Thinking about adding a refugium

[Anthony C]

Does anybody have a set a plans for a refugium?
Also do they have a preference in sump or separate tank?
I would like the refugium to be a place of interest as the main dispaly tank is. My goal is to increase my water quality substantially. I currently have about 70lbs of live rock in my tank a wet dry sump with most of the bio balls taken out and a protein skimmer.

 

[ppurcell]

A couple of questions first.

1. What limitations do you have regarding size and placement do you have?

2. Do you have any spending considerations?

3. What size is your display?

4. What do you want your refugium to do for you? Nitrate reduction? Nutrient export? Food supply for display inhabitants? Anything else?

5. Do you have the ability to place your refugium above your display?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Mine is seperate, in a 20g tank, next to my main tank. Fed by gravity.

 

[Anthony C]

I have a 75 gallon hex in my basement. So I can set the tank up anywhere. I would like this tank to be next to my tank if that will work. Expense wise I dont wan to go crazy but I recently moved my tank and lost most of my corals and my favorite Regal Tang. Needless to say I can't wait for the frag swap. ( really don't like killing things).

So, I am trying to creat a very stable environment so that I don't cause any further loses.

I would like to grow my own food source but that would be an added bonus not a necessity.

Thanks

 

[Pufferpunk]

Before I added a fuge, I coudn't keep my nitrates <20 (closer to 40). Now they're <.5!

 

[Anthony C]

Thats my goal ...Eat up the nitrates.

How is your tank plumbed ?

Does your overflow run into the refugiuma and then you have a pump back into your display?

Do you have section the tank so that you pump does start spitting out sand?

I don't know if my questions are goofy but...

 

[Pufferpunk]

Where are you located? It would be easier for you to see mine, than for me to describe it.

 

[Anthony C]

I'm in Naperville...I agree that would make it easier...do you have any pictures?

 

[Pufferpunk]

My Photoshop is on the fritz. Also, it would be difficult to get pics, since the plumbing is under the tank & then drilled through the side of the stand.

 

[ppurcell]

I have a few designs in my gallery regarding refugium setup, placement, water flow and a sump design I've been working on. I am also in Naperville, and a show and tell could be arranged pretty easily.

I'd also recommend doing some reading on http://www.wetwebmedia.com; there is a ton of information in there that can be gleaned in a really short amount of time regarding nitrate reduction using a DSB, refugiums, macro algae, and other similarly interelated topics.

Or you can make the drive out to pufferpunks... she can probably give you a pretty exact estimate on how long the drive is....

whirrly mentioned an idea he had the other day that I think makes a lot of sense, which would be to combine a refugium with a surge device. You would get many benefits.

- gravity fed refugium
- manage the flow rate through refugium
- 'free' high volume wave like flow in the display