HOB Refugiums, worth it?
- Thread starter mdeleon1
- Start date
Cantgrowdidly
New member
although highly priced, I would say the adding the diversity to your system is "worth it"
parrotchute
New member
I agree that they are majorly overpriced. It is definitely worth it - my old 75g wasn't reef ready, so I couldn't put one under the tank. Having a small fuge packed with macroalgae that I harvested seemed to help out in algae control a lot, as well as producing tons of pods.
Being turned off by the super high price of HOBs, I made one in the corner of my tank that worked really well. I took a small acrylic box (one of those ones used to scoop fish out of a tank, about 1/2 gal), drilled a few small holes in it for flow, and used a cleaning magnet to stick in on in the corner of my tank, with the open top about 1/4" below the water surface. I then put a mini pump in there to prevent the water from being too stagnant. Fill with rubble and macroalgae, and it was perfect and cost <$30! It was close to the lights, too, so no need to add additional lighting.
Being turned off by the super high price of HOBs, I made one in the corner of my tank that worked really well. I took a small acrylic box (one of those ones used to scoop fish out of a tank, about 1/2 gal), drilled a few small holes in it for flow, and used a cleaning magnet to stick in on in the corner of my tank, with the open top about 1/4" below the water surface. I then put a mini pump in there to prevent the water from being too stagnant. Fill with rubble and macroalgae, and it was perfect and cost <$30! It was close to the lights, too, so no need to add additional lighting.
mdeleon1
Member
Wouldn't happen to have a pic?
parrotchute
New member
This is the best I've got...
What size tank is this for.? And which model CPR are you looking at.?
While I'm not currently using a fuge ,I have before and they worked good. And the science supports the benefit of having one. The science also says bigger is better here. So look at the largest one you can.
As someone who dabbles with acrylic. I can say ,save yourself some grief and get the ready-to-go ,like CPR or whoever. Very likely cheaper than you think over the DIY and will look nice.
[I just like to tinker in the garage ,so I take the hard road.:hmm5:]
While I'm not currently using a fuge ,I have before and they worked good. And the science supports the benefit of having one. The science also says bigger is better here. So look at the largest one you can.
As someone who dabbles with acrylic. I can say ,save yourself some grief and get the ready-to-go ,like CPR or whoever. Very likely cheaper than you think over the DIY and will look nice.
[I just like to tinker in the garage ,so I take the hard road.:hmm5:]
mdeleon1
Member
Looking at CPR AquaFuge2 Dimensions: 13" L x 4.5" W x 12" T for my 56g column tank.
Sport507
~Just a Farm Boy~
I bought this very same one for my 90gal. about a month ago from BRS. Are they over priced yes, as is everything in this hobby. It is very high quality and I wished I'd have bought it months earlier it does an excellent job. If you decide to go this way spend the extra $$$ and get the light.
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lcs
It's Spring!!!!!!!
I have the 56 column also and have the "regular" Aquafuge, without the skimmer. I have a rock, chaeto, and some other random macro algae that grows like crazy. Was it overpriced? I guess, but I have a great pod & mysid populations and my nitrates have been kept in check even with a well stocked tank and over feeding because I'm supplementing a mandarin. Even after five months, the mandarin is till hunting and pecking at the rocks in the DT so I'm pretty sure the fuge is providing pods to the DT for him.
Just my $0.02. HTH!
Oh, and I did splurge and get the light and the acrylic legs. I second what someone else had mentioned in that I've seen them in the classified thread forum.
mdeleon1
Member
You mean this one ?? http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_Aqua...ugiums_Sumps-CPR-CR1721-FIRFEB-CR1721-vi.html
mdeleon1
Member
So now that i think about this more and more, can I not use the biowheel setup?
I've been using it for waterflow and surface agitation (minus biowheel and filter cartridge). I can just buy a clip on light and stick some chaeto in there, right? Throw some pods and mysid in there too?
I've been using it for waterflow and surface agitation (minus biowheel and filter cartridge). I can just buy a clip on light and stick some chaeto in there, right? Throw some pods and mysid in there too?
I have the CPR Aquafuge 2 on my 15-gallon and works well for keeping equipment out of the display tank, but the pump is still awkwardly in the display area, it keeps most of the equipment out of the tank except itself. So, I think this is a great product as HOB refugium.
I have one and I'm truly happy with it. Overpriced... totally but the benefits are great. I don't have a sand bed, just some small rocks and couple of mushrooms. I have one small crab and three snails in it to keep it cleaned up some. I use this for my pod population. At night when the fuge light is on you can see them everywhere.
