Does size of refugium matter? (IN SUMP attempt)

[dnguyen1]

Hi guys, I don't have any extra space (I guess I can try to experiment w/ a HOB fuge in my sump but I probably won't have the space.

I have a compartment in my sump however that is maybe 10 gallons total (it's 40g sump)... my display is 70g... I was going to put live rock (I can't put sand in because of my baffles leaving a space at the bottom so the sand would just flow through.

So just live rock and Chaeto... will I be able to harvest enough to help w/ export of nutrients?

I have a power head I'll run in there to help the chaeto tumble and was going to connect just an LED like desktop lamp or something to hang over and shine down.

 

[rjjr1963]

I think it would be a waste of time and energy.

 

[JTL]

10 gallons is sufficient for a fuge. The key is to make sure you have water from the display going into it.

 

[nereefpat]

I think fuges are usually worth doing. Just don't expect miracles in terms of N and P removal. The pod production is a good bonus too.

Algae turf scrubbers are supposedly more efficient for what you are interested.

 

[Sk8r]

Fuges are useful for culturing pods. For nitrate, as good a skimmer as you can; for phosphate, a GFO reactor (not that pricey).

 

[dnguyen1]

Cool got everything going as far as skimmer and GFO reactor, I'll work on ideas for the fuge.

 

[AlSimmons]

I think it would be a waste of time and energy.

+1

Unless your planning on having a specialized feeder such as a Mandarin I would skip the refuge as well.
Keep it simple. A decent water source, an efficient skimmer and a little bit of elbow grease can go a long way sometimes.

 

[ssky]

+1

Unless your planning on having a specialized feeder such as a Mandarin I would skip the refuge as well.
Keep it simple. A decent water source, an efficient skimmer and a little bit of elbow grease can go a long way sometimes.

Totally agree. Keep it simple or the hobby will overwhelm you.

 

[Rover88]

Hi guys, I don't have any extra space (I guess I can try to experiment w/ a HOB fuge in my sump but I probably won't have the space.

I have a compartment in my sump however that is maybe 10 gallons total (it's 40g sump)... my display is 70g... I was going to put live rock (I can't put sand in because of my baffles leaving a space at the bottom so the sand would just flow through.

So just live rock and Chaeto... will I be able to harvest enough to help w/ export of nutrients?

I have a power head I'll run in there to help the chaeto tumble and was going to connect just an LED like desktop lamp or something to hang over and shine down.

It sounds like your sump is very similar to mine.

I have a center compartment in my sump that I was gonna grow Chaeto in but haven't gotten round to doing. But I put a lot of spare rock and rubble in my sump just because I didn't have anywhere else it could really go! Eyes were too big for my tank and my scape. I haven't noticed any downside, aside from its gonna be annoying to clean.