corallover23
Member
what is the best wat to make a display fuge?., i like looking at all the little bugs and stuff. all i want in is is cheato micro stars neat little things like that. what is the best way to set one up ? say 40 gallon breeder tank!
display refugium tank
- Thread starter corallover23
- Start date
A
azul1994
Guest
Never heard of anyone do this before. But if you dead set on it i would use a 5.5 gallon or a 10 gallon. Then make the 40 a real tank. Just my opinion.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
naa, you can seriously do this, but you also have to give the plants enough natural fertilizer to sustain and grow them.
Of course, you will need a tank, some strong lighting, some pieces of live rock. You can try to get some mangroves to put in there. Something else you can keep in your fuge is cleaner clams and feather dusters. They're neat.
try some halimeda, blade plant, shaving brush and mangroves. This will give your tank structure while letting you see all of the life.
If you are going to do this, you need to also have a separate tank with some fish in it. It doesn't have to be very many at all, the plants need something to feed them, and will balance out the system. It's better then trying to dose it with miracle grow.
Of course, you will need a tank, some strong lighting, some pieces of live rock. You can try to get some mangroves to put in there. Something else you can keep in your fuge is cleaner clams and feather dusters. They're neat.
try some halimeda, blade plant, shaving brush and mangroves. This will give your tank structure while letting you see all of the life.
If you are going to do this, you need to also have a separate tank with some fish in it. It doesn't have to be very many at all, the plants need something to feed them, and will balance out the system. It's better then trying to dose it with miracle grow.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
By the way, I am suprised that not many more people are interested in display refugiums etc.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Is that an ozarka bottle I see?
stdreb27
Active Member
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/2587886
Is that an ozarka bottle I see?
yeah, it was ice. No chiller and houston tempuratures. Ice didn't do much. Pretty much useless.
http:///forum/post/2587886
Is that an ozarka bottle I see?
yeah, it was ice. No chiller and houston tempuratures. Ice didn't do much. Pretty much useless.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I imagine you would have to put about four of those ice bottles in there to see a 1 degree temp decrease.
Fans and limiting the amount of pumps would probably decrease your water temps, stdreb27.
I think that it would be great to see someone have a refugium as a display tank, as long as it looks good and somewhat organized, I would go for it!
Fans and limiting the amount of pumps would probably decrease your water temps, stdreb27.
I think that it would be great to see someone have a refugium as a display tank, as long as it looks good and somewhat organized, I would go for it!
stdreb27
Active Member
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/2588202
I imagine you would have to put about four of those ice bottles in there to see a 1 degree temp decrease.
Fans and limiting the amount of pumps would probably decrease your water temps, stdreb27.
I think that it would be great to see someone have a refugium as a display tank, as long as it looks good and somewhat organized, I would go for it!
(that was last summer) But no, I actually started putting four 2 liter bottles and did not see any results. And the ice would melt in less than an hour. It might be workable in a small system but that had about 240 gallons of water.
But the fuge side was cool. All sorts of bugs, worms and stuff.
http:///forum/post/2588202
I imagine you would have to put about four of those ice bottles in there to see a 1 degree temp decrease.
Fans and limiting the amount of pumps would probably decrease your water temps, stdreb27.
I think that it would be great to see someone have a refugium as a display tank, as long as it looks good and somewhat organized, I would go for it!
(that was last summer) But no, I actually started putting four 2 liter bottles and did not see any results. And the ice would melt in less than an hour. It might be workable in a small system but that had about 240 gallons of water.
But the fuge side was cool. All sorts of bugs, worms and stuff.
corallover23
Member
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
How about you just link your fuge with your FOWLR system and not even worry about doing water changes?
mcbdz
Active Member
I sort of have one. I lost my seahorses a few months ago and the tank was so full of life I decided to just keep it to grow out the macro and fauna. I also have been adding a few pieces of base rock to get it cured and full of critter before adding to the 240gal. It's a 25 hex with just regular florecent lights. I have so many pods and some kind of tinny shrimp that you can add food and watch them fight over it.
FUN
corallover23
Member
cool. what do i need as for a filter and pump if i need one? I don't want to hook it up to the main tank i want a display fuge only tank lol.
corallover23
Member
awesome thanks for the help
mr_x
Active Member
i would do what snake blitz said. use it as filtration. the two tanks will help each other, lower maintenance, and make life easier.
what do you think the drawbacks would be with connecting them anyway? this is how 99% of the refugiums are set up and the only difference would be that yours is completely visible, and most likely be filled with more attractive macroalgae. either way, they will finction the same and have plenty of life to view.
what do you think the drawbacks would be with connecting them anyway? this is how 99% of the refugiums are set up and the only difference would be that yours is completely visible, and most likely be filled with more attractive macroalgae. either way, they will finction the same and have plenty of life to view.
corallover23
Member
how do i attatch them? no tanks are drilled! ok i will go buy another 55gallon oh gosh im addicted but it wont be drilled cause my lfs s%&*s i will buy one of thoes cheap medal stands that hold 1 tank on top of the other. how do you suggest i hook them together?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Hmm, not drilled? You could easily get an external overflow box and hang it on the back of your tank, use a big rubbermaid sump and a smaller one to fit inside the top edge (one with a lot of big holes) and put some live rock and filter media on top of it... Then, Use a large pump to pump water back into your display tank and into your fuge. Get a fuge with an internal overflow box and connect it to the main sump.
Voala! (sp?) You have increased your total water volume, created a safehaven for copepods and created a very large filtration system for both of your cool tanks!
Good luck!
Voala! (sp?) You have increased your total water volume, created a safehaven for copepods and created a very large filtration system for both of your cool tanks!
Good luck!
scopus tang
Active Member
You can also take your empty tank to a glass shop and have it drilled, and then build an overflow out of PVC (SnakeBlitz33 has pictures of how its done) ~ personally that's what I prefer to do. Great thread guys ~ thinking of doing something similar on some of the tanks at school myself. Been following along, but you were doing such a good job I just kept my mouth shut.