Anyone with Display Refugiums

[Rizup]

I got tired of having to clean the chaeto out of my sump and also having it getting into my display tank, so I have decided to setup a dedicated refugium. This will be setup as a smaller display tank, so I plan to eventually add some fish or something else to it. I am thinking of putting in a DSB that would allow me to house a blue spotted jawfish as well as help with filtration. I will also run some chaeto and maybe some other macro algae as well. I will be using a 29 gallon tank for the refugium that sits on a metal stand above my quarantine tank. It will be fed from my return manifold and will drain back into my sump.

Does anyone else have a refugium setup as another display tank and if so would you mind posting some pics of it? I would appreciate it very much.

 

[EMV7904]

Instead of draining to your sump, ideally it should drain right into the DT. Most people can't pull it off because of how high it would be, but that would be best. SOME animals will make it to the DT from the sump, but lots will be chopped up.

I wanted to do exactly what you describe, jawfish etc, clowns, dsb and the whole 9 yards.

The advice I got was that fish in the refugium will defeat the purpose of why I wanted the fuge. It is meant to be a 'refuge' from predatory animals, and adding fish would be adding predatory animals. lol

It all depends on what you want your fuge's main function to be. If you want it for pod growth, algae growth etc, don't add fish/crabs. Snails would be ok, starfish should be good, cucumbers, and even urchins.

 

[Rizup]

It is not possible to have the tank above the display, so that is why it will be located where it is. There is plenty of debate on whether pods, etc will make it through the return and I am sure some will. The ones that don't make it alive will be food anyway.

I have lots of live rock in my sump that offers a good "refugium" for pods to multiply. This "display fuge" will be used to:

1) add additional water volume to the system
2) contain a DSB/macro algae for additional filtration/nutrient export
3) house additional animals that I cannot have in my main tank
4) possible propagation area for corals

I am sure there are some other benefits I am leaving out, but the top three I listed are my main goals for the "display fuge."

 

[noahm]

Depending on he pump, the majority of pods will make it through. There have been a few experiments done on this and it is pretty conclusive that most of them will make it through. In my own experience, I have taken off the intake grill on my return pump to clean the filter, and watched whole caulerpa leaves go through an come out the loc-line intact several times.

 

[TheMcs]

I have a display fuge, but no obvious predatory animals in it. It drains to my sump, but I figure if a mandarin can make it through my pump alive, then pods ought to be able to.

 

[conorwynne]

I am sure all the pods would make it through, because...

.. my sailfin mollies had babies (in the display), they rode the gauntlet to the sump / skimmer section (only a DOC9002 skimmer mind), through to the "DSB in buckets" compartment (nothing to kill them yet), through the chaeto section (still safe), and then successfully rode the impellors of death (two passes) into my hang-on-fuge, and then collected in the phosban reactor!

-- I only noticed them when I went to change the media. God only knows how long they were in there, eating detritus & algae.

They have since grown and reside in the hang-on-fuge. I am sure they have rode the gauntlet many times at this stage.

Before they even made it to the gauntlet, they had to get by my foot wide anenome! These guys are just magic!

 

[Rizup]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15425776#post15425776 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheMcs
I have a display fuge, but no obvious predatory animals in it. It drains to my sump, but I figure if a mandarin can make it through my pump alive, then pods ought to be able to.

Exactly! Any pics of the fuge?

 

[Rizup]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15426166#post15426166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by conorwynne
I am sure all the pods would make it through, because...

.. my sailfin mollies had babies (in the display), they rode the gauntlet to the sump / skimmer section (only a DOC9002 skimmer mind), through to the "DSB in buckets" compartment (nothing to kill them yet), through the chaeto section (still safe), and then successfully rode the impellors of death (two passes) into my hang-on-fuge, and then collected in the phosban reactor!

-- I only noticed them when I went to change the media. God only knows how long they were in there, eating detritus & algae.

They have since grown and reside in the hang-on-fuge. I am sure they have rode the gauntlet many times at this stage.

Before they even made it to the gauntlet, they had to get by my foot wide anenome! These guys are just magic!

Wow! Now that is impressive!!

 

[pledosophy]

Here is the first one I set up before it filled in. Maybe 6 years ago.

Here is my current tank in my bedroom. More of a display then a display refugium, but where most people would have a sump, I have a LPS grow out tank.

 

[Metal7fold22]

i had a 30 gallon fuge attached to my 60 gallon tank and they were side by side..in my fuge i hade chateo, crap load of copipods and my snowflake eel haha..yea not a usual refugium dweller but oh well..he liked it in there lol

 

[discocarp]

That ochtodes is gorgeous.

 

[lombard0]

I have a 55gal that drains directly to the display tank, although I can't call it totally a fuge though because I have a sixline wrasse to keep the pods in check, and a pygmy hawkfish.

My display tank.

My other "fuge", side A...

side B...

 

[Rizup]

Sweet! Thanks for posting.

Anyone else want to share info about their setup? Anyone want to post some pics?

 

[reefergeorge]

lombard0- Is that a standard tank with the rock work around it, or is it a plywood tank with a viewing window?

If its a plywood tank, is there a build thread? Sorry for the jack.

 

[reefscape15]

Pledosophy - That Macro tank is incredible! One of my LFS has one and I've always thought they could make just as interesting displays as a reef tank. I'd love to be able to make one sometime.

On a question of having multiple tanks plumed together as a Main Display Tank, Sump/Fuge, and Fuge Display, you just need them to be in different height increments. You could keep your Display Fuge the highest, Main Display (coral/fish) somewhat lower, and Sump/Fuge at the lowest level. Then all you would need is a return pump from the Sump/Fuge --> Display Fuge. The water would overflow from the Display Fuge --> Main Display Tank --> Sump/Fuge