Originally Posted by
aquatics24
well im replacing the filter on the aquarium, and i dont know whether to go with a wet/dry or a refuge, well honestly i dont want to spend too much money...i might want to go with a refuge, but dont understand how exactly they work...i guess some put plants, some put live rock. either or; i can do the plumbing how ever....my next question is, i was going to need a protein skimmer for a bamboo catshark...well i was also told i didnt need a protein skimmer if i used a refuge?? any help would be great.
:happyfish Hi Ive had a REEF & FISH combo tank for about 5 years now & what Ive found so binafical about refuge, or some times called sump tanks is buy haveing 1 with live sand, and or liverock, this helps with nitrates!!! largely and you dont have to spend a lot $ just buy a 30lbs. bag of sand for about $30.00 put it in the refuge tank the live rocks binafical bactirea will slowly transfer over to the sand in the bottem tank and turn the sand you put in there in to live sand this helps greatly with Nitrates!!!. Live rock and live sand turns fish waste, that turns in to nitrates in to (Nitrogen gas) that will flote to the top in the form of bubbles, nitrogen bubbles this removeing nitrates so the more live rock, and live sand the better. In the live sand a lot of life will grow that is very binafical like ampipods, and copods, these are small all most shrimp looking little guys that will multiplye in a Refuge Tank better than any where els be cause nothing will bother them and then they will make there way in to the top tank this is a very important food source for a lot of fish!!! :happyfish
Yes you should get a Protein skimmer they will remove a great deal of toxins that build over time a protein skimmer is the fastest, and safest way to remove those toxins that can buld up UV filters can only remove some toxins and in some reserche long term use a UV filters can cause more harm then good because thay can cause sertan Non binafical bactirea to grow rapidly and you have to replace the UV light bulb in them every year this can get kinda exspins$$ with a protein skimmer you buy it and it works all most forever and there better for removeing toxins anyway...
When buying a Protein skimmer you want to get one that can skimm about double the size of your tank for the best binafit to the tank...The best deal Ive fond on protein skimmers is on ----!!! Tou can also buld a protein skimmer Inc. on the internet...
If you put Calurpa algea plant in your refuge tank it will help to lower nitrates, phausphates, ammona, and will work as a buffer to stop nusance algeas from growing like hair algea Calurpa allso will bread live Photoplanktop in time this is the #1 BEST reson to have a refuge tank Photolpankton is the single most inportant food for life for all sea life because photoplankton has large amounts of Omega3 fatty acids, Vitamens, and Minnarals this being very in portant food source for Coral, fish, and Invertabrates with out photoplankton there would be very little life in the oceans we love !!!! GOOD LUCK WITH THE REFUGE TANK!!! :happyfish :happyfish :happyfish
You can make a refuge tank out of a cheap 10,18,20,29,30gal. so on tanks and get some plexy plastic glass cut to your needed size at your local hardware store and glue them in as deviders as needed with aqua safe silacone glue...
