Sumps and Refugiums, what's the difference?

spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
I ran into this refugium when I was researching sumps/refugiums

To me that looks like a combination of the 2 or am I mistaken?
 
nietzsche

nietzsche

Active Member
yes. i dont know if theres a word for the two combined, people usually say refugium but mean everything like that: a spot for macroalgae, lr, ls, and also places to put equipment in a different section. but when people say sump its just a tank with a place to put your equipment in and nothing else
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
Cool! We haven't decided on our sump for the 135g yet and I'm very tempted to get this and then get a really good skimmer.
 
willlovesfish

willlovesfish

Member
That's a sweet looking and clean sump/refugium. Will have to go with something like that when I do a bigger tank soon.
I too have been confused about the difference between the two. Nice to see a thread to clear all this up.
 
trish&dave

trish&dave

Member
I am very new to this hobby, but I can definitely highly recommend a refugium. We are using the "Ecosystem" model. Three chamber with inflow into bioballs; middle containing mud, calarpia, liverock, and some cleanup crew; filtering through additional bio balls into another chamber and pumped out.
We do not have a skimmer, but will watch carefully as it comes highly recommended. However, there is an "ecosystem" web page that claims one is not necessary with this set up. I have not read much to confirm other that talking with someone who uses the system and the website. Take it for what that is worth from a beginner!
 
ccampbell57

ccampbell57

Active Member
Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2472013
I ran into this refugium when I was researching sumps/refugiums

To me that looks like a combination of the 2 or am I mistaken?
That is my refugium!!!! Love it. The first chamber is for my Skimmer and UV. Second is for the Chaeto, substrate, and LR as well as snails, crabs, sandsifting stars. THe third is for return
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
Originally Posted by ccampbell57
http:///forum/post/2472588
That is my refugium!!!! Love it. The first chamber is for my Skimmer and UV. Second is for the Chaeto, substrate, and LR as well as snails, crabs, sandsifting stars. THe third is for return

Questions for you :)
- Any complaints?
- What skimmer do you have?
- What size is your tank?
- What pump do you have?
 
willlovesfish

willlovesfish

Member
Originally Posted by ccampbell57
http:///forum/post/2472588
That is my refugium!!!! Love it. The first chamber is for my Skimmer and UV. Second is for the Chaeto, substrate, and LR as well as snails, crabs, sandsifting stars. THe third is for return
Sweet, glad to hear you like it. Will be going with this one for sure :) Looks and sounds like a awesome one ;)
 
ccampbell57

ccampbell57

Active Member
Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2472713

Questions for you :)
- Any complaints?
- What skimmer do you have?
- What size is your tank?
- What pump do you have?
Only complaint I have is that I wish it had slots for filtration socks for the drains (I will have to fabricate on)
I currently have a modded ASM G3
My tank is a 180
I have a Little Giant 4MDX
Originally Posted by WillLovesFish
http:///forum/post/2473023
Sweet, glad to hear you like it. Will be going with this one for sure :) Looks and sounds like a awesome one ;)
It is great and highly recommended
 
anubisxero

anubisxero

Member
Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2472013
I ran into this refugium when I was researching sumps/refugiums

To me that looks like a combination of the 2 or am I mistaken?
I just bought this exact Refugium. ADHI model 45. Holds 45 gallons. It's a perfect setup and just what I wanted to buy, short of making my own (didn't quite trust my own craftsmenship)

I'm going to run use it on my 90 gallon RR AGA with a mag 9.5 and my crappy coralife SS. (hopefully i'll upgrade to an ASM model)
But yeah, it's a great lookin' sump/fuge.
Jason
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
How much did you end up spending on it Jason, if you don't mind me asking? I'm going for the 60 for our 135g tank.
 
scotts

scotts

Active Member
I am butting in here, but since I am so cheap and a DIY type of guy, I have to say that is pretty pricey. I mean if you look at it, it is the same think as a 60 gallon tank with some stuff put in it. The reason I say this is that I am using my old 55 gallon as my sump/refugium for my 125. I know that your hubby could take an old aquarium and put the baffles in and turn it into that same thing and it would probably be at least $300 cheaper.
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Scotts
http:///forum/post/2473769
I am butting in here, but since I am so cheap and a DIY type of guy, I have to say that is pretty pricey. I mean if you look at it, it is the same think as a 60 gallon tank with some stuff put in it. The reason I say this is that I am using my old 55 gallon as my sump/refugium for my 125. I know that your hubby could take an old aquarium and put the baffles in and turn it into that same thing and it would probably be at least $300 cheaper.
I know... he just doesn't have the time to do it. The little time he is home he wants to spend with his little girls, sleep and relax. If we had started out *right* on our journey, he would have built the sump/ref and not even start messing with a cylinder filter like we have right now. I also wish I had found this message board 3 months ago. I honestly believe we would have avoided the many little mistakes we've made and made a lot wiser choises in the equipment we purchased. We've burned a crapload of money so far... ughhh don't get me started
 
megan84

megan84

Member
I am brand new (as in I just bought my very first tank about two hours ago) to this hobby. I'm purchasing items in phases, and something simmilar to this sump/fuge was recomended to me by the LFS. It looks identical, but the one I was shown has BIO balls in it. Do I need those? What exactly is a sump? Also, the one in the store was about $1000. I see this is priced about $500. Is the difference only because of the BIO balls?
thanks!!
 
megan84

megan84

Member
Yikes!! 5 minutes more research and I found the one including bioballs for about $750! As said in a previous post, this claims to not need a protein skimmer. Am I being lied to? I thought a skimmer was an absolute necessity, no questions asked.
A sump/refuge is a filter. Correct?
 
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