Refugium help, please

[lopeyc]

My 3 bigger reef tanks all have these CPR hang-on refugiums. One has done very well, creating a real diverse fauna and flora, while another has struggled, with some sickly macros and a lot of hair algae. The third is somewhere in between...
So I'm trying to figure out why. My questions are:
-- what is the ideal current for a refugium? I think that my biggest and least healthy has too much current -- does this make sense?
-- Lighting -- is there such a thing as too much lighting for macros? could I be burning them? too many hours a day? Any ideals? Does the lighting need to be off the surface of the water?
-- Is it possible for small hermits and snails to survive in such modest refugiums?
If there is a good thread on this already, please point me in this direction. The hang-on refugiums pose unique problems because it is hard to manipulae the elements.
Thanks.

 

[squidd]

Originally posted by lopeyc
My 3 bigger reef tanks all have these CPR hang-on refugiums. One has done very well, creating a real diverse fauna and flora, while another has struggled, with some sickly macros and a lot of hair algae. The third is somewhere in between...
So I'm trying to figure out why. My questions are:
-- what is the ideal current for a refugium? I think that my biggest and least healthy has too much current -- does this make sense?
>>> I think so<<<
-- Lighting -- is there such a thing as too much lighting for macros? could I be burning them? too many hours a day? Any ideals? Does the lighting need to be off the surface of the water?
>>> I run 4 watts + per gallon of fuge...24/7<<<
-- Is it possible for small hermits and snails to survive in such modest refugiums?
Small ones...but why do you have then in there..? What is the "purpose" of your fuge...Pod population, Macro growth, Snail shelter...?<<<
If there is a good thread on this already, please point me in this direction. The hang-on refugiums pose unique problems because it is hard to manipulae the elements.
Thanks.

 

[lopeyc]

>>>Small ones...but why do you have then in there..? What is the "purpose" of your fuge...Pod population, Macro growth, Snail shelter...?<<<
Thanks for your response!
The purpose of my refugium is mainly for water quality through macro growth. In the tank where the refugium is really healthy, I see a side benefit of a lot of pods and other micro life thriving.
I was thinking about putting somebody in the refuge who would eat the hair algae and other scum off the macros.