Can you have success without a refugium?

[Justjohno]

I have a 100G mixed with sump. My sump has a refugium compartment but I have pure block and GFO reactor in that section. Tank is a little over a year old and looks OK, but my SPS corals just don't color like I've seen others. I follow the Redsea program, including NOPOX for Nitrate removal. I dose CA, ALK,MG and NOPOX. I have 2 Radions XR30's (standard, not pro). I get good PE from all my corals, but they look like brown sticks with a glowing green color usually on the base. Parms are CA - 450, ALK 9.5, MG 1350, Nitrate - 3, Phoshate .04. I follow the coral labs lighting schedule with an avg. PAR of 300 on my corals. Do you recommend my next step is to use my refugium compartment for what it's made for?

 

[djbon]

Affirmative!. No doubt you can.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Absolutely. I think refugiums only became popular about 8 to 10 years ago, although they've been around much longer.

Although I love having one so much I made a 50g tank to use as a display refugium (sits next to the DT) so I could show it off and keep some critters in it that I can't keep in the reef tank.

 

[heathlindner25]

My 1st year or 2 , I couldn't keep color in SPS either if that helps.

 

[madweazl]

There are so many successful examples of reefs with refugiums and without, with skimmers and without, with sumps and without, that it would be ridiculous to assume any of those options are necessary. I use one in an attempt to remove nutrients in a more natural way but with that said, I may have the same exact results if I removed it (no way for me to know). I do have a nice variety of other critters roaming around down there so that is a plus in my book.

As for the browning, is too much PAR a possibility for you?

 

[ericarenee]

A Refugium is for sure not needed.. Your Nutrients may be to low.

 

[Justjohno]

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep moving forward without a refugium.

Ron, I know what you're saying, I've seen your pics