Refugium Ideas for 1000g system needed

Nanook

Nanook

Ancient Eskimo Legend
Staff member
RC Mod
Hey all,

I am looking to add a refugium to my 1000g system. I have two tanks, one 375g, the other 470g, along with 150g of sump water. I have a monster Geo needlewheel protein skimmer, run GFO and carbon in 6"x24" fluidized reactors.

I am looking to add biodiversity with some critters and a more natural approach. I have a spot that could hold a 36x30x30 tank, so that would be a 140g-ish. Any thoughts on if this size fuge would be successful and if so, how would you set it up?

Thanks!
 
It would work out to be over 10% of your total volume so the size would work fine.

I would run a 8" deep sand bed, have 20 lbs or rock or so and grow cheato.

I'd try to have 5x hourly turn over, so would run a Mag 7 with a spray bar.

For lights, I would go with 4, 36" T5 with 6500k bulbs. You should be able to get these at any indoor garden supply store for 25 bucks with bulbs.
 
Are you looking more for macroalgae growth and nutrient removal, or for small organism growth?

For macroalgae, the depth may be largely wasted, although you could fill the bottom half or more with live rock (I have a lot in my sumps and some in my refugia).

I'm mixed on the idea of putting deep sand into it. Two of my older refugia have deep sand, but my new ones do not, as I wasn't convinced the sand is currently doing anything useful.
 
how about adding an ATS - algal turf scrubber ?
cheap/easy/couple hours to build-install/easy weekly maintanance... not meant to replace any existing modalities in place (skimmer etc) but add to the overall 'nutrient' export of the system... adds to the pod life as well (as they are reported to thrive in this environment)

etc etc etc

although there is some amount of debate about these
(here on rc and elsewhere)... it cant be argued that they do remove nutrients... and considering how simple they are to install/maintain - it couldnt hurt to add it to a system (if nothing else on a trial basis to see what it might contribute)... considering the amount of space you must have allocated for a system the size of yours - would think that space wouldnt be a problem to have something like this included or even as a part of the new fuge that you are considering.

we have 2 fuges on our system
(50gal display fuge and macro fuge in sump) and in the process of installing one - just for the experience/see what it might contribute etc... have heard from others that have installed one(whose opinions i respect) that they are noticiing less cyano, having to clean the glass less often etc etc - so we are figuring why not try it?... also we are planning a larger system that might include an ats for the 'evaporative' cooling effect that can be achieved by the addition of a fan on the ats.

just some ideas fwiw.

good luck.

regards
 
I am also hesitant to recommend sand.

I would prefer to see a high flow refugium with pkenty of space devoted to rubble baskets and a section to handle cheato (use eggcrate as the divider even). Only the cheato section needs lighting.

Feed the tank with a filter sock so that detritus does not buildup.
 
the idea of a deep sand bed is neat, but i am scared to death of these reported methane gas bubble that crash a system in less than 18 hours. i have read about them and it sounds inpossible,but if it is true i would not mess with deep sand beds. i would do more of the live tock. and you could prob do a deep course crushed coral bed, it would basically do the same thing only be better for small organisms, and you could siphon vac 70 % of it every month to remove the excess detritus. and blast the heck out of it with light alternate to the display tank lights.9 at night)
 
A DSB will cost some cash in a tank that size, is there a reason you feel this may be necessary? I agree with Live Rock and some macro. The macro should help you keep the nutrients in check by exporting as it grows.
 
Guys, I am trying to understand how to guage the volume of cheato you should keep as a starting point before pruning. I have a 300 gallon display and a sump of 70 gallons. The fuge area is 20X24X9. I can not control the flow in the fuge independently. The return pump is a barracuda so the flow thru the sump is pretty good.If I am understanding correctly the rock rubble and cheato should be seperated within the fuge? How should I divide up the 24X20 area cheato vs rubble? Thanks
 
I feel that the extra sand isn't a terrible idea. Not really needed but sands buffering ability, increased biological surface area, and ability to bind phosphate seem like good reasons to add it.
 
Tony, thickness is the key. Try to keep the chaeto relatively thin because the light will not reach the bottom well. (I always prune from the bottom) In my case, I try to keep it about 3 inches thick. I always remove 50% when pruning. Hope this helps. I also have 3 types of macro algae (NO caulerpa).

I would not put a DSB in the refugium. I would (and do) have a layer below the macro separated by egg crate with rubble on top. Interesting things grow there such as various filter feeders and sponges (it is pretty dark).
 
In my experience sand under macroalgae gets pretty messy and has limited value if any for denitrification . I prefer, relatively shallow macroalgae only bare bottom refugia. They are easy to harvest and keep clean. The macroalgae,particularly chaetomorpha provides nice habitat for pods and other fauna. If a deep sand bed is a must I would personally run it separately without light or under brightly lit sea grass which could cleanse it via the root structure.
 
I wouldn't run a DSB either in it being that size. They may have their good points, but can have a lot of bad ones as well and with something like that, it would be easier to run that solely seperate and then take it off line should something ever happen.

With approx. 140 gals and depending on where you would have the refugium, a display fuge could / would not only be benefical but appealing as well. Several different Macros set on a shallow bed with a nice rock aquascape. Not only would create alot of critter space but could natural as well.
 
Here are some shots of my refug. I have a similar setup with 10" of Southdown sand, my friends tank who is in Europe for a few years and 500 lbs of dry now live rock in my refug. Its a 440 gal tub with a 400 watt 10K XM light.

In a large system the DSB fears are unfounded. Flow is around 750GPH through the sump. Flow inside the refug is aroung 3000 GPH.

BTW I can't grow most macro algae because of this.

Bill

Before
DSCN0663.jpg

After
DSC_0091-1.jpg
 
Wild- That system is completely amazing! Your fuge look better than some peoples displays! It's definately bigger than a lot of tanks. 440 gal is gigantic!!!! Awesome work on that system
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
200 Gallon Mixed Reef - Rock Questions
2
Replies
20
Views
608
wvned
wvned
S
Overskimming on New Protein Skimmer
Replies
2
Views
159
wvned
wvned
S
Novice Aquarist - Sump & Equipment Questions
Replies
9
Views
356
wvned
wvned
J
Corals for the first time!
Replies
14
Views
3K
griss
griss
BuckeyeFish
AIO 24g refugium?
Replies
1
Views
783
griss
griss
Back
Top