HOB Refugium Design Review

[Hojo220]

Hello,

I've been researching and checking out lots of different designs for HOB Refugiums. Most of them are using Aquaclear 70, and its hard to find many refugiums using the Aquaclear 110. I have come across a couple photos of a refugium using the Aquaclear 110 and I think this would work.

I hear lots of discussion regarding flow in the refugium, and how it should be slowed in the areas where the cheato is in order to not overdisturb the bacteria growing, yet enough to draw some of it out and back into the tank.

I was also thinking of adding a sac of activated carbon to somewhere within this filter/refugium as well as a sponge screen. Was going to use Magic Mud in the last section of my refugium with some Chaeto, yet I heard its good to use live rock in the ref as well. Do you recommend the live rock be in the same section of the refugium as the chaeto or should I build or store it in a separate compartment?


Could anyone give me a bit of direction to whether this type of design would work or not, and any additions or modifications you believe I would benefit from. I'm having a hard time finding out what is the best way to set up a HOG Refugium.

 

[firemountain]

From what I understand....you just want enough flow in the fuge to keep the chaeto spinning. The 110 has an impeller that you cannot replace like the 70's, to slow down the flow.

Good mod to slow down the flow is to shave off the stopper piece of plastic that adjusts the flow. By shaving it off...it will allow you to slow down the flow even more. In your photo it's the little raised piece of plastic that is straight and in the middle....not the curved piece.