refugium?

[dockery07]

What are these for and do i need one? Everything on my tank is built in. So there is not sump. But since it sounds like you just have to run the tubes, it might be do able. So do you just take the water from the main tank and run it through this one and then pump it back in? What I am saying is I dont understand.

 

[jferrier]

I've been contemplating adding a refugium myself. I 've read several articles discussing their advantages:
1. You add more water to your system which adds more surface area and helps minimize errors.
2. It can be used to cultivate macroalgaes that soak up excess nutrients which in turns helps control unwanted algae growth in your tank.
3. They can be used to acclimate or separate animals that might be pregnant or being picked on.
4. It serves as a place for tiny marine crustaceans and other food sources to produce w/out predators and allows small amounts of them into the main tank as a constant food source.
5. You can put lights on the refugium on an opposite day night cycle as the main tank to help stabalize ph. Supposedly ph lowers slightly when the lights go off.
anyways hope that helped.