over a year and it made no impact on Nitrates although it was great for pod production. I later moved it to a 37g reef and still no impact on nitrates. If your looking for nitrate reduction don't buy it, if you just want a safe place for pods to reporduce this is great for that purpose.
A couple of problems with the unit though.
1. The syphon return is so low flow that air bubbles will build up in the return and eventually you will loose syphon and the fuge will overflow. complicating this problem is the fact that the PVC is black so you cannot see the air bubble build up, you have to watch the water level in the fuge and when it starts to rise you know the air is building up.
2. does not come with a light so you need to find your own. for the price they are charging it should really have a custom light hood to go with it.
3. POS rio PH which will need monthly maintenance or it will freeze up on you.
4. The unit is clear plastic so the light goes right through it and into your tank so even when your tank lights are out you get a dimly lit main tank.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Because of space limitations I am running two 18 CPR inchers on a 120g. to suppliment what can go in the stand. I took off the inner tubes on the overflows (that go nearly to the bottom of the fuge) so it is just a straight shot out like the pak pak skimmer. I have ran the bak pak for nearly a year with no trouble and it seems to have more flow than the fuge. I did DSBs in both and will add macro to both, couldn't hurt.
 
marvida

marvida

Member
I got a 12" "knock-off" kit off of ---- recently & used it in the upgrade of my office 10 gal. I wanted it to add some volume & hold some hardware. So far so good. There is no siphon involved in this kit.
 
phoenixrising

phoenixrising

Member
I have one on my reef for no real reason other than I had it so may as well use it. I don't think it does much except grow micro algaes. Not terribly useful. I have to say though that between my real refugium and this hang on thingy, I have ZERO annoying algae in my display tanks.
My hang on has a DSB (not very useful in a fuge of that size) live rock rubble and macro algaes. Grows pods (and annoying micro algaes) nicely, but is otherwise a time consuming pain to maintain.
I would make a different plan to move your tank. Moving it while filled is a disaster waiting to happen. The person who recommended pumping out the water, moving the tank and then pumping it back in had a better plan. Moving tanks is a big job any way you slice it.
Good luck!
 
bdubbya

bdubbya

Member
You already have a twenty gallon tank below your display for a quarantine tank. Why not use that as a refugium? Unless you have used copper in the tank that is what I would personally do. You can set up another quarantine tank for like $20. Good luck.
 
zibnata

zibnata

Member
tHanks to everyone. I think I will just setup another 20 someday. I need to keep QT .I will never put another fish in tank before QT.
 
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