AquaClear 110 DIY/HOB refugium thoughts

[nfrench2100]

I don't have any space for a sump and have been thinking about modding my old AC110 as a hob refugium for a pod population. I've seen some videos on YouTube, but wanna hear from anyone who has ever done this. Pros/Cons
TIA!


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[Uncle99]

Hey, that's a great idea, hang on fuge.....
I am going to look this up, interesting!

 

[nfrench2100]

I thought so too. I've got JUST, enough room on the back of my tank next to my skimmer for the AC


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[snowlynx]

I went low budget to try out HOB fuge, finnex one on Amazon.

Running about 2 months now, cheato has grown. I actually got the
it to tumble till it got too large, so I pulled it apart to reduce size.
I still have GHA on my frags.

You probably won't have cyano issues as with the AC, higher flow rate.
I have this issue with the low GPH pump that came with the finnex.

 

[nfrench2100]

I went low budget to try out HOB fuge, finnex one on Amazon.

Running about 2 months now, cheato has grown. I actually got the
it to tumble till it got too large, so I pulled it apart to reduce size.
I still have GHA on my frags.

You probably won't have cyano issues as with the AC, higher flow rate.
I have this issue with the low GPH pump that came with the finnex.

I looked into going with the BlueOcean REF15. Then realized that the AC I had collecting dust in the closet was essentially the same thing. I'm really just curious to see if anyone else has used an AC for the same purpose. What tweaks they may have made. Maybe a footprint to go off of.

I bought some aquarium safe DAP Silicone tonight from HomeDepot. And I'm about to just jump right into it and see what I come up with actually cause I'm antsey and don't feel like waiting lol

I'll post some pics along the way


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[snowlynx]

I looked into going with the BlueOcean REF15. Then realized that the AC I had collecting dust in the closet was essentially the same thing. I'm really just curious to see if anyone else has used an AC for the same purpose. What tweaks they may have made. Maybe a footprint to go off of.

I bought some aquarium safe DAP Silicone tonight from HomeDepot. And I'm about to just jump right into it and see what I come up with actually cause I'm antsey and don't feel like waiting lol

I'll post some pics along the way


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Nice. I think the flow rate on the 110 might be too much, not sure
if other diyers were able to swap impellers, the 110 doesn't fit the lower
models.

Hope it works out

 

[Reincarnate]

If you don't have a specialized feeder such as a Mandarin, Pipefish etc, I woulndn't worry about the Pods. (even as a food source for the corals) The power filter even in itself won't really provide enough filtration as a Refugium either IMO. (Chaeto?) In other words, keep it simple... Less can be more sometimes. GL.

 

[MurphyLong]

Here's an entire thread on the AC110-HOB Refugium conversion:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=601201

 

[ReefMaster48]

What size tank is that? 30?

To make a noticeable difference, a rufegium has to be proportional to the main tank. I don't think that you'll be able to see any substantive nutrient reduction in a HOB. Look at it this way, if you main is 30 gallons, then the fuge only adds maybe a gallon. There isn't enough chaeto in there to continually export nutrients. There are still benefits with a HOB and any size fuge, but don't expect a HOB to work just as well as a 20 gallon tank filled with chaeto.

Check out BRStv and Tidal Gardens on YouTube, they have some great advice on this issuse! Caution though, as I think BRS is still collecting data on success in a actual reef tank not just a study tank.

 

[nfrench2100]

Thanks for the replies guys. I really wanted to make the fuge for pod population. I'd like to get a mandarin at some point and know that without a fuge, it's almost impossible to keep them without starving them out.

Nutrient export would be nice as well, but I'm not so worried about that right now.




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[Sugar Magnolia]

Here's an entire thread on the AC110-HOB Refugium conversion:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=601201

:wavehand:

 

[ReefMaster48]

Thanks for the replies guys. I really wanted to make the fuge for pod population. I'd like to get a mandarin at some point and know that without a fuge, it's almost impossible to keep them without starving them out.

Nutrient export would be nice as well, but I'm not so worried about that right now.




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That little HOB likely won't be enough for a mandarin. And your 30 gallon would quickly empty of food sources for one also. I would suggest checking into a captive bred mandarin! https://www.algaebarn.com/product/biota-captive-bred-green-mandarin/ They are a little expensive, and you might have to hunt around to find some, but well worth it. Don't have to worry about starving it, it will be a hardier fish, and less impact on the environment!

 

[nfrench2100]

Hmmmm.... Well! Lol. That's a little disconcerting. Well I've been talking with the wife about this little project. Told if it didn't work, that I'd be looking into upgrading lol. I may have just found me reason for that!

Anywho! Thanks for all your guys input. I think I'm still going to do it, seeing that I've got everything to do it anyways. And just see what happens. Was the worst that could happen right?


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[MurphyLong]

Hmmmm.... Well! Lol. That's a little disconcerting. Well I've been talking with the wife about this little project. Told if it didn't work, that I'd be looking into upgrading lol. I may have just found me reason for that!

Anywho! Thanks for all your guys input. I think I'm still going to do it, seeing that I've got everything to do it anyways. And just see what happens. Was the worst that could happen right?


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If you're going to attempt a Mandy in a 30g tank, make sure the other tank inhabitants aren't pod-eaters as well, so there's no competition. The AC110 should be a sufficient fuge for Pod sustainment, assuming there is rubble and chaeto in there. As mentioned, it won't do much for nutrient export, but you seem to just want a "safe space" for the food.
Once the tank is cycled, try to wait at least 6 months before getting one though, and order some pods (like from AlgaeBarn) and seed the tank. Make sure they have something to feed on (phyto) once they are in the tank.
With a 'fuge for pods, you want low flow through the chaeto, if it's nutrient export, you want higher flow. I have a practically new AC110 that I used as a fuge on my 40 cube last year, and I took the easy way out by just clipping the blades on the impeller in half, which cut the flow decently. I didn't keep a mandy, but I did have a Scooter Dragonet in there, who got pretty fat before I moved him to the 125.


What else do you plan on keeping in the tank?

 

[nfrench2100]

If you're going to attempt a Mandy in a 30g tank, make sure the other tank inhabitants aren't pod-eaters as well, so there's no competition. The AC110 should be a sufficient fuge for Pod sustainment, assuming there is rubble and chaeto in there. As mentioned, it won't do much for nutrient export, but you seem to just want a "safe space" for the food.

Once the tank is cycled, try to wait at least 6 months before getting one though, and order some pods (like from AlgaeBarn) and seed the tank. Make sure they have something to feed on (phyto) once they are in the tank.

With a 'fuge for pods, you want low flow through the chaeto, if it's nutrient export, you want higher flow. I have a practically new AC110 that I used as a fuge on my 40 cube last year, and I took the easy way out by just clipping the blades on the impeller in half, which cut the flow decently. I didn't keep a mandy, but I did have a Scooter Dragonet in there, who got pretty fat before I moved him to the 125.





What else do you plan on keeping in the tank?

Tank has been up and running since 9-1-17. Stock list is 2 Clowns. 1 Royal Gramma. 1 Scooter Blenny. 1 Striped Skunk Shrimp. 1 Fire Red Shrimp. 6 Turbos and 8 RL Hermits. 1 Serpent Star. And 1 Pistol Shrimp

I know there are pods currently IN my DT, as I've been seeing them all over the glass for the past month. My scooter is doing fine and even eats frozen foods every time I feed the tank.

I also have about a dozen corals that are all doing well and showing good PE and growth.

I am in no hurry to add the Mandarin. So I don't mind waiting a couple months. The last thing I'd want to do is slowly starve him. I just figured I'd go ahead and get the fuge up and running and see how the chaeto and pods do


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[MurphyLong]

Tank has been up and running since 9-1-17. Stock list is 2 Clowns. 1 Royal Gramma. 1 Scooter Blenny. 1 Striped Skunk Shrimp. 1 Fire Red Shrimp. 6 Turbos and 8 RL Hermits. 1 Serpent Star. And 1 Pistol Shrimp

I know there are pods currently IN my DT, as I've been seeing them all over the glass for the past month. My scooter is doing fine and even eats frozen foods every time I feed the tank.

I also have about a dozen corals that are all doing well and showing good PE and growth.

I am in no hurry to add the Mandarin. So I don't mind waiting a couple months. The last thing I'd want to do is slowly starve him. I just figured I'd go ahead and get the fuge up and running and see how the chaeto and pods do


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The Scooter Blenny (Dragonet) is a pod grazer, just like Mandarins. The Scooter alone is risky, and adding a Mandy to a tank that already has a deliberate pod grazer is a perfect recipe for starvation. Even if you get a tank-raised species of dragonet that eats prepared foods, they have a unique GI tract which is much like a straight tube, so they can't survive on prepared foods alone, unless you're constantly feeding the tank. (which obviously isn't reasonable.)

With that warning, people are gonna do what people want (which is usually ignoring advice, and results in the unfortunate deaths of awesome creatures) and if you still decide you gotta have a mandy, the only way you could justifiably (or excusably) attempt to keep it and the Scooter healthy and thriving would be with regular seeding of the tank with more pods (like a subscription from AlgaeBarn as mentioned earlier) otherwise... RIP.

Also, a tank that has only been running for 45 days is probably inadequate for the scooter as it sits, the only saving grace is likely the live rock already having established pod colonies.

If you have the extra time and space, you can culture your own pods for seeding your tank, but by the time you add a fuge, start culturing (which is a pretty dedicated process) or start ordering pods on the regular... it ends up being a huge case of "I should have just gone with a bigger tank."

I'm not trying to be a Debbie-downer about it, because I am a HUGE lover of Dragonets- I just hate reading about bad scenarios... People love to post pictures, "Look at my new beautiful Mandarin!" but rarely follow up with a year-later shot.. because they're already dead.

 

[nfrench2100]

The Scooter Blenny (Dragonet) is a pod grazer, just like Mandarins. The Scooter alone is risky, and adding a Mandy to a tank that already has a deliberate pod grazer is a perfect recipe for starvation. Even if you get a tank-raised species of dragonet that eats prepared foods, they have a unique GI tract which is much like a straight tube, so they can't survive on prepared foods alone, unless you're constantly feeding the tank. (which obviously isn't reasonable.)



With that warning, people are gonna do what people want (which is usually ignoring advice, and results in the unfortunate deaths of awesome creatures) and if you still decide you gotta have a mandy, the only way you could justifiably (or excusably) attempt to keep it and the Scooter healthy and thriving would be with regular seeding of the tank with more pods (like a subscription from AlgaeBarn as mentioned earlier) otherwise... RIP.



Also, a tank that has only been running for 45 days is probably inadequate for the scooter as it sits, the only saving grace is likely the live rock already having established pod colonies.



If you have the extra time and space, you can culture your own pods for seeding your tank, but by the time you add a fuge, start culturing (which is a pretty dedicated process) or start ordering pods on the regular... it ends up being a huge case of "I should have just gone with a bigger tank."



I'm not trying to be a Debbie-downer about it, because I am a HUGE lover of Dragonets- I just hate reading about bad scenarios... People love to post pictures, "Look at my new beautiful Mandarin!" but rarely follow up with a year-later shot.. because they're already dead.

No no. You're not be a "œDebbie-Downer" by any means. And I appreciate your two cents. Fortunately, I am pretty good at asking advice, and taking advice. The LAST THING, I want to do is harm ANY, of the fish/corals/invertebrates that I keep in my Reef. I am glad to be a part of this forum because I can ask questions about things that I'm not too sure about.

I totally understand, and agree with what your saying about waiting and what not. And that is exactly what I will do.

My Scooter seems very happy and healthy, and I wouldn't want that to change just because I wanted a pretty little Mandarine for my own viewing pleasure lol

I am still going to go forward with the fuge, because as I said before, why not? If anything, more pods for my Scooter could never hurt!

And as always. Thank you all so much! For all of your advice!


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[MurphyLong]

No no. You're not be a "œDebbie-Downer" by any means. And I appreciate your two cents. Fortunately, I am pretty good at asking advice, and taking advice. The LAST THING, I want to do is harm ANY, of the fish/corals/invertebrates that I keep in my Reef. I am glad to be a part of this forum because I can ask questions about things that I'm not too sure about.

I totally understand, and agree with what your saying about waiting and what not. And that is exactly what I will do.

My Scooter seems very happy and healthy, and I wouldn't want that to change just because I wanted a pretty little Mandarine for my own viewing pleasure lol

I am still going to go forward with the fuge, because as I said before, why not? If anything, more pods for my Scooter could never hurt!

And as always. Thank you all so much! For all of your advice!


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If your Scooter makes it to the 1 year mark in that tank without thinning out, I would consider that success, and wouldn't risk adding a Mandarin at all. The fuge will definitely help to keep the pod population from getting decimated by the little scooter.

Anecdotal: I started this hobby when my wife asked our youngest daughter if she wanted a little brother or sister to play with (she was 4 at the time.) I said, "How about a goldfish instead!"

Dad: 1
Mom: 0

So, we set her up with a little 2 gallon tank with a feeder fish, and sure enough that sucker got bigger and bigger, so I decided it was time to upgrade my 20g FW tank, and give it to her, and I moved up to a 55, this time going SW. Then a few years went by, and sure enough, we ended up with another kid. Then the conversation happened with him... "Do you want a little brother?" Of course he did... So I offered him a fish!

Dad: 2
Mom: 1

Now he had a 10g, his sister gave up the 20g, and I ended up moving up to an Oceanic 110 tall. Over a few years, the tank started to lean to one side, and I discovered it was between joists, with little subfloor support, and my job required me to start deploying with Marines for 30+ days at a time, so I sold off the livestock and tank...

A year ago, I took a new job that doesn't take me away from home outside of banker's hours, and I setup a 125 this year, spending many months just in setup and planning, and I still feel like it's never going to be "done."

I have maybe $1,000 invested in it currently, with the main expense so far being the lights ($400) tank and equipment ($350) and the livestock making up the rest.


The moral of the story? If you think you'll ever want to "go bigger," do it sooner than later. It opens up so much more possibility with aquascaping, livestock, and stability.