refugium setup questions?

[9campbec]

Im setting up a 125 gallon tank and will be setting up my first refugium and have some questions.

I have a trigger systems Emerld 39 sump with a 10.5 by 15.5 refugium section.

I have been looking at running some kind of mud in the sump as well as some kind of macro algae.

Anyone use any mud?

What kind of macro algae?

Should I add some rock in as well?

Any help on how best to set this up would be great

 

[GimpyFin]

You can do it different ways, but chaeto is a common macro algae to use. In addition to chaeto, I have fine sand and some pieces of rock in mine, although you can do just algae if you want. Some people use miracle mud and even mangrove plants. A good light is important for macro algae. I've found that a bulb in the 5000k daylight spectrum works really well. Cheers.

 

[toothybugs]

Check out the macroalgae subforum and get some ideas. Macro tanks are just really elaborate refugia that may or may not be connected to a system (if they're connected, it's a "display refugium"); find a simple one that seems cool and go for it. They can be as simple or complex as you like.

 

[NumberFish]

I use chaeto for macro algae. It grows like a bandit and keeps my nitrates low. I just have rock rubble in the bottom of the sump refugium. I have never tried mud. I use an old FW led I had for a planted tank. When I started using it the chaeto took off.

 

[Jeff4777]

I also have the emerald 39 with the emerald 10g ato. I use mainly chaeto in the fuge with some green macro algae and dragons breath. I have rock rubble. Didnt want to deal with sand or mud in the sump. Chaeto grows super fast

 

[djtuzik]

you are wasting your time with a fuge that small...
I would suggest invest into filter socks, GFO and chemi pure elite

 

[9campbec]

Thanks everyone, I think im just going to use cheato with some rock to start and think about adding mud later.

 

[9campbec]

Also im running 2 media reactors, one with carbon and one with GFO as well as a bio pellet reactor.

My emerald 39 was customized by Trigger systems and extended to 44 inches by adding 5 inches to the skimmer section to fit the extra reactors.