1.5 gallon refugiem worth it?

[ReefIsMyMadness]

Hey everybody, this forum is awesome! I've learned a lot so far but have a question. I have a 12g aquapod with 70w HQI sunpod with 6 volt atinic cree leds. I have 3snails,3hermets,Zoe's,paly's,rics, and some sps and I'm having a Nitrate issue and wondering if a refugeim even if its a old 1.5gal hex tank would be worth it? Or work for that matter. It fits perfectly in my stand and would look nice. What do you guys and gals think?

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[gbru316]

Hey everybody, this forum is awesome! I've learned a lot so far but have a question. I have a 12g aquapod with 70w HQI sunpod with 6 volt atinic cree leds. I have 3snails,3hermets,Zoe's,paly's,rics, and some sps and I'm having a Nitrate issue and wondering if a refugeim even if its a old 1.5gal hex tank would be worth it? Or work for that matter. It fits perfectly in my stand and would look nice. What do you guys and gals think?

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I looked into this for a 10g AIO I'm building. I have a 0.7g space for a fuge, but decided that using GFO would be a more efficient means of reducing nitrate. The BRS calculator said I need to run 2 TBSP of GFO, which certainly isn't going to break the bank.

 

[ReefIsMyMadness]

I looked into this for a 10g AIO I'm building. I have a 0.7g space for a fuge, but decided that using GFO would be a more efficient means of reducing nitrate. The BRS calculator said I need to run 2 TBSP of GFO, which certainly isn't going to break the bank.

Isnt GFO for removing Phosphates? I need to lower my nitrates that's why im interested in a refugium with some cheato and LR and would like a to build up a copepod colony to feed a mandarin when i get one. thanks

 

[gbru316]

Isnt GFO for removing Phosphates? I need to lower my nitrates that's why im interested in a refugium with some cheato and LR and would like a to build up a copepod colony to feed a mandarin when i get one. thanks

you're right, GFO is for phosphates. biopellets will, however, remove both no3 and po4.

I strongly advise you to rethink adding a mandarin to a 12g tank, even with a fuge. You will never be able to sustain one without regular additions of live copepods.

 

[ReefIsMyMadness]

Thanks for the info I googled GFO and found some pura pads with GFO that got some good reviews or I might buy some regular GFO and put it in a filter bag ontop of my carbon bag. What do you think would be better? I used to have a mandarin in this same tank the last time i had it setup and never really had a problem feeding him but I had a seperate 3gal tank for raising pods and I would tube feed him if the population started getting low.

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[ReefIsMyMadness]

I'm still interested in setting up a refugium, anybody know if a 1.5gal hex would work?

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[TundraGuy]

Mandarin are funny little critters so many people out there think you will starve one no matter what, but truth is you can get tank raised ones that will eat frozen foods out of the bag! You can also train your mandarin to eat frozen from live pods it takes time and care on the part of the owner but it can be done.

As for adding a small bit of cheto in a small fuge…… well to be honest I like the idea. For the most part unless you’re a diehard reefer, looking to control all elements in the tank your best off having as large a biodiversity as possible. Adding a small amount of cheto will add a new area for little critters to call home. I have seen people use an AC 10 and turn it in to a fuge with cheto in it and keep the fluval edge tanks vary happily. So I so go for it. Can we get some pix of what your talking about? It always helps to show pix.

 

[ganjero]

I'm still interested in setting up a refugium, anybody know if a 1.5gal hex would work?

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It will work to add more Fauna and volume to your tank, it will help export nutrients but it won't replace good husbandry (water changes, nutrient export media, vacuum detritus, etc.)

In such a small tank water weekly water changes should reduce nitrates significantly.

 

[TundraGuy]

+1 to ganjero

 

[dixiedog]

Hey everybody, this forum is awesome! I've learned a lot so far but have a question. I have a 12g aquapod with 70w HQI sunpod with 6 volt atinic cree leds. I have 3snails,3hermets,Zoe's,paly's,rics, and some sps and I'm having a Nitrate issue and wondering if a refugeim even if its a old 1.5gal hex tank would be worth it? Or work for that matter. It fits perfectly in my stand and would look nice. What do you guys and gals think?

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Ups and downs ...

It will not do much for you in the way of nitrate removal. But, it would 'clean up' your tank by giving you a place to put heaters, thermometers, etc, plus increase your volume by around 12%.

However, the water level in a sump that small will fluctuate wildly with evaporation. You probably won't be able to leave it for a weekend without topoff or you'll burn up the return pump.

The upside to THIS is, you could use the sump to add an ATO, which is one off the single best things you can possibly do.

Lots of things to consider.

 

[ganjero]

Ups and downs ...

It will not do much for you in the way of nitrate removal. But, it would 'clean up' your tank by giving you a place to put heaters, thermometers, etc, plus increase your volume by around 12%.

However, the water level in a sump that small will fluctuate wildly with evaporation. You probably won't be able to leave it for a weekend without topoff or you'll burn up the return pump.

The upside to THIS is, you could use the sump to add an ATO, which is one off the single best things you can possibly do.

Lots of things to consider.

You converted his refugium plan into a sump plan.

 

[ReefIsMyMadness]

Thanks everybody I'm gonna go ahead and give it a shot. Ill post some pictures when I get it going. If it doesn't workout for some reason ill probably turn into an ato. I'm just worried about getting the water to the refugium, I either have to build a siphon out of PVC or buy one of those hang on overflows. I'm leaning towards one of those CPR nano hangon overflow with a garantee it wont lose siphon.

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[Hangman187]

Good luck, looking forward to hearing how it all turns out..