do I need a refugium?

[sbaumann14]

currently have 55 gal reef setup with dsb and about 75lbs live rock. filtration is marineland 360 canister filter, uv sterilizer, and bacpac skimmer. recently purchased 180 gal. Plan to have 2in dsb and about 125lbs rock. will i need to set up a refugium, or can i get away with using a sump with good skimmer, uv sterilizer, and let the live rock and dsb handle the bio load?

 

[prime311]

If you're doing a sump anyway, there isn't much reason not to make part of it a Fuge.

 

[tizzo]

I can think of many reasons not to have a fuge...
That being said, it sounds like you are considering a fuge for filtration purposes... That is not the purpose for a fuge. If you are not cultivating pods or creating a low flow area cause you like seahorses and pipefish, then you do not need a fuge.
Don't set up a fuge in anticipation of nitrates. Instead, learn how to not have nitrates to begin with, cause although plants do consume them, they consume a VERY LITTLE BIT of them.

 

[sbaumann14]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
http:///forum/post/2559755
I can think of many reasons not to have a fuge...
That being said, it sounds like you are considering a fuge for filtration purposes... That is not the purpose for a fuge. If you are not cultivating pods or creating a low flow area cause you like seahorses and pipefish, then you do not need a fuge.
Don't set up a fuge in anticipation of nitrates. Instead, learn how to not have nitrates to begin with, cause although plants do consume them, they consume a VERY LITTLE BIT of them.
so i'm thinkin sump with skimmer and watch the nitrate build up and utilize biologicals like snails, crabs, n urchins to help with the ditirus removal... right?

 

[tizzo]

If you do it right, you shouldn't have a nitrate build up.
But yeah, skimmer is a must!
Live rock is your best biological filtratiion!

 

[florida joe]

In this case I am a believer that more is better. You can run a tank with nothing more then live rock and a mechanical unit for filtration getting both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria to grow on and in your rock. But a refug can also be used as a supplementary natural filtration system. Using algae as its main and natural component. If you can incorporate it into your system IMO you should go for it

 

[cdangel0]

Originally Posted by sbaumann14
http:///forum/post/2559769
so i'm thinkin sump with skimmer and watch the nitrate build up and utilize biologicals like snails, crabs, n urchins to help with the ditirus removal... right?
Problem with this is that the snails and crabs eat deitris which results in poo, which breaks down and causes nitrates. The DSB will aide in keeping nitrates in check, but I am a very strong advocate of fuges. The proper macro algae will actually consume more nitrates then you'd think.

 

[sbaumann14]

Originally Posted by Cdangel0
http:///forum/post/2560174
Problem with this is that the snails and crabs eat deitris which results in poo, which breaks down and causes nitrates. The DSB will aide in keeping nitrates in check, but I am a very strong advocate of fuges. The proper macro algae will actually consume more nitrates then you'd think.
so then... i have the 55 sittin round doin nothing. was gonna use it for a 2 chamber sump, but can turn it into a 3 chamber fuge instead and get better filtration?
plan a was 2 chamber sump w/skimmer and a cannister filter filled w/charcoal and uv sterilizer.
plan b is 3 chamber fuge w/skimmer, canister filter filled w/charcoal, and uv sterilizer
so.... plan a or b?

 

[mr_x]

first of all, there is no such thing as a 2" DSB. a DSB denotes a DEEP sand bed. 2" is not going to do it. i believe over 3"...even closer to 4" or more is required.
secondly, i agree with Tizzo, in that you can keep your nitrate down easily without a refugium, and i suggest you follow the proper husbandry steps to accomplish this, instead of adding components to offset the addition, or lack of depletion, of an abundance of nutrients.
thirdly, i like my refugiums. i do think they help with filtration more than stated. i have to harvest about 6" in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket every 3 weeks or so and trade it in at the LFS for credit. i don't think this growth is just from light.
i have 2 set up. one is one a new tank with very little inhabitants. this one grows alot slower than the heavily populated tank. what's causing this accelerated growth in the other tank?

 

[florida joe]

Nitrates aside there is the added advantage of keeping your tank oxygenated by using a reverse light timing or keeping the light on your refug Illuminated 24hrs

 

[cdangel0]

I think Opton B will be your best bet, but I would remove the cannister filter and UV steruilzer from the equation.
The canister filter will just add to unnecessary maintenance, you can just fil up a filter sock with charcoal / carbon and toss it in the sump.
The UV sterilizer debate rages on, personally I have run with and without UV on my systems and have not experienced a noticable benefit while using it.

 

[m0nk]

I'm also a proponent of the sump/fuge setup. I've got LR, chaeto, and some castaway troublemakers (a CBS and some hermit crabs) in my fuge. It does great on the nitrates, my new tank has 0 nitrates and it's been up for only about 2 1/2 months with only biweekly water changes. Plus, when the chaeto needs trimming (which has only been in there for like a month, needed trimmed this week) my tangs love to munch on it. Since you'll only have a 55 you won't be able to have tangs, but if you have any other algae eaters (dwarf angels and LMB come to mind) they'll love it. You can also sell it, since there's always people looking to start a fuge with some chaeto.

 

[michaeltx]

there are many more reasons to have a refugium than not having one IMO the plants hel reduce nitrates and givens a safe haven for critters to help feed the tank. If I have a choice of having one and not I will always choose to add a refugium to the system.
Mike

 

[sbaumann14]

Originally Posted by MichaelTX
http:///forum/post/2560554
there are many more reasons to have a refugium than not having one IMO the plants hel reduce nitrates and givens a safe haven for critters to help feed the tank. If I have a choice of having one and not I will always choose to add a refugium to the system.
Mike
ok... then will a 55 gal be big enough if i seperate it into 3 chambers? i have a 180 dt (60Lx24w x 29h) with 2 mega flows rated @ 600 gph per side. so the fuge tank that MUST fit under stand (there's no other room) can be no bigger than 48L x 20w x 20h. I will be running a seperate line into the fuge section to control the flow into fuge via ball valve from main overflow lines

 

[michaeltx]

mine was made from a 30 long tank. so yeah a 55 gallon is fine for a sump fuge.
I will see if I can find pics of the setup I had.
mike

 

[flricordia]

I vote go with a fuge. I would never run a reef or even FOWLR without one. Not only will a fuge consume excess organics, if run on a 24/7 light cycle the fuge will help to maintain ph, oxygen levels and will also absorb toxins from air polutants that may get into system.
This is my 20 long fuge that keeps my corals and fish on the healthy side with very little help from me. I run very low flow through chaeto and a 24/7 submersable LED buried in the cheato. Overhead operate with coral light cycle. PH is 8.2+ in morning.

 

[sbaumann14]

Originally Posted by Flricordia
http:///forum/post/2561369
I vote go with a fuge. I would never run a reef or even FOWLR without one. Not only will a fuge consume excess organics, if run on a 24/7 light cycle the fuge will help to maintain ph, oxygen levels and will also absorb toxins from air polutants that may get into system.
This is my 20 long fuge that keeps my corals and fish on the healthy side with very little help from me. I run very low flow through chaeto and a 24/7 submersable LED buried in the cheato. Overhead operate with coral light cycle. PH is 8.2+ in morning.

so what is your light cycle? like 14 on w/ the mains, and 10 on the night lights? also, about what rate do you flow water at? i've read that some go fast, some go slow... thanks