refugium livestock/setup

[PeterC2508]

Right now I have a 50 gallon rubbermaid tub in my basement below my 120 gallon reef tank. in the tub I have my skimmer, pump and 3 inches of sand. i was hoping to put some chaeto and other types of macroalgae. My question is can i just get it and put the stuff in there and will i need to put some covers over the intakes of my pump in skimmer to keep the algae from going into the 120? Also is it possible to grow Mangroves in a refugium and if so how?

 

[rort]

I would recommend just using chaeto. That is all most people use and that is honestly all you need!

For the skimmer cover, if you start to see it pull the algae than ya... but i havnt seen it do it to mine or my friends!

 

[PeterC2508]

so are there no ways to keep mangroves? also should I get maybe a bottle of DT's phytoplankton to populate the refugium?

 

[rort]

You could keep them if you want but i dont use them and really dont find a reason to. I know many others on this forum do, so if you are looking for a way to keep them, the other users might be more of help!

But honestly, i have had a great amount of success with just the Chaeto!

 

[PeterC2508]

thanks for the advice

 

[rort]

No problem and good luck!

(post pics!)

 

[flipcyd]

Mangroves need to only have their roots submerged. You could build mangrove rack with some egg crate, so only the roots will be under water and the leaves will be out of the water.

 

[crvz]

mangroves do have some logistical challenges, and I think the chaeto shoudl be fine. You can do it, but you do need to have the space available (which it seems you might) and lighting for them, but keep looking into it. If you could post some pictures, it may help with recommendations. I wouldnt buy any phyto, though, I don't think it's going to help you out at all.