Can you use a Tall trash bin as a refugium???

sfarid123 · 08/13/2008, 08:10 AM

Hi,

I would like to set up a 20 gallon Tall rubbermaid trash can as a refugium for my 55g reef tank to hopefully lower my nitrates.

Has anyone tried this method?
Any pros/cons/opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks

P.s I have a slim cabinet space w/ no room to setup a refugium underneath my tank.

Aquarist007 · 08/13/2008, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sfarid123
Hi,

I would like to set up a 20 gallon Tall rubbermaid trash can as a refugium for my 55g reef tank to hopefully lower my nitrates.

Has anyone tried this method?
Any pros/cons/opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks

P.s I have a slim cabinet space w/ no room to setup a refugium underneath my tank.

It would work it you were going to use the refugium as a deep sand bed only and you would get alot of nitrate reduction

However if you were going to have chaeto macro algae and other forms a macro I would be concerned about the amount of light it would take to reach the bottom of the trash can to support a good growth of chaeto.
Running a macro algae has the advantage of removing phosphates and nitrates(if you harvest it regularily

Consider running a plastic tote instead:

Aquarist007 · 08/13/2008, 08:31 AM

You will find great ideas on this thread for refugiums

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1349443

sfarid123 · 08/13/2008, 08:34 AM

Thanks for the reply,

That is a cool setup you've got there

,however, I'm really limited to space.
How much deep of sand would I need.
Also If I decided to add chaeto, how much wattage of light would I need?

Thanks again

Aquarist007 · 08/13/2008, 08:42 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sfarid123
Thanks for the reply,

That is a cool setup you've got there ,however, I'm really limited to space.
How much deep of sand would I need.
Also If I decided to add chaeto, how much wattage of light would I need?

Thanks again [/QUOTE

thanks but mine i just one of many---check the thread after the split --I have indexed them there

If you can use the garbage can you should have enough space for the tote?

If you are going to run a deep sand bed only--7 inches
For a chaeto macro algae fuge --most refers are opting to have no sand bed due to the detrius that accumulates from the chaeto--the ball gets really dense and tend to filter detrius from the water.

sfarid123 · 08/13/2008, 08:54 AM

How much light wattage would I need for a Chaeto algae only in the Trash bin setup?

inachu · 08/13/2008, 08:56 AM

Awsome fuge!

Too bad it would make the living room ugly.

sfarid123 · 08/13/2008, 09:20 AM

Any Idea on how much light I'd need for Cheato only w/ a trash can setup?

Aquarist007 · 08/13/2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sfarid123
Any Idea on how much light I'd need for Cheato only w/ a trash can setup?

how deep is the trash can

the chaeto will float high but as its mass and density increases it will float lower in the trash can. This would mean that you have to rotate the ball more often.
If you are prepared to do that then you could probably get away witht the energy savers most of us are using.

I would also suggest you run a small power head in the trash can for circulation also

08/13/2008, 08:10 AM	#1
sfarid123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: maryland Posts: 456	Can you use a Tall trash bin as a refugium??? Hi, I would like to set up a 20 gallon Tall rubbermaid trash can as a refugium for my 55g reef tank to hopefully lower my nitrates. Has anyone tried this method? Any pros/cons/opinions would be appreciated. Thanks P.s I have a slim cabinet space w/ no room to setup a refugium underneath my tank.

08/13/2008, 08:31 AM	#3
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	You will find great ideas on this thread for refugiums http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1349443 __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

08/13/2008, 08:42 AM	#5
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	[QUOTE]Originally posted by sfarid123 Thanks for the reply, That is a cool setup you've got there ,however, I'm really limited to space. How much deep of sand would I need. Also If I decided to add chaeto, how much wattage of light would I need? Thanks again [/QUOTE thanks but mine i just one of many---check the thread after the split --I have indexed them there If you can use the garbage can you should have enough space for the tote? If you are going to run a deep sand bed only--7 inches For a chaeto macro algae fuge --most refers are opting to have no sand bed due to the detrius that accumulates from the chaeto--the ball gets really dense and tend to filter detrius from the water. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

08/13/2008, 08:54 AM	#6
sfarid123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: maryland Posts: 456	How much light wattage would I need for a Chaeto algae only in the Trash bin setup? Last edited by sfarid123; 08/13/2008 at 09:10 AM.

08/13/2008, 08:56 AM	#7
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	Re: Re: Can you use a Tall trash bin as a refugium??? Awsome fuge! Too bad it would make the living room ugly.

08/13/2008, 08:34 AM	#4
sfarid123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: maryland Posts: 456	Thanks for the reply, That is a cool setup you've got there ,however, I'm really limited to space. How much deep of sand would I need. Also If I decided to add chaeto, how much wattage of light would I need? Thanks again

08/13/2008, 09:20 AM	#8
sfarid123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: maryland Posts: 456	Any Idea on how much light I'd need for Cheato only w/ a trash can setup?