Possible refugium. Good idea? (See picture)

[Fish559]

Hi all,

I have an Eshopps RS-100. I really like it. I was thinking of of changing things up a bit and adding a refugium in the first chamber (filter sock chamber).

My plan would be to keep it simple - just grow some chaeto with the Kessil H80 light.

Any reason that wouldn't work? Here's a photo of the sump.

 

[Fish559]

I would of course not use the filter socks....

 

[Fourstars]

Sounds like an outstanding idea! Good flow so should tumble the cheato well. On mine I have two lights over the top, and a couple of leds on the side. Might be an issue with cheato getting in your skimmer chamber, I use this chamber to grow, and have a Redsea HOB skimmer.

 

[Daddyrawg]

Hi all,

I have an Eshopps RS-100. I really like it. I was thinking of of changing things up a bit and adding a refugium in the first chamber (filter sock chamber).

My plan would be to keep it simple - just grow some chaeto with the Kessil H80 light.

Any reason that wouldn't work? Here's a photo of the sump.

SO your plan is remove filter sock and throw in chaeto in that area? just the chaeto? anything else like sand or rock? I may do the same thing why i'm curious.. oh where do you get chaeto from?

 

[Fish559]

I wouldn't add any sand or rock. Just the chaeto. My thought was every other water change or so, I could just pull out the cheato and siphon that section.

I would probably buy some clean chaeto from Algae Barn.

 

[Fish559]

Mostly I'm just trying to see if growing algae down below can help stabilize PH, grow some pods, and keep algae in the sump and not the display.

 

[Daddyrawg]

Mostly I'm just trying to see if growing algae down below can help stabilize PH, grow some pods, and keep algae in the sump and not the display.

I hear ya.. I am exploring all options to rid my tank of gha algae.. only 6 month old tank and im fighting it so far, but it keeps coming back.. I am just really focusing on conquering this battle before I expand.. I strongly believe in time I will fight it and the cause of the algae is coming from the rocks that im assuming is leaching phosphates.. eventually im hoping it will leach no more.

 

[reefgeezer]

If there are adequate available nutrients, there's no reason you couldn't grow Cheato in the first section of that sump. The light & current should make it grow well.

Having a place for pods is great, if you need them. IMO, pH stability from reverse light cycles is somewhat overrated as it is really just a case of a slight difference in CO2 levels and does little if anything for the corals or fish.

When desiring to use the Cheato to out compete the algae in the system, quite a bit can be required. You may not have enough real estate.

 

[PuckHucker]

I mostly agree with reefgeezer... however if you will have a skimmer after the refugium, some of the beneficial organisms (such as pods) will be sucked up by the skimmer. Usually it is best to have the skimmer before the fuge, or have them separated completely, like at the opposite end of your sump. That's what I've read anyway...

 

[JoeTSI]

You need a bigger sump. You will have incredible amounts of salt creep and splashing if you remove the lid, plus the skimmer issue mentioned above.

 

[Fish559]

Yeah. I think I'm over the idea. The sump was not designed to put a fuge there, so I won't.

 

[wfv57]

Great way to grow natural food for herbivores.