Refugium vs.Skimmer

[padgett152]

I have a FOWLR set up in my 75 gallon aquarium. I have an Eshopps wet/dry and am thinking of adding a refugium to it. Actually I plan on adding a 12 gallon tank to the sump through some modifications. My plans are to house a few more medium size fish and maybe more mushrooms and leathers, etc.. Will the addition of the refugium allow me to exclude a skimmer?

 

[Jaded_Falcon]

IMO no. A skimmer will pull out disolved organics much better than a refugium. But a fuge will be able to get stuff out that the skimmer misses as well as use up nutrients that algae needs. I'd run both. But if you can only run one, I'd go with a good skimmer.

 

[micstarz]

Definately both, but both have their benefits...

If you want pods and nitrogen compounds removal, go with a fuge.

But a skimmer will remove organic waste BEFORE it disintegrates into nitrogen compounds...I'd go with a fuge because it's simply more interesting...

 

[Lemeshianos]

Skimmer pulls everything out. The is dissolved organics which will be broken down to ammonia, then nitrites and then nitrates.

Chaeto(refugium) will usually just pull the end product, nitrates.

If possible run both. If not I would run a skimmer.

 

[vetdog]

I would definitely have a skimmer

 

[da5speed]

I would go with the skimmer also

 

[kcdan87]

for sure a skimmer

 

[Sump'n2do]

I have both now but had just the skimmer at first.

 

[returnofsid]

Replace the wetdry with a sump/refugium and put the skimmer in it. Best of both worlds!!

 

[bach2pilot]

And run your skimmer exhaust through your fuge to remove the microbubbles.

 

[roneil]

i have a megaflow one sump and have chaeto in the first chamber and urchin pro skimmer in the second chamber. the third chamber has the return pump.

 

[roneil]

i have a megaflow one sump and have chaeto in the first chamber and urchin pro skimmer in the second chamber. the third chnaber has the return pump.

 

[roneil]

i have a megaflow one sump and have chaeto in the first chamber and urchin pro skimmer in the second chamber. the third chamber has the return pump.

 

[roneil]

sorry about the repeated post. had some issue with my laptop.