Refugium too large?

I just use a turkey baster to lightly blast the surface of the sand in display and fuge I also use it on all rock work, corals and the bottom of the sump. With plenty of flow I just need to lift any settled detritus into the stream.

Sometimes I won't even run the sock after using the baster because the skimmer pulls a lot of it out. The socks are just a pain and the easier I can make it the better.
 
I ran a 90g with 55g fuge for the past 4-5 years, (just took it down for a home remodel) 6"+ DSB and chaeto lit by 220VHO. Over the last year I only did two water changes, and my nitrates were still hardly detectable.
 
There is a LFS near me that has a 180g and 90g display both plumbed together with 2 HUGE (3' x 5') Brute tubs set up as fuges. There's got to be over 400gal of water in the fuge and only maybe 250gal in the display tanks.
 
yet another +1 on the bigger the better. With a tank as big as a 55 for a sump, and I don't want to confuse you any more than you already are, think of combining the DSB and macro into one. Look into what's called a sea grass refugium. Because people usually use smaller sumps than can handle this, it is rather impracticle for most. A tank that size, might be something very cool to think about. I was just thinking I would want to use my 55 as a sump for my 90 or 120 whenever I get my own place.
 
Dilution is the solution to pollution..... if I put a drop of red dye in a shot glass of water it will turn red. If I put that same drop in a swimming pool you wont see a change at all. Same amount of dye... different amount of water.

The more volume you have the more stable your system will be. If the only place nutrients are imported into the system is the DT. Then a larger fuge volume on the back end of the loop will only do you good.
 
k2skibum said:
I'm new to the hobby and this is my first thread on reef central, so bear with me.

I planning on putting together a 90gallon reef tank. I would like to do things "naturally" (i.e. lots of protein skimming and a refugium). I've been trying to find information about proper sizing and flow rates in a refugium, and it seems like the general consensus is 10% of display tank volume. My question is... Is it possible to have a refugium that is too large?

(I have an extra 55 gallon tank I want to use as a sump. With protein skimming on one end and a refugium on the other end..feeding the return pump in the center)

Originally I was planning on incorporating a DSB or Plenum in my display tank, and for aesthetic reasons, I've decided to do this in a the refugium. From what I read, the concern with a disproportionate refugium size is that there wouldn't be enough nutrients to support macro/mangrove growth. However, couldn't I have a large refugium in order to increase my NNR in the DSB and then limit how much macro/mangrove growth I have based on the expected bioload?

Any other disadvantages to large refugiums?

Just something that's been weighing on my mind, so I thought I'd ask the experts!

Thanks everyone!

-m
Click to expand...
Hi k2, I have been researching the same for the past 2 days. I have a 75 that I am setting up and I am using a beat up 75 as my sump. With that said I hope that you dont mind me hitching a ride with this thread and second your question. Thanks.

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JohnZena said:
Hi k2, I have been researching the same for the past 2 days. I have a 75 that I am setting up and I am using a beat up 75 as my sump. With that said I hope that you dont mind me hitching a ride with this thread and second your question. Thanks.

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Click to expand...

Yeah, 7 YO thread. The advise has not changed since then, you can not have too large a refuge.
 
This is great news. In addition to microalgae I am going to plant seagrasses. 2" of a mud sand base, 2" of aragonite topcoat, turtle grass, manatee grass and either star or shoal grass along with some rock rubble. What do you think?

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miston said:
Though someone said going going straight from the DT to the Fuge is a bad idea. That's now what Triton recommends
Click to expand...
I would suggest you start a new thread outlining the design and goal of your fuge and look for option that way. There are more than one reason to run one with techniques for each


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