Refugium- DSB or Just LR

[gofor100]

Hey Guys,

So I should be getting my tank delivered this weekend, and wanted to see what you guys think... I have an area in the sump for the refugium that has a footprint of 24" X 8" and was thinking of doing a cryptic zone there with LR.

Anyone out there that would suggest adding a DSB to this set up or leave it with just LR? I don't really want to add light in the sump (hence the cryptic zone), so please give me your thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[mwoodruff964]

I personally have just live rock with cheato, because it is much easier to siphon out all the detitrus on the bottom and the rest of the stuff that collects there. I have heard that you need a good turn over rate to have a good cryptic area. Yes you will not want any lights because you will be trying to replicate the benthic area of the ocean to grow different life as you would on the shallow end(refugium). On the up side you won't have to worry about having any algae growth since you won't run lights.

 

[gofor100]

I personally have just live rock with cheato, because it is much easier to siphon out all the detitrus on the bottom and the rest of the stuff that collects there. I have heard that you need a good turn over rate to have a good cryptic area. Yes you will not want any lights because you will be trying to replicate the benthic area of the ocean to grow different life as you would on the shallow end(refugium). On the up side you won't have to worry about having any algae growth since you won't run lights.

Exactly my thoughts... just wanted to make sure I was on the same page with at least one other reefer. :wave:

And if anyone else has any insight, feel free to share.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[Ron Reefman]

What are the benefits you hope to get from the that kind of system?

 

[gofor100]

What are the benefits you hope to get from the that kind of system?

If the "system" in question is the "cryptic fuge", I've heard that different filter feeders will flourish in low- to no-light (i.e., many different sponges) and assist in filtering the water. That, along with a shelter for any pods to populate and feed the tank is what I was looking for.

Also, since I'm in SoCal (where electricity comes at a premium), I'm trying to use the electricity where it is needed, and pull back on where it isn't.

The cryptic fuge seems to be just what I'm looking for.

Hope that answers your question,

Chad

 

[Agu]

My most recent build has a cryptic zone as you describe. Main tank is 30 gallons and the sump is 10 gallons. Because I wanted minimal rock in the DT half the sump is filled with live rock. No sand, no chaeto and no lighting.

Another advantage was that I didn't need really pretty rock . Most of it came from the bottom of the LFS bin with no coraline or other algae on the rock. I suspect it was base rock thrown in the bin and forgotten about. Because it wasn't "premium" rock I got it pretty cheap too .

I did seed the cryptic zone. Took chaeto from another tank and rinsed it in the new sump a few times to introduce pods and ministars. Caught some bristleworms and threw them in too. Also dropped in one piece of rock with visible sponge growth.

 

[dmastracchio]

Personally, I do not like putting more LR in the fuge. Maybe it's just me, but I have a 180 gallon tank, with well over 200 lbs of rock. I do not feel that another 10 lbs of rock will make or break the filtration of the tank. I feel like adding rubble and rocks in the fuge just creates more places for stuff to get stuck and dissolve.

So if you are willing to vacuum and clean the fuge, which i feel the only work in the fuge is to prune macro, then go for it, add some rock. Other then that I just keep a sand bed with macro. No rocks.

just my .02

 

[Agu]

Personally, I do not like putting more LR in the fuge. Maybe it's just me, but I have a 180 gallon tank, with well over 200 lbs of rock. I do not feel that another 10 lbs of rock will make or break the filtration of the tank. I feel like adding rubble and rocks in the fuge just creates more places for stuff to get stuck and dissolve.

So if you are willing to vacuum and clean the fuge, which i feel the only work in the fuge is to prune macro, then go for it, add some rock. Other then that I just keep a sand bed with macro. No rocks.

just my .02

But you have 200 pounds of rock in a 180 , I have maybe 10 pounds of rock in a 30 with another 25 pounds in the sump. The OP might be in the same situation as I not wanting to fill his tank with rock.

 

[gofor100]

My most recent build has a cryptic zone as you describe. Main tank is 30 gallons and the sump is 10 gallons. Because I wanted minimal rock in the DT half the sump is filled with live rock. No sand, no chaeto and no lighting.

Another advantage was that I didn't need really pretty rock . Most of it came from the bottom of the LFS bin with no coraline or other algae on the rock. I suspect it was base rock thrown in the bin and forgotten about. Because it wasn't "premium" rock I got it pretty cheap too .

I did seed the cryptic zone. Took chaeto from another tank and rinsed it in the new sump a few times to introduce pods and ministars. Caught some bristleworms and threw them in too. Also dropped in one piece of rock with visible sponge growth.

Thanks Agu! Definitely making me more confident in my decision.

-Chad

 

[gofor100]

But you have 200 pounds of rock in a 180 , I have maybe 10 pounds of rock in a 30 with another 25 pounds in the sump. The OP might be in the same situation as I not wanting to fill his tank with rock.

Yeah... I'm not going "minimalist" but definitely want to get any added biofiltration I can from the fuge.

I think I'll just stick with LR in the cryptic fuge and see how that works.

Thanks guys,

Chad

 

[GPB]

How do you grow Cheato without any lights?

 

[gofor100]

How do you grow Cheato without any lights?

You don't...

A cryptic fuge relies on heavy sponge growth to filter the water rather than chaeto and other means.

I've never personally used this method, but have heard good things about it. But I'm sure there are plus's and minus's to each method.

-Chad

 

[Agu]

Steve Tyree has been the main proponent of cryptic zone refugiums.

http://www.dynamicecomorphology.com/publishmain.htm

I like his ideas but there's a fundamental difference with his tanks compared to the average hobbyist. His tanks are commercial tanks with constant introductions of new organisms. The hobby aquarist doesn't introduce near the biodiversity his test tanks get. Not saying it doesn't work just pointing the difference of real life.

 

[lolgranny]

Personally i would go with LR / Macro. I had sand / macro and a few pieces of rubble with snails and i was having Po4 issues. Took the sump offline, took the sand out, and cleaned it and back to undetectable levels.

Im setting my 180g up as we speak and i will be going with just LR / macro. No more sand in the sump. Too much room for debris to decay imo.