Refugiums

[pezlok]

Ok, I need some help here. I am thinking of adding a refugium to my 37-gallon aquarium. My aquarium hosts a number of corals, fish, and about 50 lbs. of live rock. I have a couple of questions: If you have a refugium do you also still need a protein skimmer? I currently do not have any substrate or live sand in my tank now. All readings are excellent. However, I am having a huge outbreak of hair algae in my tank (phosphates are good). CPR makes a product, AquaFuge Refugium 12. The hang-on-the-back refugium from CPR features a unique baffle system that prevents the substrate and organisms from being disturbed while allowing enough water flow to eliminate stagnant areas. The AquaFuge provides ideal growth conditions for food items such as copepods and amphipods to feed invertebrates and fish in the main tank. It also provides a controlled growing area for macro algae, which can be used to reduce nuisance algae in the main tank and provide a nursery area for a variety of organisms. In addition to the refugium, I am considering adding the CPR BakPak 2R to replace the Skelter filter/protein skimmer. Let me know what your thoughts are.
Thanks!

 

[pezlok]

Any info would be helpful.
Thanks!

 

[fender]

First I would add a substrate. It looks nicer, adds additional bio filtration and if you go with a deep sand bed of 4-6 inches will reduce nitrates. You say your #'s are good but the low nitrates may be a reult of feeding your algae bloom. Can't measure it if its being eaten by algae faster than it is generated. The refugium is a good idea, haven't used the one CPR makes but I do use the bak pak and it has been trouble free and works great. The prizm is also good and runs about $60-70 new online. I don't know much about the skilters but have read that the 400s dont skim very well and are loud. The 250s are ok but I also heard they are loud. Having said that I was also warned that Bak paks are loud. Mine isn't but it may be because it was over a year old when I got it and has been "broken in". I would still use a skimmer even with a refugium. If you get to the point that the refugium pulls so much out of the water that the skimmer quits functioning then you can remove it. I have read this can happen when using mangroves, but I don't think you could have this happen with standard macroalgae.
HTH

 

[tangs_in_pacifica]

I have an 18" Aguafuge and a 20 gallon refugium on my 58 gallon reef and the Aquafuge works great. Until I added the 20 gallon DIY refugium this last weekend, the Aquafuge was the only filtration I had on the 58 gal. My nitrates are 0 W/O a skimmer. By contrast, my 100 gal. with a EuroReef, DSB and no refugium has embarrasingly high nitrates. I've also fitted my 40 gal. with an EcoSystem Refugium. Basically, I'd go for the biggest Aquafuge, skip the skimmer and see what happens. You'll probably want to invest in a lot of Macroalgae to start out, since you won't have a skimmer to fall back on.
Many refugium fans believe that skimmers are counter-productive for refugiums. Basically, let nature take it's course.

 

[kappadoku]

Im going to second some of the other stuff.

• A substrate does a body good... But your probably nor going to do one anyways...
• Get a refugeum, and skip the skimmer. Get back to nature.
  look into a "Miracle Mud" Refugeum. Its a nice package deal, and is 1000% less pain in the rump that a DIY.

HTH!

 

[paulytee]

KappaDoku-
If you have some time and or more info, would you mind dropping an email to me?
( paulytee@hotmail.come )
"Look into a "Miracle Mud" Refugeum. Its a nice package deal, and is 1000% less pain in the rump that a DIY."
Im very interested in the 'Miracle Mud' Refu. and the info pertaining to it.
I could be misinformed but I've heard the specs on a cpr bakpak2r is rated for 60g or less. If this is true, I really like the way way my natural live sand and rock are keeping my reef happy and healthy!
Thanx- Paulytee

 

[pezlok]

Could you sharks weigh in on this topic??

 

[tanker newbie]

personally if i was in this situation i would 1st get live sand, it looks great!
as far as haveing a refugium it would help but by all means it should not be your only type of filteration
i say insted of getting an cpr back pack and spending close to the 200 dollar range with tax save your self some money
im thinking get an over flow box and a cheap 10 or 20 gallon tank, in the new sump have the skilter and protein skimmer and in the sump you can have like sand+ live rock and other types of micro algae then just have a big pump bring water back up, that way u keep your biological filteration and get the refugium at the same time, thats what im doing on my tank and im saving a bunch

 

[tangs_in_pacifica]

Newbie,
Please don't knock refugiums as primary filtration, until you've tried it. Believe me, there are many, myself included, that feel skimmers are counter-productive for refugiums. The court is still out and I guess we're still oddballs, but there may be something to this skimmerless refugium thing. I rely upon refugiums W/O skimmers or any other filtration for two of my three home tanks and the skimmerless systems are doing much better than the one with that big 'ol EuroReef.
Again, too soon to tell... please, however, do not knock things until you've had the pleasure of trying them. I would, however, do quite a bit of investigation, before jumpung off the deep end. Also, if a refugium will be you primary filtration, you're going to want to jump-start your system with alot of caulerpa.
[ June 03, 2001: Message edited by: tangs_in_pacifica ]

 

[paulytee]

Tangs_in_pacifica-
I totally agree with you about not knocking things until they have been tried. I'm still pretty new as far as reefs are concerned, but all the different opinions, and different ways of doing things, are some of the appealing aspects of this hobby. With all the research, different theories and opinions, you almost have to give everything a chance(to an extent!), or at least take it with a grain of salt.
Just my two pennies...
Happy reefing!! Paulytee