Would someone please explain the refugium concept?

[Gluestick]

I've been reading a lot of books on saltwater aquariums, and all I read is wet/dry this, trickle filter that, preach preach preach. But on this website it seems like refugiums are the latest thing.... I guess I really dont' get how it all works together.... Do I still need a wet/ dry sump if I go with a refugium? I want the best possible filtration and skimming and whatnot.... I am planning on a 90 gal. reef ready, can I use that with a sump? Also, you know how a sump or refugium increases your water volume? When you buy stuff like skimmers and fluidized bed filters (and thats another thing i need to know more about) do you buy one for just 90 gal or do you add up all the gallonage in the sump and refugium? I know that it is a bother, but could someone explain to my step for step what i should be looking into for my tank?

 

[mikenpam]

A refugium can be used for several things. I have macro algae and a deep sand bed in mine to help reduce nitrates. It is also a place where copopods can propogate. Mine is a combined sump and refugium.

If you go with live rock you do not need a trickle or wet/dry system The live rock is your biological filter. You will also go with a skimmer. A sump increases you water volume and gives you a location to place your skimmer, return pump, heater etc. I do not think there is any rule for the size of a sump or refugium but from my reading they seem to run about 1/3 of the main tank size.

I have a 90 gal RR and use a sump/refugium of about 20 gal. One thing to consider is where the sump/refugium will be located. Mine fits rather tightly in the stand under my main tank. I have read where others have plumbed theirs to an adjacent cabinet or another adjacent room.

I would certainly recommend a sump, refugium, shimmer and live rock for a reef acquarium.

 

[mg426]

Very good explanation. I to agree with the refugium concept. If you use macoalgae along with a DSB you will have the advantage of Natural Nitrate reduction. Also using the reverse lighting method will help to prevent large PH swings . the plant life in the fuge will continue with photosynthisis when your main tank lights are off. this will use up Excess co2. I use a 30 gal on a 125 reef and am very happy with it.

 

[Gluestick]

Thank you very much for the information. I was under the impression the a sump WAS a wet/dry trickle filter. But it is not, right??? What brand of refugium/sump do you have? Could I see pictures (if you have any)? So a refugium is like a mini aquarium under the main system? I would like to keep everything in the cabinet underneath my aquarium is this possible?

 

[Gluestick]

I would like to see pictures of a refugium. What is the reverse lighting method? tank lights on during the day refuge lights on at night?

 

[six.line]

There's not really a brand name on sumps, no more than you would make one or buy one. If you buy one, then yes, I suppose, it has a brand name.

The whole idea behind a sump is to increase water volume (more water means more stability)

There are other benefits such as being able to hide unsightly equipment such as heaters, skimmers, or anything else you might like to throw in there.

Your refugium is where you can put extra bio-filtration to grow little pods (some fish eat these dudes) and where you can put macroalgae (seaweed) that will grow and export nitrates. If you trim out the seaweed and throw it away (or in some instances feed it to the tank inhabitants) you'll keep down on nitrates.

The sump is the over all tank below (hence the name) display tank. The refugium can be separate, or can be a chamber in the sump.

Yeah, you have a reverse lighting period mainly so that when you admire your magnificent tank you don't have light eeking out from underneath the stand. You can go to melevsreef.com and find all sorts of examples on sumps.

 

[mikenpam]

I am visiting my daughter and grandson so I am unable to post any pics. You may be able to get some ideas off of the DIY forum. Mine was purchased from a company that went out of business. It has three chambers. The first holds my protien skimmer. The water then flows into a second chamber which is the refugium. It flows into a third chamber which holds my return pump. Hopefully someone else will be able to post a pic.

A wet/dry or trickle filter would be located in a sump and I believe the sump is designed around the filter.

One problem with my refugium is that pods have to return to the main tank through the return pump. At some point I intend to add a refugium on a shelf above my main tank which will overflow into my main tank. This will allow more pods to reach the main tank.