Setting up a Refugium.... How Too and Why For?

[tellico tornado]

Ive been thinking of setting up a refugium for my 120 reef tank. The tank has no overflow or sump or anything like that. The only thing i run is a Fluval 404 Canister Filter and my heater and about 4 powerheads. I was thinking of using a rubbermaid tub for the actual refugium or just like a 10-15 gal tank. How hard is it to get one of these set up? What kinda pumps and valves and stuff like that will I need? What am i looking at price wise and what are the advantages/disadvantages of having a refugium? I wouldnt ask you guys if i didnt know you knew what you were talking about UNLIKE my STUPID LFS! They are rude, im never going back there. I ban them for life Thanks for any info you guys can help me with........

 

[david s]

this is a tuff call a refuguim is like a natural protien skimmer basicly. It would be a big plus for your tank problem is no sump so u dont have a overflow i have seen some hang on the back ones but i know nothing about them .and also have seen some dyi for over the tank setups but my oppion is your money would be better spent on a sump then do refugium later mabe even a protien skimmer but its all prefrance and people set there tanks up diffrent

 

[i have no clue]

Here is my set up. I have a 125 gallon tank. I have a CPR overflow which can provide up to 600 gph, you can buy them bigger but 600 gph is plenty for me. The CPR overflow cost me $89. From my overflow I use 1 inch PVC pipe that runs down to my refugium and sump. I use a 18 gallon rubbermaid container for my refugium and a 10 gallon tank for my sump. Anyway, I use a T fitting and a check valve on the PVC pipe to allow a slow flow of water into my refugium, most of the water goes directly into the sump. I cut a hole into my refugium and added another PVC pipe there which runs to my sump. This acts as an overflow from the refugium to the sump. In the refugium, put a deep sand bed, some live rock, and some caulerpa. The caulerpa will naturally lower your nitrate. You'll need some light for your refugium, you can buy a grow light (for plants and such) at Walmart for around $10. All I have in my sump is a mag 5 pump.The mag 5 pump cost me $52. This pump returns the water back to my main tank. I use flexible rubber hosing for this that attaches to a hard plastic diverter. You need to keep the diverter at the water surface, do not put it under the water. If you lose power, the water will siphon back down this hose and you'll flood your carpet. I learned this from experience, brand new carpet that was 1 month old. You can buy any sized overflow and return pump to suit your needs as long as you follow one rule. The pump you buy cannot pump more water than your overflow can handle, you will flood your tank. For example, don't buy a pump that pushes 1000gph with an overflow that only provides 600gph. On the other hand, it's fine to have an overflow that provides 1000gph with a pump that provides 600gph because an overflow will only deliver what it's receiving, in this case 600gph.Here's wishing you good luck.

 

[amphiprion15]

A cheap HOB refugium is an aquaclear 500, emptied of foam and media, and filled with ls, lr, and if you can put lights over it, some macros.

 

[nm reef]

I am definitely a low tech sort of person.....some of this stuff is simply over my head. My next system will have a sump and dual over flows(I am still learning about how to set that stuff up).
But I do have a refugium on my current 55 reef and here is how us high tech challenged folks do it.....
Mine is a 35 gal rubbermaud container. It sits approximately 6 inches higher than my system. For me I was able to have it in the room directly behind the display(in an in-door workshop)....it is fed by a Hagen 802 powerhead from the display(these are reversable...pumps water to the refugium via a 3/4 inch ID plastic line. Flow rate is approximately 100 gal per hr. Return to the display is just as simple...2 seperate 3/4 inch ID plastic tubes that gravity return the water back through the wall into the display.Refugium contains approximately 60-80 lbs of ls and an additional 20-40 lbs of crud/rubble from the lr curing tanks of a favorite LFS...plus an assortment of caulpera algaes.I have a old Millinium 3000 filter hanging on my refugium to use bags of carbon and/or phosphate sponge in about once a month for 24-48 hours(basically to polish the water a bit)....when not using the carbon/phosphate sponge this additional filter only circulates the refugium a bit. This low tech project cost under $100 and is extremely effective. Shortly after installing it my nitrates fell to zero and have not been measureable since. Caluperas are growing like weeds(I might add that this is lite with 2x40 watts of 50/50 no flouresents...24/7)...I even return bags full of caulperas to my LFS for purchase credit....and toss even more.
The addition of a refugium can be in my opinion an extremely positive addition....simple.....lots of ways to design one...cheap....and a great suppliment to virtually any filtration set-up.
To address the why fors.....well my goals were
1- to increase water volume(additional 30 gals)
2-predator free environment for pods(I have a manderian dragonette)...pod population has simply exploded!!
3-place to grow and harvest caulpera algaes for excess nutrient export
4-remote site for equipment and additives....and water changes
Mine met and exceeded all set goals!!!

 

[y2says]

I wasn't sure of how to make mine, but I started with a rubbermaid tub that is 50g. I have one Filstar cannister filter now and just ordered another. One filter will feed the tank and the other will return it. I will have about 2-3" of sand and the left over pieces of LR that I didn't put in my main tank. I think a refugium is a great idea to lower nitrate, produce pods, easier to do water changes (especially in a big tank), and to hold your heaters/skimmers, etc. so it's not in the main tank.
One question I have is, how long do you leave the lights over it?

 

[fishfood]

In your situation I would try something similar to what NMreef stated. It would be the cheapest and easiest rout, unless you don't have a place to put the refugium that would be above your tank.
I'm moving in two weeks and will have my tank drilled when it is empty and run the plumbing from there. I'm using a 20g tank as the sump/refugium that has a divider in it. The return will probably be a mag 5 and will t-off to the sump.