what are the advantages and disadvantages of having a below tank refugium and one that is above or at the same level as your main tank? I just want a refugium for a 55 gal reef and I am looking for the best set up...(ive also heard mandarins need a refugium to be successful and I plan to have one some day)
refugiums
- Thread starter jamest0o0
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Aquarist007
New member
If it is above the tank then you can use gravity feed to return the water from the refugium to the sump or main tank
there isn't any disadvantage of either. It's just a matter of how you plumb the system.
The advatage for me is, I do not have to use any type of mecanical filter media to keep the parameters in check. I use Cheato and calurpa (sp?) in my fuge and that does a natural filter of the nitrates and the like.
It's a personal choice....
The advatage for me is, I do not have to use any type of mecanical filter media to keep the parameters in check. I use Cheato and calurpa (sp?) in my fuge and that does a natural filter of the nitrates and the like.
It's a personal choice....
With the below-the-tank refugium (what I have), your return pump will be sending the refugized (I think I'm going to copyright that term 
) water back up to the display. Some say that the impeller in the pump kills the pods coming from the refugium, but some also say a good bit still gets through unharmed. If you think about it, the majority of the pods that will be growing in your fuge will be so tiny as to barely be visible to the naked eye.
As capn says, with the above-the-tank refugium, the refugized water can be gravity fed, so no need for a pump. I've read some definitions of the term "refugium" to mean that it is meant to be seen, and not hidden in a cabinet or fish room.
On the other hand, not many people can or want to put another tank above their display tank. I like mine concealed under the display tank.
Tell you what though - I think it's a lot of fun just looking at the stuff that's sprouting out of the refugium. My son said it best the other day when he said our refugium was more interesting to watch than our 29g freshwater tank ever was!
) water back up to the display. Some say that the impeller in the pump kills the pods coming from the refugium, but some also say a good bit still gets through unharmed. If you think about it, the majority of the pods that will be growing in your fuge will be so tiny as to barely be visible to the naked eye.As capn says, with the above-the-tank refugium, the refugized water can be gravity fed, so no need for a pump. I've read some definitions of the term "refugium" to mean that it is meant to be seen, and not hidden in a cabinet or fish room.
On the other hand, not many people can or want to put another tank above their display tank. I like mine concealed under the display tank.
Tell you what though - I think it's a lot of fun just looking at the stuff that's sprouting out of the refugium. My son said it best the other day when he said our refugium was more interesting to watch than our 29g freshwater tank ever was!
rustybucket145
New member
My son said it best the other day when he said our refugium was more interesting to watch than our 29g freshwater tank ever was!
I couldn't agree more. After I got my first fuge setup (beside my main tank) I seriously spent more time looking in the fuge than I did in the main tank!
K' Family Reef
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11629397#post11629397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rustybucket145
I couldn't agree more. After I got my first fuge setup (beside my main tank) I seriously spent more time looking in the fuge than I did in the main tank!
that is too funny!
i find myself doing the same thing.
Aquarist007
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11629928#post11629928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarrenAmy&Maddy
that is too funny!
i find myself doing the same thing.
LOL--tell that to my wife--she gets upset when algae grows in the overflow:eek2:
Aquarist007
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11629928#post11629928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarrenAmy&Maddy
that is too funny!
i find myself doing the same thing.
very nice picture Warren===but that's not what refugiums are suppose to look like---there suppose to be jam packed with cheato with critters all in them and the sides caked with corraline
that refugium looks better then my tank:lol: :rollface: :lol:
K' Family Reef
New member
hey Cap'n - i have seen your tank and i dont think so
adding the display fuge has really been a very neat addition/adventure to our system and when we upgrade plan on incorporating another one into the new system - perhaps from the 50 to a 75gal - the other day found an anenome hitchhiker attached to some LR rubble in there - nocturnal and opens up at nite w/ all these bubble tentacles - this is not the actual picture but the one in our tank is the same thing just not as big.
good to hear from you again Cap'n!
regards
