Refugium

[fryebaby9431]

I have a 40 gallon breeder FOWLR tank. I want eventually get into corals but right now I have a very lovable and personable Baby porcupine puffer me and my girlfriend are obsessed with and he will eat the coral. I have had perfect water readings for a while now most recent this morning ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 0. I have been running only a hang on the back filter. Now I just got a hang on the back refugium . I have macroalgae , live rock and sand In it. Is that enough? Will I not have to have a sump now? What else should I put in it? Will this take care of filtration and detritus? Should I keep my hang on the back filter running for a couple weeks while the refugium gets established?


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[mcgyvr]

Its highly unlikely that a small HOB refugium is going to solve all (or any really) of your future problems..
Its going to be more of a "oh cool I have a fuge" vs actually really helping with filtration..
Its just too small to have any substantial effect..
But any little bit helps.. Just don't expect miracles..

 

[nereefpat]

I have a 40 gallon breeder FOWLR tank. I want eventually get into corals but right now I have a very lovable and personable Baby porcupine puffer me and my girlfriend are obsessed with and he will eat the coral.

He might eat coral, along with any snails, crabs, etc. He will also get WAY too large for your 40 breeder, so he will have to go eventually anyway.

I have had perfect water readings for a while now most recent this morning ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 0. I have been running only a hang on the back filter. Now I just got a hang on the back refugium . I have macroalgae , live rock and sand In it. Is that enough?

It's enough to work as a fuge. Depending on size, it will do a certain amount of good, as far as pod production and nutrient reduction.

Will I not have to have a sump now? What else should I put in it? Will this take care of filtration and detritus? Should I keep my hang on the back filter running for a couple weeks while the refugium gets established?

Sumps aren't just refugiums. They are a way to increase water volume, and they are a place to put equipment, like heaters and skimmers and reactors. Although you don't NEED a sump to run a reef.

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Hope that helps. Responses in red

 

[fryebaby9431]

Hope that helps. Responses in red

So as far as filtration what do you suggest? I run my hang on the back filter with it? Or get a protein slimmer that hangs on the back or both or none?


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[mcgyvr]

A protein skimmer is a better choice over a hob filter in saltwater tanks IMO..

In a 40g tank water changes alone could be used instead of skimmers or fuges or filters,etc..
A 20% water change every 2 weeks should be sufficient and all thats needed..
But any equipment you add "should" help reduce the need for those as far as removing pollutants,etc... but water changes also replace trace elements,etc... that equipment cannot..

 

[davocean]

Refugium has a confused purpose most of the time, it's original intended purpose is a refuge for pods to reproduce, thus the word refugium/refuge.

Nutrient export is a secondary benefit, but I agree it would have to be a pretty big fuge to really do much, but also agree every little bit helps, but if nutrient export is your main goal there are more efficient ways of achieving that, mcgyvr listed a couple

 

[fryebaby9431]

A protein skimmer is a better choice over a hob filter in saltwater tanks IMO..

In a 40g tank water changes alone could be used instead of skimmers or fuges or filters,etc..
A 20% water change every 2 weeks should be sufficient and all thats needed..
But any equipment you add "should" help reduce the need for those as far as removing pollutants,etc... but water changes also replace trace elements,etc... that equipment cannot..

Thank you


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