Stocking a Refugium 101...the basics.

[The Saltwater Kid]

I'm thinking hard on purchasing an AquaFuge PS for my tank, my question is what do you start out putting in it? My guess is some sort of refugium mud, a few live rocks (rubble) but what else is there (I want chaeto and calupera but when should i add those)?

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

bump

 

[bchbum189]

I have a layer of miracle mud(leftover) and then a thick sand bed over that. A 5100k bulb that runs opposite my main light cycle. I dont put any snails or hermits in mine because i kept having probs with them jumping the walls and getting to close to the return pump..

As long as there is light and some nutrients in the water your cheato/calupera should do ok.

 

[AndyB4784]

i've just got about 6 inches of sand some LR rubble, my carbon bag, and Cheato oh and a back up heater. i've got the aquafuge pro and i love it

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

Andy where do you put your carbon bag? Any other suggestions that anybody has to offer? What other kinds of stuff should i put in there if i end up getting one? I just think it would be very beneficial for my tank overall and the macralgae would help combat the spread of micralgae/bacteria like the cyano I've got now :-(

 

[ek9vboi]

Skip the "deep sand bed" because it will just end up giving u a problem with cyano or something along that line. It might create more algaes in the display due to the small surface area it has. If you had room for a real deep sand bed it would do a lot, but this is a HOB so room is limited.

Just add LR and cheatomorpha and it will grow like... well weed. Proven.

 

[Orm Embar]

Agree with Chaeto, disagree with Caulerpa. Darn stuff not only grows fast but can "go sexual," create tons of spores, and then grows simultaneously all over your tank, killing your corals. I speak from personal experience.

You can probably keep Caulerpa with acreful attention to harvesting to prevent this, but I am too sporadic in my maintenance and prefer an algae that may get big but won't metastasize all over the tank.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

Anything else? Anybody have a step by step guide as to stocking an HOB refugium?

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

bump

 

[fishyface]

i've got an ac 500 with about an inch of sand, bunch of rubble and some cheato...nitrates = 0ppm

easy

 

[Pico Keeper]

Keep it simple.
Rock Rubble, Chaeto, Lights...reverse photoperiod.
That's it!