Shooter7
New member
I had a center area in my sump set up as a refugium of sorts. Over time I noted that the water going through my sump was essentially "zooming" over the top of my refugium area in a big hurry to get to my return area and back to the tank. Upon dosing a couple things directly into the refugium area, I could see clearly that while there was high velocity current in the first couple of inches, there was little movement at all below that, so it didn't seem that much communication was going on between these areas. Also, I was getting alot of gunk falling out in there and polluting that area. So, I decided to try and set up a separate refugium area. I got some heavy duty shelf supports, about a 15 gal tank with one very small drain drilled in it, and set the whole thing up to be elevated above my sump, pump being fed from the drain area of the sump and gravity draining back into the sump. I put live rock and chaeto in there. Well, so far, most of my chaeto is dying off and deteriorating. I took a bunch out because I didn't want it falling apart and releasing everything back into my system. My nitrates and phosphates continue to measure out at zero, although I know I must have some phosphates because I do have some algae here and there. But apparently what I've got isn't enough to support the chaeto. The light I have on it is the same I had decent growth with when I first set it up this past spring. I don't notice any particular pod activity in my tank, so not sure this thing is being beneficial in that way. And it is the "weakest link" in my system, as I have to carefully dial in my pump with a ball valve to match the small drain's abilities. Any clog up of that drain would spell a very quick overflow, some of which would simply go into my sump, but the rest would go onto the floor and out into the finished area of my basement. I'm wondering if I'm really getting much benefit out of having this thing and if I'd be just as well off without it? Any thoughts?
