Refugium

kristak

kristak

New Member
I am completely new to salt water as I have always stuck with freshwater. However, I have recently acquired a 150 gallon and have decided to take a stab at the saltwater world
. I have been reading all day about how to get it started, because I want to try and get the tank set up and running the way I like waaaay before stocking it.
I already have most of the equipment needed to set up the tank but I think I want to install an under tank refugium. When I bought my tank it had three holes drilled in the bottom. They said that it was because the tank had previously been used for salt water but had since been set up as fresh (so they are capped off) IT DOES HOLD WATER! I made them show me lol. So my question is, what could these holes have been used for? Could I use them with my refugium set up? And if so, how do I keep my sand and stuff from taking off down the hole?
Please feel free to give me any ideas on setting up my refugium (I have a spare 55 to use). Also, any tips on setting the tank up for success!
Thanks for everyones help! Sorry if it is a newbie question, but well, I am a newb!
 
D

dennis210

Guest
More than likely the holes were for overflows - where water drains from top tank down to a sump/filtration tank - and then is pump back up to main tank.
Usually on a 6 foot tank there are 4 holes drilled - two left side & two right side. If you only have three then possibly you have two together and a single - then there was one overflow and one closed loop system, or you have 3 drains and the returns were over the back DIY type of thing. And yes you can add a refugium. That is simply a space for water to mix with the system that has a substrate, rock, & macroalgae and nothing predatory. In this way you will get and abundance of pods!
 
kristak

kristak

New Member
Thanks for the response. I figured they might be for that type of setup. I have one on the left, one on the right, and one in the midde. I was thinking that it was maybe to drain and one return. But since they are in the very bottom of my tank, how would I keep the substrate from heading down the drain into the refugium?
 
rmeaux

rmeaux

Member
You would most probably build a false wall out of black/smoke acrylic/plexi the height of your water level and silicone it to the corner or wall around the hole. Search for dumpbox. Overflow box. Almost every tank on this forum larger than 55 has this setup. Its the way to go.
 
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