setting up cryptic refugium

[uhuru]

I am SLOWLY setting up an ~ 300 gallon system that will include a 75g cryptic fuge and a 150g display. Since the cryptic fuge takes so long to really become established, is it possible to set it up now and let it run without a display tank for several months? What can I do (if it's possible) to help get it established without having a display tank to feed it? Some additives maybe, like KZ Sponge Power? I was planning on using mostly dead rock, a little live rock, and the cryptic sponge seed package from Tyree. At this point it would be connected to a 100g rubbermaid sump but there would be no filtration, just the return pump, probably an eheim 1250 for slow flow.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[SharkBait_Mtl]

I am sorta new to the hobby and never heard of a cryptic refugium....

what is it and how does it work....

 

[uhuru]

it's a DARK place to grow sponges and other suspension feeders that are harmed by exposure to light and high flow found in your display tank. The sponges can remove organic matter and bacteria, kind of like a skimmer, but instead of dumping a cup of skimmate every week the sponges use the "waste" for their metabolic processes. When the sponges get too big you harvest them like you would macroalgae. I've never set up a cryptic fuge before but that's my take on it.

 

[SharkBait_Mtl]

thx for the info....

I will follow this thread as it sounds interesting.

I may try this myself....

 

[uhuru]

before you do, this thread has some interesting info AGAINST cryptic setups:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1313328&highlight=cryptic

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I think that unless you are feeding it the sorts of things that you ultimately expect it to filter out (which, frankly, I'm not sure what that is really supposed to be), I don't think it will grow or change much until attached to a display.

I have a large amount of "leftover" live rock in a 44 gallon Brute can in the dark as part of my sump, and I do add silicate to boost sponge growth overall, but I do not attribute any utility to the rock aside from possibly nitrification and denitrification.

 

[uhuru]

Thanks for the response Randy. Why do you choose to boost sponge growth?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Because I like the tank to be as natural as possible,a and they are a nice part of the natural environment. I have sponges that I can see in my main tanks. I suspect the silicate also helps snails who need it for certain structures.

 

[Untamed12]

Don't mean to hijack....

Randy..how much silicate are you dosing? I found even very small additions of sodium silcate caused an outbreak of diatoms. I have not been able to keep sponges alive for more than 1.5 years. I suspect that is just how long it takes for them to die.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I've slacked off quite a bit from the silicate dosing that I used to do just because I'm lazy, but I discuss dosing recommendations and the effects it gave in my tank here. FWIW, I never have diatom problems, but (unrelated to silicate) I do have cyano in my refugia.

Silica in a Reef Tank
http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm

 

[jeffkeith_us]

If you want your sponges to grow cut back on protein skimming. Steve Tyree quit using his skimmer altogether. He has only one fish, however. A full half of his frag tanks are devoted to filter-feeders. I design my reef systems close to that, because people want more and lots of fish and shrimp, but with ATS and reverse cycle refugium.

 

[reefgeezer]

I'd just wait until the big tank was set-up. Plumb it in, fill it with rubble rock, keep it dark, cycle it along with the entire system, and just wait. After there is a lot of life in the DT, maybe add some seed kits for sponges, pods, sea squirts, & etc. just to boost the diversity.

A design note: I supply water to my fuge from the return area in the sump rather than from the DT in an effort to keep gross matter from getting trapped.