refuguim
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al mc
Active Member
A refugium is an area that your display tank water flows through that contains items that help with biologic filtration of your water. This can include 'live' sand, rock and macroalgae (example..plants like mangroves or chaeto). They help you with the nitrogen cycle that is present because of fish waste. Think..plants grow better with fertilizer and aquatic plants get fertilized by fish 'poop'.
Another side benefit is that small creatures like copepods live in this 'fuge' and eventually float into your main tank and act as food for you tank inhabitants.
Most people have the refugium as part of their sump. There are several threads around that have pictures of sump/refugiums.
hope that helps.
Another side benefit is that small creatures like copepods live in this 'fuge' and eventually float into your main tank and act as food for you tank inhabitants.
Most people have the refugium as part of their sump. There are several threads around that have pictures of sump/refugiums.
hope that helps.
sepulatian
Moderator
Al nailed it
But just to clarify, fuges are a safe haven to grow things that cannot grow in the aquarium because of predation. You can grow plants, which break down nitrates, you can grow pods which some fish need to eat. It is a safe place with water from the tank flowing into it and back out into the display.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Clown Boy
So can I convert my sump into a refugium?
You would have to add a divider that is fine enough to allow water through but not so fine to allow the pods or plants to get sucked into it.
So can I convert my sump into a refugium?
You would have to add a divider that is fine enough to allow water through but not so fine to allow the pods or plants to get sucked into it.
al mc
Active Member
kclester.....Most sumps'refugiums are divided into three chambers within one 'tank'. The water flows from your display tank into the first chamber. In this chamber many people have a skimmer. The water then flows thru a 'baffle' to remove microbubbles and goes into the refugium part and then into the /pump' section trhat pumps the water up into the display tank again.
There are other ways of setting it up..tyhis is the basic way.
I have made several acrylic sump/refugiums and got most of my info from another hobbyist's site...melevsreef.com This hobbyist has build many sump/refugiums of various sizes and shapes. If you are considering building one I would take a trip there and search some of the threads here at SWF.com
There are other ways of setting it up..tyhis is the basic way.
I have made several acrylic sump/refugiums and got most of my info from another hobbyist's site...melevsreef.com This hobbyist has build many sump/refugiums of various sizes and shapes. If you are considering building one I would take a trip there and search some of the threads here at SWF.com