Refugium behind aquarium

[GoGoGeeba]

Hey all. I'm back in the hobby after several years of being out of it. I recently purchased what I think is a Truvu acrylic aquarium. The filtration is behind the aquarium and I have a few questions. I want to put a refugium in one of the sections of the rear filter. The setup for the rear filter is as follows. The first section is a protein skimmer. The second area is a mechanical filtration on top and bio balls underneath and the third is the return pump.

I want to remove the bio balls and mechanical filtration and put a refugium in it's place but am unsure as to how. I also want to continue to use a protein skimmer. Any suggestions on how to do the refugium would be greatly appreciated. Thank in advance. :spin3:

 

[GoGoGeeba]

Any help? Lol

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[djtuzik]

waste...

 

[mzeme565]

not possible suscessfully

 

[GoGoGeeba]

Ok should I just leave the bio balls

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[CafeReef]

Btw, welcome!

The reason it wouldnt be overly successful is just sheer size. There wouldnt be enough macro to give you the nutrient export you'd get out ofna larger refugium. It would work, just not enough to really be worth it.

My recommendation would be to dump the bio balls and put some live rock rubble back there.

 

[GoGoGeeba]

OK thank you CafeReef. I tested the water tonight and my Nitrates are between 5-10ppm. Would you suggest still running mechanical filtration. Also would adding a media basket with a few things work too?

 

[CafeReef]

OK thank you CafeReef. I tested the water tonight and my Nitrates are between 5-10ppm. Would you suggest still running mechanical filtration. Also would adding a media basket with a few things work too?

Mechanical filtration such as filter floss or other type of filter media wont remove your nitrates or nitrates as it's all part of the cycle. If you want physical media to remove nitrates your going to need something along the lines of Purigen and Carbon (carbon more for organics and phosphates). Depending on how long your tank has been up and cycling now, you could really just be hindering yourself by trying to use physical media to take care of this now. With a good cycle the tank will take care of itself and everything will 0 out on it's own.

I ran a biocube nano tank for 1 year with no mechanical filtration outside of a skimmer. My live rock, sand and CuC took care of everything. It ran extremely smooth. I did 20% water changes bi weekly and kept a close eye on my levels and ran an ATO.

not saying having Carbon and other media in a media rack is not beneficial, it definitely can help, but I wouldnt put it in during your cycle quite yet, as the increased nutrients are because your tank is new and trying to stabilize itself. Use them later when you are trying to maintain a balance in a unnatural habitat that is needing some help.

I would however, recommend keeping some Prime on hand. it is always good to have this with a new tank in the event of an unwanted ammonia spike.

 

[GoGoGeeba]

My tank is cycled, is been up and running for years, I just moved it from a neighbors house. My ammonia and nitrites are at 0 ph is a little high. Just looking to keep a well balanced aquarium and find out what's best for the tank I have

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[Cymonous]

Nitrates do not just "disappear on their own". You have to export/remove them somehow. Larger water changes, lesser feedings will help. Adding GFO in a filter bag in a media basket will help too, but not as well as in a reactor though.

 

[CafeReef]

in your media basket I would run some purigen to get the nitrates down and under control. If the tank is a year old and established, your nitrates should be at or near 0, have you tested phosphates? Generally elevated (even slightly) is caused from overfeeding and controlled through water changes.

 

[GoGoGeeba]

I do not have a phosphate test yet. I am going to buy one. I will add those things to a media basket.