Fuge Question

Vapour1ze · 01/09/2009, 02:45 AM

Soooo my fuge/refugium has been up for about 2 months now, as long as the tank, its a whole seperate 20g setup, with chaeto and some rubble,,, however....................... the sandbed is disgusting and the walls are covered with coraline and other algae,,, I have 0 cleanup crew in there is this ok? or should I add something my chaeto has trippled in size since I bought it,,, and I just have a simple 60w plant light over the top of it....

Thanks!

the2ofus · 01/09/2009, 03:03 AM

Wow.allot of coraline growth in two months? Are you dosing purple up or something?

As far as the fuge and clean up goes, I keep nassarius snails a mexican turbo, blue legs, and a peppermint shrimp made it down the drain, and out of the skimmer sump, so he's a good addition too. I'm sure there's micro stars, bristle worms, copepods and what not down there. The last addition in both the display and fuge were those little sand crabs, they're pretty cool.

Cheato is cleaning some of you water, it thrives on nitrates though, how are yours?

Vapour1ze · 01/09/2009, 03:16 AM

nitrates are last i checked 0,,,, about a week ago... but i was thinking about getting a few snails or crabs for down there, maybe even a shrimp but i have a 3/4 inch hole leading out on top of the surface for the water to overflow down to the sump,,, so i was wondering if something would block that and cause an overflow that would suck... so i was leery about it,,, more thinking crabs then something that can climb up a wall. =/

divewsharks · 01/09/2009, 04:17 AM

putting a small cleanup crew in the fuge is common, snails may try and get thru the hole. could you cover it with some screen?

Vapour1ze · 01/09/2009, 01:12 PM

maybe it would be real ghetto

TheMcs · 01/09/2009, 01:21 PM

I understand a lot of people now have their refugiums on display now, but it still cracks me up when some complain of an ugly 'fuge, nuisance algea, etc. Unsightly algae in your 'fuge? Good! It's doing it's job down there, where it's supposed to, instead of in your DT. What's wrong with coralline in the 'fuge? Ideally a refugium should harbor only the macroalgea and whatever mini life it supports. Harvest the macro as it grows to allow for more growth (and in turn nutrient export). Minimize potential predators (shrimp?) to allow maximum "pod" growth. You can put whatever you want in the 'fuge, just be aware of how it may affect what it is that you want the refugium to accomplish. Sounds like you have a healthy tank though!

Vapour1ze · 01/09/2009, 01:37 PM

Mines not on display, I was just wondering if everything besides my chaeto growth was ok. I was figuring yes. But...

well sweet, Imma let it grow and maybe get a few snails,,, what kind of crabs won't eat Cheato?

01/09/2009, 02:45 AM	#1
Vapour1ze I'm an Addict. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Yorkville, IL Posts: 3,036	Fuge Question Soooo my fuge/refugium has been up for about 2 months now, as long as the tank, its a whole seperate 20g setup, with chaeto and some rubble,,, however....................... the sandbed is disgusting and the walls are covered with coraline and other algae,,, I have 0 cleanup crew in there is this ok? or should I add something my chaeto has trippled in size since I bought it,,, and I just have a simple 60w plant light over the top of it.... Thanks! __________________ 93 Reef \| 220 Reef \| Basement Fish Life Support Room \| Empty Savings Account

01/09/2009, 03:03 AM	#2
the2ofus Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Clarion, PA Posts: 725	Wow.allot of coraline growth in two months? Are you dosing purple up or something? As far as the fuge and clean up goes, I keep nassarius snails a mexican turbo, blue legs, and a peppermint shrimp made it down the drain, and out of the skimmer sump, so he's a good addition too. I'm sure there's micro stars, bristle worms, copepods and what not down there. The last addition in both the display and fuge were those little sand crabs, they're pretty cool. Cheato is cleaning some of you water, it thrives on nitrates though, how are yours? __________________ ~Matt & Kim~ Current Tank Info: 75 gal reef. w/ 30gal. sump/refugium,g-2 skimmer, t-5 lighting

01/09/2009, 03:16 AM	#3
Vapour1ze I'm an Addict. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Yorkville, IL Posts: 3,036	nitrates are last i checked 0,,,, about a week ago... but i was thinking about getting a few snails or crabs for down there, maybe even a shrimp but i have a 3/4 inch hole leading out on top of the surface for the water to overflow down to the sump,,, so i was wondering if something would block that and cause an overflow that would suck... so i was leery about it,,, more thinking crabs then something that can climb up a wall. =/ __________________ 93 Reef \| 220 Reef \| Basement Fish Life Support Room \| Empty Savings Account

01/09/2009, 01:12 PM	#5
Vapour1ze I'm an Addict. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Yorkville, IL Posts: 3,036	maybe it would be real ghetto __________________ 93 Reef \| 220 Reef \| Basement Fish Life Support Room \| Empty Savings Account

01/09/2009, 01:21 PM	#6
TheMcs Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,272	I understand a lot of people now have their refugiums on display now, but it still cracks me up when some complain of an ugly 'fuge, nuisance algea, etc. Unsightly algae in your 'fuge? Good! It's doing it's job down there, where it's supposed to, instead of in your DT. What's wrong with coralline in the 'fuge? Ideally a refugium should harbor only the macroalgea and whatever mini life it supports. Harvest the macro as it grows to allow for more growth (and in turn nutrient export). Minimize potential predators (shrimp?) to allow maximum "pod" growth. You can put whatever you want in the 'fuge, just be aware of how it may affect what it is that you want the refugium to accomplish. Sounds like you have a healthy tank though! __________________ Evaporation and top off don't count as water changes... Current Tank Info: 185g Deep Sea display, 2x 40g frag tanks, 90g fuge, 60g sump (400+ gal system)

01/09/2009, 04:17 AM	#4
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	putting a small cleanup crew in the fuge is common, snails may try and get thru the hole. could you cover it with some screen?

01/09/2009, 01:37 PM	#7
Vapour1ze I'm an Addict. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Yorkville, IL Posts: 3,036	Mines not on display, I was just wondering if everything besides my chaeto growth was ok. I was figuring yes. But... well sweet, Imma let it grow and maybe get a few snails,,, what kind of crabs won't eat Cheato? __________________ 93 Reef \| 220 Reef \| Basement Fish Life Support Room \| Empty Savings Account