What to put in refugium?

[Fredfish]

this natural filtration took about a year to kick in----

It takes a while doesn't it. This is how long it took my refugium/filter to kick in as well.

Nitrates at 10? How big is the refugium and how big is the main tank? Also, what fish/critters do you have in your main tank.

The reason I am asking is that my tank has undetectable nitrates.

I wonder if the miracle mud has anything to do with your nitrate levels. The organics in the mud are a source of nutrients in the system.

Fred

 

[uscharalph]

I have a 55 gallon reef with about a 3 section 15 gallon refugium / sump in the lower cabinet. The overflow from the display tank empties into a sock filter below. The second section down below houses my ASM G1 skimmer and the 3rd section pumps the water back to the display. I have no light or rock or sand down below. Should I change anything?

 

[tylerandamanda]

i just purchased a hang on refugium because of lack of space. i wanted to know if the macro is what removes the nitrates and phosphates because that is what i am looking for. i dont want to use substrate in it if i dont have to. im not a big fan of that idea, i ama believer in the berlin method. is the substrate what removes the nitrates and phosphates? what about the lights not on 24/7 i heard they reproduce if they are not kept sterile by the light. HELP lol

 

[malt02]

Tylerandamanda, yes, the macro algea is what removes the nitrates and phosphates. Two of the benefits of a refugium. From all I have read, Cheato algea is the best to get as it doesn't produce the bad effects like other algeas do. Good luck!

 

[tylerandamanda]

thanx malt02 im gona do it today

 

[plummike]

I have my fuge set higher than my tank. I feed it from the supply line to my tank. The water enters through a plastic tub attached to the side with holes in it. In this tub I keep Cheato, it does very well there and pick pieces off for food. The water then flows through the fuge in contact with 4 other algaes. For media I used a mix of sand, miracle mud, and live rock.
I light with CF's Acintric when tank lights are on, 10K when tank lights are out. With the fuge set higher than the tank the return is gravity. This helps bring pods, shrimp, and other fish goodies into the main tank.
I like my fuge almost as well as my tank.

 

[andydavis141]

right on thanks for the post so what other algea is in there and do you keep them seperated or all together? does anyone have a picture of cheato so i can get the right stuff at my local store.

 

[tylerandamanda]

look at it at foster and smith they have it and a good pic

 

[andydavis141]

thanks!

 

[plummike]

cheato is also called Brillo Pad. The stuff is a little wirey but grows in a tight nest. It looks sort of like green Brillo Pad.

 

[uscharalph]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9460018#post9460018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plummike
I have my fuge set higher than my tank. I feed it from the supply line to my tank. The water enters through a plastic tub attached to the side with holes in it. In this tub I keep Cheato, it does very well there and pick pieces off for food. The water then flows through the fuge in contact with 4 other algaes. For media I used a mix of sand, miracle mud, and live rock.
I light with CF's Acintric when tank lights are on, 10K when tank lights are out. With the fuge set higher than the tank the return is gravity. This helps bring pods, shrimp, and other fish goodies into the main tank.
I like my fuge almost as well as my tank.

How about a picture of your setup?

 

[ianward]

Just as an aside, do it right in regards to lighting the first time.
Here is a copy of a thread I started a few months ago.

"After having very little success with two "plant Grow" 60w floods from Home Depot, I upgraded my lights to two 36" 39W Powercrome Midday T5's, on the suggestion of my LFS, J&L Aquatics in Vancouver Canada.
Admittedly I have had a nutrient surge this week as my hermits have all died off after a Red Bug treatment but this growth pattern was also observed last week before the RB treatment.

Here is the previous setup.

This is the start, Day one, after removing almost a full 5 Gal bucket of Cheato.

Day Two, after moving the lights down 2".

Day Three.

Day Four.

Day Five.

Not bad eh?

Ian Ward

 

[malt02]

ianward, What do you attribute most of the growth rate of the cheato to? The wattage or the color spectrum of the bulbs? I have not noticed mine growing and I have experimented with a 70W MH and a 10 gal tank cover with a tube that was designed for aquatic plant growth. Want it to do more than it is now.

Thanks in advance!
Mark

 

[ianward]

malt02
I don't have a clue.
I was complaining to my LFS one day that under 2 60w "plant grow" floods my cheato was doing next to nothing, he said to get these and plan on being amazed. I did and I was.
The 36w Powercrome Middays are 6000K and 10 times brighter than the 2 60W floods were.
My nitrates were a bit high about .2PPM and they are .05 now and the cheato has slowed a little, doubling in maybe 4 days now.
So I guess it is doing it's job.
both the cheato and the light
cheers
Ian Ward

 

[ThomasinKind]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9460018#post9460018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plummike
I have my fuge set higher than my tank. I feed it from the supply line to my tank. The water enters through a plastic tub attached to the side with holes in it. In this tub I keep Cheato, it does very well there and pick pieces off for food. The water then flows through the fuge in contact with 4 other algaes. For media I used a mix of sand, miracle mud, and live rock.
I light with CF's Acintric when tank lights are on, 10K when tank lights are out. With the fuge set higher than the tank the return is gravity. This helps bring pods, shrimp, and other fish goodies into the main tank.
I like my fuge almost as well as my tank.

This is how I plan to do mine. Any general suggestions?

 

[GSMguy]

Gravity fed fuge is the best for feeding the tank with stuff from the fuge

i would only use cheato it is like the miracle algae i love mine i run my entire nano off of cheato and it is great water quality.

 

[gistsc]

I am thinking about starting a refugium myself, and I want to know if an 8gal fuge would be large enough for a 29 gal tank? The reason for 8 gal is that I can cunstruct on that size to fit beside my display tank instead of under it.

Thx

 

[JeffersonReef]

Re: What to put in refugium?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9386650#post9386650 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by malt02
I just built and set up a refugium for my 55 gal coral/fish mix tank. I have a ASM G1 protein skimmer and a Vipor 70w HQI MH light over the refugium portion. What are the best inhabitants of the refugium for it to perform its intended function?

Thanks,
Mark

Mark, I would LOSE the sand. In the end, it will just be a detritous trap, which doesnt help nitrates. Unless you have a large fuge with over 6" depth, it really doesnt accomplish the DSB denitrification.

As far as lr goes, just place some rubble in the fuge, this will encourage pods to gather in these places. Then, let your macroalgae do the rest of the work! that is what is going to do wonders on your system nutrients. I have chaeto, caulerpa and tang heaven growing in mine. I keep the fuge on a reverse light cycle from the tank, and it is lit about 13 hrs a day. Working really well so far! I know it looks empty now... but the macro algae will grow really fast... I need to trim mine every few weeks! HTH!
-TJ

 

[malt02]

Ian Ward, What is your light cycle on your fuge? Do you leave it on 24/7? Reverse from main tank? etc...? Do you have enough flow in your fuge to have your cheato tumble as suggested? I picked up a T-5 twin tube setup that is 24" long and puts out 24 watts total. Hopefully I will get as great results like you do.

Thanks,
Mark