Refugium

[elChino]

Hi, I've got a 55 G reef tank with a little hair algae problem. I've done some searching (while the search function was available) and found some solutions to algae in Refugiums. Problem is, I don't know what a Refugium is. Can someone point me towards some resources defining this or explaing this to me, please?

[Mariner]

A refugium is basically another tank/container attached to your display tank in which you can keep things like macro algae and extra LR to help with filtration and nutrient processing. Most refugiums also support a lot of "pods" and other microscopic life that adds to the overall health of your system.
Here are pics of my refugia --
The first sits in my sump under my 40g
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/stevexpnt/40g/40sump.jpg
The second is actually a trash can on a shelf behind my 75g
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/24125operating.jpg
HTH.
Mariner

[Avi]

Those are some fine ideas, Mariner. Here are some pages to read that will give some more info on refugiums:

http://www.3reef.com/refugiums.shtml

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/setup/index.htm

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.htm

[elChino]

what is necessary to set one up?

[elChino]

oh, great.. thanks!!

[thc0916]

If putting LR in a refugium, does it have to be LR from the main tank, or can it be newly purchased LR from my local store? If it is okay for new LR, does it have to be quarantined beforehand?

[Saltwaterdiver]

hi there,

i have one of these in tank refugiums i bought from my LFS and is working perfectly. Granted it may not be what you what or need but i thought i would share it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20758&item=3979571598&rd=1

If you want to PM me ill tell where i got mine and it wasnt on ebay. link is just to show you the item. A bit of Live sand, some cheato and a powerhead to circulate the water and your in biz!!!

[Mariner]

If putting LR in a refugium, does it have to be LR from the main tank, or can it be newly purchased LR from my local store? If it is okay for new LR, does it have to be quarantined beforehand?

It doesn't have to be LR from the main tank. I put a nice sized piece in my fuge that I purchased from the local fish store. Just make sure it's fully cured LR -- I wouldn't just stick a piece in there that had just arrived from Fiji or wherever ;)
Personally, I don't quarantine cured LR, but if you prefer to QT everything that goes in your tank, you should probably QT the LR too.
HTH,
Mariner

[thc0916]

Do any snails or hermit crabs need to go into the refugium?

[dafraguy]

some types of snails will eat your macro

[Nuhtty]

www.melevsreef.com

[dustin Combs]

A sand bed, some live rock rubble, some macro, clean up crew. You now have a refug.

[elChino]

so i was talking to an employee at a LFS and he informed me that in order to run an effective refugium, meaning to effective filter the water, it needs to have about 75% of the surface area of the main tank. is this correct?

having a 55 gal tank, this would require me to run a refugium of a little over 40 gallons. does this sound right?

[Reefugee]

That's a new one for me. Sounds like another bad advice. The extra surface area will permit more area for oxygen exchange, but that can be accomplish more efficiently through other means. For eample, water fall effects or bubbles from a skimmer will probably introduce more oxygen to your tank than the surface area.

Minh

Originally posted by chino1
so i was talking to an employee at a LFS and he informed me that in order to run an effective refugium, meaning to effective filter the water, it needs to have about 75% of the surface area of the main tank. is this correct?

having a 55 gal tank, this would require me to run a refugium of a little over 40 gallons. does this sound right?

[elChino]

interesting. could a 10 gal tank be set in such a way, with proper modifications, to be a suitable sump/refugium?

[Mariner]

The 75% figure is crazy. Obviously, the bigger the 'fuge, the more effective it can be (at least potentially), but any amount of additional nutrient export (via macroalgae) and additional biofiltration (via LR) is going to benefit your system. IMO, a 10g would work fine for a 55g display.
Mariner

[elChino]

cool, thank you much!