Refugium

[yellow ace]

Hi! I have a 46-gallon bow front tank. I have a fowlr right now, but I know in the future I will become interested in reef tanks. I do not have much room under the tank, but if I move all of the supplies to a nearby cuboard, I will have room for a small refugium. How small at the minimum should a refugium for a 46-gallon bow front be? Also, I was wondering what is in a refugium that is so good for reef tanks? Or, would it be better to have a sump?
I am no expert on reef tanks as I am just looking into it. Isn't a sump just an extra area to have things such as heaters and filters, that are not necessary in the display aquarium, and then a ref. is like a sump, but it has "mud", lr rubble, and caulerpa (sp). Any information on a combo of some sort would be great!
-Ace

 

[speg]

Hi, I have the same tank... I too suffer from the itty bitty space underneath the tank. You can really have the refugium set up anywhere though. Even above or beside that tank. It dosent have to be under it (unless you dont have room).
Any size that you can fit there will work, 5 gallon - 10 gallon.. whatever you put there its going to help.
A refugium is a 'safe haven' for things to grow and thrive that would normally not do well in a crowded environment with quick fish that may pick on them or grab food away from them.. thus its a great place for plants.. Plants feed on phosphates and nitrates in your water so it helps make for a cleaner tank. It's not something you HAVE TO do, but it'll help for sure. I dont have a refugium and I have a beautiful tank.. but I do want one.
A sump is a low place that holds water. With a sump you can hide things that you wouldnt want to see in your main tank. For example filters/heaters/chillers/protein skimmers/etc etc.

 

[dueces]

I have a 46 bow to and the biggest tank that fits under is a 20High.
Speg~Do you have a sump under the tank? If so What size any pictures???

 

[speg]

I believe its a 10 gallon sump. I dont take pics of it.. but tomorrow if you'd really like to see it then i'd show ya All thats in it is a few bioballs which are slowly being removed completely, and rock and the magdrive pump to return water... and thats it!

 

[yellow ace]

Speg, the only size I could fit under my stand (my stand is horrible! It's strong, just not built with the FISH in mind! gotta buy a new one... :thinking: ) is a 10 gallon. Could you make a diagram/post pics of how yours is set up?
-ace

 

[pfitz44]

Originally Posted by Speg
rock and the magdrive pump to return water... and thats it!

Your rock pumps??? i gotta get me some of that rock!!! :hilarious
Sorry... wicked punchy mood thismorning speg...
anywho, Ive got a 55 gal, and the only tank that fit under mine was a 5.5 gallon. Any addition helps, the bigger, the better. The tank is probabilly the most important part of the refugium setup, so just get athe biggest one that will fit.
Im gonna post this link, its not to a competetor. Its got fish tank dementions on it, rough idea.
http://www.alysta.com/books/fishtank.htm