Any SPS keepers still using a refugium these days?

[blakers82]

I'm running a BB fuge, with a good bit of live rock and chaeto on top. My fuge is fed from the out on my AC reactor which helps keep any detritus to a minimum. (I also run GFO and AC in seperate reactors).

A friend runs a similar system as me, except he had the grossest looking refugium on his 90 gal SPS tank. I realized he never touched his while I cleaned mine. He has held some of the healthiest SPS I've seen anywhere. I know there are many many variables from tank to tank, but I now let my fuge compartment do its thing. I believe my SPS are looking better. I can't attribute the good colors to just a nasty fuge, but I've been keepin everything else consistent.

 

[rehype]

I went back to running a refugium after trying pretty much every other method of nutrient export Theres basically no upkeep to it other than pruning it every few weeks.I dedicated one chamber to cheato and one to caulerpa prolifera now my skimmer barely pulls any skimmate and im considering taking it offline. I will say its important to have proper lighting to get the most out of using macroalgae.

my sps have never looked better

 

[reefmutt]

rehype, nice shots, wicked coloration. not to derail the thread, but what lighting are you using?

 

[vijaym85]

rehype, one word WOW! Your colors are perfect, got any more info on your system?

I was considering just growing chaeto, in a section of my sump. Pretty limited for space unfortunately. I was thinking of using it to augment my other means of nutrient export not for it to be the sole way. I Guess I want to take a multi angle approch to tackle the nitrates and phosphates. I use the full zeovit method and GFO right now and they do a good job. I guess I wanted to see if this will make things even better, and take me to the next level. I know it is "supposed" to help with noctournal pH as well which is a plus if it does. Looks like many of you have had success with a fuge I might just go for it.

Just wondering, should just using chaeto suffice, I really don't want sand and rocks and all that in my sump. I worry about the detrius and dont want sand getting into my skimmer intake which is pretty close by. So is just chaeto ok? Any other macro algae I should grow?

Anybody have experience trying to use zeovith and a fuge at once? I guess if the zeovith is really doing amazing and correctly sized to the tank, then theoretically the algae won't grow I'm assuming...

thanks and glad to see all the interest in this topic.

 

[phishybusiness]

No kidding, what nice colors. I second the light question.

 

[rehype]

rehype, nice shots, wicked coloration. not to derail the thread, but what lighting are you using?

Thanks man. Im using a ATI 6 bulb dimmable sunpower with (2) blue reeefbrite XHO

rehype, one word WOW! Your colors are perfect, got any more info on your system?

Just wondering, should just using chaeto suffice, I really don't want sand and rocks and all that in my sump. I worry about the detrius and dont want sand getting into my skimmer intake which is pretty close by. So is just chaeto ok? Any other macro algae I should grow?

Anybody have experience trying to use zeovith and a fuge at once? I guess if the zeovith is really doing amazing and correctly sized to the tank, then theoretically the algae won't grow I'm assuming...

thanks and glad to see all the interest in this topic.

Thanks alot its a 22 gallon shallow cube. Its been running for about a year and a half.

Cheato will get the job done but use a strong light and good flow to keep detritus from building up. I currently keep a minijet running in the cheato chamber and run a 16 watt 5000K Floodlight 24/7. I also keep caulerpa prolifera in another chamber under the same conditons minus the powerhead. Ive found those two species to be the most efficient at nutrient export without worrying about it going sexual or spreading and wreaking havoc in your display.

In a true ULNS zeovit system macroalgae is typically unable to survive those conditions.

No kidding, what nice colors. I second the light question.

Thanks alot

 

[metalmulisha]

Rehype: Great job in re-establishing the usefulness of refugiums

 

[rehype]

Rehype: Great job in re-establishing the usefulness of refugiums

Thanks mulisha. I really wish i wouldve stuck with them from the beginning of this tank build as it wouldve saved me alot of headaches. Ive used them on previous builds but just wanted to try out some of the other methods out of curiosity. Refugiums(when used properly) are one of the most efficient methods of nutrient export and are very easy to maintain.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I tried to use refugiums on my setups for 6 years and finally gave up. I never got the algae to grow. Tried multiple types of refugiums on two different systems in two different states, tried when I had low nutrients and again when I had high nutrients. Tried high flow and low flow (both in-fuge flow and fuge turnover), high light, low light, reverse light, 24/7 light, sand in the fuge, barebottom, rock, no rock... never in any of the setups could I just get the algae to grow like its supposed to.

During most of this time I was running my tank essentially with the barebottom methodology (high DT flow, heavy skimming) and I came to the conclusion that I was using two clashing methodologies (removing waste before it breaks down vs. processing waste and the associated nutrients) so I took my fuge offline and never looked back. I think fuges can be successful and I think other means of achieving low nutrients can be successful, but I think when you start mixing systems and methodologies they kind of work against each other and neither gets its chance to shine.

 

[007Bond]

What are thoughts on fuge flow? high/ med./low?

 

[prop-frags]

We have used refugia for about 10 years.
Here's a shot of our 75, that serves as refug/prop tank:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/5698496558/" title="nt 1077 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2199/5698496558_9dd97cb486_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="nt 1077"></a>

We appreciate the different kinds of benefits that the refugium brings. We keep many wrasses in our setup and need that pod farm, and while we also use GFO, we find that there must be other forms of organics in the water column that the macro can help extract. We're getting good results:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6793623110/" title="P1000055 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6793623110_7cabbbb517_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="P1000055"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6939733827/" title="P1000051 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6939733827_2bca161ab7_b.jpg" width="1024" height="692" alt="P1000051"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6939733537/" title="nt 2126 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6939733537_48234427e2_b.jpg" width="1024" height="798" alt="nt 2126"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6795279172/" title="nt 2127 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/6795279172_b9ebcbcd42_b.jpg" width="1024" height="335" alt="nt 2127"></a>

Great thread - thanks for starting it. We really like the natural methods!

 

[reefmutt]

Wow, Steve, a fine looking tank.
What type of macro algae is that growing in the sump and would/could you get other types to grow?
I'm not very familiar with that broad, leafy algea..
Do you run it reverse daylight?
And what is lighting it?

 

[Drae]

That's two sets of pics from people claiming their fuges are at least somewhat responsible for their success. I personally believe in the benefits of a refugium simply for pods, ph swing, and to determine , to some degree, my nutrient level. Way more pros then cons IMO.

 

[Addiction2SPS]

I always have and always will use a fuge. The benefits greatly outweigh the cons, which is having an extra plug and a bulb. Even if it's not for reduction of nutrient levels it still helps with ph, pod cultivation, and other things like others stated.

 

[dixiedog]

I WOULD have a fuge, if chaeto would grow.

As it is, I run BB, filter sock, 10% WC's weekly, and a way oversized skimmer. That's it. No GAC, no GFO, no vodka, no pellets, no nothing. And nothing in the sump but some liverock.

And yet my SPS literally starve if I don't feed the tank heavily. Go figure.

 

[djsmallz]

Rehype, wow those are some nice colors and great photos. I'm jealous, what type of camera are you using?

 

[rehype]

Rehype, wow those are some nice colors and great photos. I'm jealous, what type of camera are you using?

Thanks alot dj those were shot with a canon 60D

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

rehype I agree nice pics and corals, but I think the pics are a bit oversaturated (unless you sand really is blue)

 

[lotusstar]

I have a question about this. I'm planning my next tank. Somewhere between 150-180 gallons. People always mention larger the better on a fuge to make it worthwhile. Well I have to keep any and all equipment under the tank. No fish room or basement. Was wondering how many gallons of my sump should be dedicated to a fuge if I want to make it worthwhile. I plan to use GFO also, but mainly want it for pod production as I would like to have a mandarin and a couple wrasses perhaps. Thanks!

 

[rehype]

rehype I agree nice pics and corals, but I think the pics are a bit oversaturated (unless you sand really is blue)

Unfortunately the blue LEDs through off the white balance. But those pics are very close to how the corals look when theres just the blue plus and royal blue LEDs are on.