Cryptic Zone sump /refugium?

[buffalo123]

Any advantage over the lighted sump /refugium ? Anyone running a cryptic zone please let us know your experience.

 

[Tzwizzle]

Well in theory refugiums have the advantage of removing some phosphate from your system if set up correctly. Also if you have your fuge lights on opposite schedules it can stabilize your ph.

Without the fuge you are just adding additional water to your system (larger volume is less prone to crashes) and hiding your skimmer/heaters/reactors.

Lights are cheap. If you have room in your sump you can throw some macro algae in it regardless of baffles. I've used live rock rubble to keep my chaeto out of the pumps.

 

[fermentedhiker]

Just my opinion, but I don't seem them as competitive ideas. I suspect most people running dark fuges are also running regular lighted ones as well. Do a search for "duplex refugium" and you'll see some examples of people trying to squeeze both into the space they have.

 

[Tzwizzle]

Err I did a bit of digging to better understand (learn something new every day!) Seems to me that you still need a way to remove the stored energy/waste from your system. Cheato grows quickly and is easily removed. I'd think that sponges and other critters grow slower and may be harder to remove?

 

[buffalo123]

Thanks for responses.

 

[jeffkeith_us]

You've Really Got Me Figured Out

You've Really Got Me Figured Out

Just my opinion, but I don't seem them as competitive ideas. I suspect most people running dark fuges are also running regular lighted ones as well. Do a search for "duplex refugium" and you'll see some examples of people trying to squeeze both into the space they have.

They aren't competitive, they are synergistically coupled.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I often find myself putting various 'things' (like corals) in my DSB or sump area as storage until I have time to rearrange the display tank to make room. So I light my refugium/DSB/sump.