100 Gallon SPS: Fuge or no fuge?????

[rstark33]

I am looking for some input on a new 100 gallon (54by20by22) and how to design the filtration to focus on SPS.
Basically, Fuge or no fuge? I plan to run a large skimmer in the sump (currently have a Red Sea berlin, but wil be upgrading). I can't decide if I should include a fuge with macro in the sump design or not.
I have heard some people say no and quite a few nice sps tanks here have them.
What do I do?

Basic setup:

2 250 Halides
2 110 Watt VHO actinics
100lbs base and live rock.
1" SSB.
Closed loop with super squirt powered by MAk4.
Red Sea Berlin skimmer
Knopp CA reactor
Auto top off.
Lots o SPS when it is stable.

Refugiun in sump????? can't decide.

Thanks!

 

[rstark33]

Here is the empty 100 gallon waiting for a sump and some drilling.

 

[rstark33]

No opinions? I'm amazed....

 

[Richreef]

I have a 75 gal SPS display tank with 10 gal fuge (not in sump), with sand, caulerpa and chaeto, light: 24/7 not problem at all !!!!

___________________
In LA soon !

 

[fishdoc11]

If you plan on having several fish it wouldn't hurt but IMO isn't necessary either. IMO a fuge will take out some additional nutrients(not a lot unless it's large) and will help increase pod populations etc........

It really depends on what you are trying to do and what fish you are trying to keep etc....

Chris

 

[rstark33]

In the past I ran a 75 softy tank with a RDP fuge that worked very well. I have just had a few people, one being a very experienced LFS owner, that claim caulerpa and SPS don't mix well.

I am trying to make sure that is no true. I like the benefits the fuge gives for fish, as I really want a good number of fish. I also like the nutrient exprt it provides.
Anyone have any negative experiences from caulerpa or a fuge in an SPS dominated tank???
Thanks for the input so far.
Rich

 

[marine_freak]

I am quite partial to a fuge, they have far many benefits that outweigh the drawbacks!!!

 

[fishdoc11]

Not sure what RDP stands for.........If you want a fuge in an sps tank I would definately use chaeto, not caulerpa. Caulerpa can go sexual and this event seems to stress sps in ceartain situations. You might also think about keeping the fuge barebottom as this is where lots of detritus will tend to settle and keeping it barebottom will allow you to siphon it out and help keep detritus and in turn phosphates and nitrates from building up.

Chris

 

[MiddletonMark]

IMO, if you've had success running a tank with a 'fuge in the past, I'd consider doing so again. As there are other algae choices, I'd just venture that route.

Worst case scenario, you end up not running it [or turn it into a frag tank].

 

[parothead22]

IMO, refugiums are very beneficial to a reef tank especially, in that it adds more area for beneficial bacteria, and a good place for growing copopods mysis shrimp etc.. It acts as a home for smaller, fragile organisms such as baby peppermint shrimp or neon gobies. Can use different media for substrate without it going all over the place, such as Fiji mud or marine biosediment. It can be used to house mangrove rods or cheatomorph or caulerpa with a reverse daylight scheme. Even for the fact that refugiums with macro in it will compete for nutrients that would otherwise be taken up and aid in the grow of microalgae is reason enough for me to add arefugium to my system.
Basically, it can be used for various purposes,none of which,is irrelevant to a reef tank. The sky is the limit to what you want to do with your refugium.

 

[rstark33]

Glad to hear the positive comments. I am leaning the way of a fuge and I think you all just pushed me over!
I'll section off part of my sump for a fuge and split the ovelfow to run through the fuge per Melev's design J.(http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/j/sump_model_j.html)

I'll post some pics when I get the pieces back to put it together. I am sending a cut list to an acrylic company, then assembling and drilling it myself.
Thanks.

 

[ScotchMaster]

I would never build another tank without a fuge....I love my fuge

 

[samsfishnchips]

rstark33,

if you are going to use sand, and you are, then fuge would be beneficial,

if on the other hand you do barebottom, them a fuge would in fact could be counterproductive, and in a properly setup tank, chaeto will either die or won't,

good luck with your setup,

sam

 

[funstarfish]

In an SPS tank i do not think a fuge makes a lot of sense as a tool for nutrient export. But a small fuge for growing pods would be a good thing. Depends on what you want to accomplish with your fuge...

 

[Dan Fagan]

I took down my fuge after 2 years. For me, it was a source of cyano and other nusiance algae. I was very reluctant at first but after running about a month without the fuge in line, 90 % of my cyano/ algae issues disappeared.

Many many others swear by them. he same nutrirnt export can be achieved with a good skimmer IMO. By the way, I recommend sticking with chaeto only. Culerpa and other macroalgae IMO end up doing more harm than good.

 

[parothead22]

You have to be careful and use 24/7 lighting if you plan on using caulerpa, so it doen't go sexual and mess your tank up big time. Plus many organisms get sick if they eat too much of it.

 

[rstark33]

I know that can happen, but in 2 plus years of running a reverse daylight producing huge amounts of caulerpa, it never went sexual....I was pulling out buckets full every couple of weeks.

I know people have had it happened but my experience and all those I personally kow, have never seen it.

 

[podder]

Caulerpa tends to go sexual when the lighting is 24/7 - otherwise it will remain in a vegative state. Chaeto however remains vegative with 24/7.