Refugium vs. BioBalls...

[palmer]

50 gal bo-front with the following:
sailfin
percula
flame angel
yellow watchman
3 blue chromis
6 line wrasse
numerous inverts/corals
I've got a 10 gallon refugium but I'm thinking about converting it to a 10 gallon bio-ball system. The refugium lights cause the water temp to go up about 3 degrees and I don't have a lot of airflow where the ref is located. Since the water temp is about 77 to 81 degrees and the house temp, in the winter, is about 70 degrees I have a lot of condensation build up around the refugium lights and inside the cabinet. I'm worried about the moisture build up. What do you guys think about converting this to bio-balls?

 

[hurt]

DON"T DO IT! I personally would only use bio-balls in a FOWLR. For a reef go with your fuge. I'm a little lost on your temperature situation. Do you think 81 is too high? My tank runs at 81-83 in winter and 83-85 in summer with no problems at all. As long as you have plenty of flow/surface agitation, you should have high enough dissolved O2 levels. What you don't want is a drastic temperature change throughout the day(+/-4 degrees a day). What ever your temp goes up to when your fuge light is on, try and keep the temperature always at that level by increasing the temp on your heaters.

 

[blazehok68]

just buy a little clamp on fan and clamp it on the fuge blowing on the water, it should cool it down just fine.