Refugium or No?

huskysglare1 · 02/09/2011, 05:41 AM

It's funny. I've been looking at the TOTMs and very few of them actually have a refugium and their tanks are AMAZING! with mature colonies of SPS. Am i missing something here? Do you need a refugium for your tank to be successful?

Please let me know what you guys think.

flyyyguy · 02/09/2011, 05:50 AM

absolutely unecessary imo

huskysglare1 · 02/09/2011, 05:58 AM

so, just a place to grow cheato is good enough?

jayinh · 02/09/2011, 05:59 AM

i am building a 125 and my LFS guy has a SPS tank with no fuge but does have biopellets. i am on the fence about going this route too!

billdogg · 02/09/2011, 08:36 AM

No, you don't need one. That being said, I find it easier to maintain my tank with a fuge & dsb, and plan to continue. I'm also thinking about putting together a ATS.

t4zalews · 02/09/2011, 08:57 AM

I'd say if you can run one...a refugium, at least 20 gallons....would be beneficial to any tank. That and when it matures...you can get a mandarin. Who doesnt want a mandarin?

But no, it is not a necessity.

jeff@zina.com · 02/09/2011, 08:59 AM

I have to pass on voting, because the vote is both choices. You don't need one, but they're very helpful. Just like most of the equipment in this hobby.

Jeff

justjosh · 02/09/2011, 09:12 AM

I have two tanks, a 35 gallon and a 20 gallon long. Both have been setup for more than one year. The 20 long has a refugium and the amount of algae that grows in the display tank is super minimal and it is loaded with pods. I have always had problems with the 35 gallon. I am currently building an overflow for the 35 so I can put in a refugium! If I were designing a custom system I would definitely include the largest refugium/live rock area possible.

James404 · 02/09/2011, 09:23 AM

Fuges are good but I didn't have enough nutrients in my tank to keep chaeto growing, I have just live rock in my sump now instead and use GFO/GAC.

solitude127 · 02/09/2011, 10:44 AM

I run one. When I was building my tank, I had a custom sump built and I figured it's easier to add/have one in the beginning as opposed to trying to add one later. if I don't like it with macro algae, I could always use it as a cryptic fuge.

huskysglare1 · 02/09/2011, 02:06 PM

is rubble rock beneficial in the sump?

flyyyguy · 02/09/2011, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huskysglare1

is rubble rock beneficial in the sump?

ins some cases it can be

but just like in display if you just have yoru rock in big piles with low flow going through it, and dont either by design or via husbandry keep crap from collecting and rotting inside and underneath it the rock will just be pretty much defeating its own purpose

huskysglare1 · 02/09/2011, 09:53 PM

i see a lot of detritus where the live rocks are. is this bad?

koralkrab125 · 02/09/2011, 10:21 PM

fuge is not necessary but is beneficial and can make acheiving a high level of results easier to acheive

huskysglare1 · 02/11/2011, 10:50 PM

the margin of people using/not using a refugium isn't that big.

jmchzn123 · 02/11/2011, 11:39 PM

Aaaaaaahhhhh fuge........ Made a mess. Don't like it one bit. Create an Eco system in my DT. DSB and every year or so I get a detrivore kit. Wanna buy one barely used.

No Mandy. I just never seen one survive in a little tank like mine anyway. I'm just saying!

huskysglare1 · 02/12/2011, 03:35 PM

I have 2 in my tank and they're pretty heathly. Mandarins are the best.

djt511 · 02/12/2011, 08:45 PM

interesting numbers, ive been wondering this as well, since i currently don't have one, and contemplating adding it.

davocean · 02/12/2011, 09:01 PM

I think most of us have sumps, and it's just way too easy to add a fuge, and there are certainly benefits that outweigh any neg IMO.

huskysglare1 · 02/13/2011, 12:16 AM

Does anyone add live rubble rocks in the sump? I added rubble rocks to the sump and i've noticed a lot of detritus build up where the rocks are.

allsps40 · 02/13/2011, 12:26 AM

I am real big on fuges. I have been using one since my early days in reefing. I took my fuge off line for a few weeks to clean, rid myself of CCA and replace sand bed. My no3 has always been undetectable until I took the fuge off line. A few weeks with no lights and no chaeto growth made no3 go up to 5-10ppm. I have LR rubble and 2-3 lbs pieces of LR in my fuge.

Tahoe Reefer · 02/13/2011, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huskysglare1

Does anyone add live rubble rocks in the sump? I added rubble rocks to the sump and i've noticed a lot of detritus build up where the rocks are.

I have rubble in my fuge, no sand. A year ago I moved my tank and flushed all of my sand through a strainer and removed all of the "chunks" from the sand and this became my fuge bed. It's 50%+ shells. This rubble collects alot of detritus and was probably a bad idea in the long run. Every month I remove the rubble and flush it with WC water until it runs clean. This upsets the pod populations but since it's only a small part of a multi tank system the dragonetts dont suffer from food source loss. I am planning to remove the fuge for an ATS. I'll keep my skimmer either way.

View Poll Results: Do you need a Refugium?
Yes, It's very helpful.	36	69.23%
No, you don't need it.	16	30.77%
Voters: 52. You may not vote on this poll

02/09/2011, 05:41 AM	#1
huskysglare1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,406	Refugium or No? It's funny. I've been looking at the TOTMs and very few of them actually have a refugium and their tanks are AMAZING! with mature colonies of SPS. Am i missing something here? Do you need a refugium for your tank to be successful? Please let me know what you guys think. __________________ Since Jan 2008 Current system: 170G+50g Sump/Bio-Pellet Reactor. 2x400w Radium+2x110w VHO. 2 x HYDRO Magnum 8 + 1xMP60w (removed 2 x Koralia 4). SWC 300A Cone (had SWC 200 w/ Red Demon); it's AWESOME! BRS DOSER(Cal, Alk, and Mag). Current Tank Info: 170g+50g sump

02/09/2011, 05:50 AM	#2
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	absolutely unecessary imo __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach

02/09/2011, 05:58 AM	#3
huskysglare1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,406	so, just a place to grow cheato is good enough? __________________ Since Jan 2008 Current system: 170G+50g Sump/Bio-Pellet Reactor. 2x400w Radium+2x110w VHO. 2 x HYDRO Magnum 8 + 1xMP60w (removed 2 x Koralia 4). SWC 300A Cone (had SWC 200 w/ Red Demon); it's AWESOME! BRS DOSER(Cal, Alk, and Mag). Current Tank Info: 170g+50g sump

02/09/2011, 05:59 AM	#4
jayinh Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: nh Posts: 391	i am building a 125 and my LFS guy has a SPS tank with no fuge but does have biopellets. i am on the fence about going this route too! __________________ Hi my name is jay and im a reefaholic (pause) HI JAY Current Tank Info: 60 CUBE, GEN1 RADION, AUTO WATER CHANGE BUILDER AT LARGE!

02/09/2011, 08:36 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	No, you don't need one. That being said, I find it easier to maintain my tank with a fuge & dsb, and plan to continue. I'm also thinking about putting together a ATS. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/09/2011, 08:57 AM	#6
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	I'd say if you can run one...a refugium, at least 20 gallons....would be beneficial to any tank. That and when it matures...you can get a mandarin. Who doesnt want a mandarin? But no, it is not a necessity. __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

02/09/2011, 08:59 AM	#7
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	I have to pass on voting, because the vote is both choices. You don't need one, but they're very helpful. Just like most of the equipment in this hobby. Jeff

02/09/2011, 09:12 AM	#8
justjosh Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Melbourne, Florida Posts: 191	I have two tanks, a 35 gallon and a 20 gallon long. Both have been setup for more than one year. The 20 long has a refugium and the amount of algae that grows in the display tank is super minimal and it is loaded with pods. I have always had problems with the 35 gallon. I am currently building an overflow for the 35 so I can put in a refugium! If I were designing a custom system I would definitely include the largest refugium/live rock area possible.

02/09/2011, 09:23 AM	#9
James404 I <3 Acros Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,523	Fuges are good but I didn't have enough nutrients in my tank to keep chaeto growing, I have just live rock in my sump now instead and use GFO/GAC. __________________ 80g Deep Blue Rimless - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2651295 225g Reef Savvy SPS Dominant - Retired http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1945361

02/09/2011, 10:44 AM	#10
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	I run one. When I was building my tank, I had a custom sump built and I figured it's easier to add/have one in the beginning as opposed to trying to add one later. if I don't like it with macro algae, I could always use it as a cryptic fuge. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

02/09/2011, 02:06 PM	#11
huskysglare1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,406	is rubble rock beneficial in the sump? __________________ Since Jan 2008 Current system: 170G+50g Sump/Bio-Pellet Reactor. 2x400w Radium+2x110w VHO. 2 x HYDRO Magnum 8 + 1xMP60w (removed 2 x Koralia 4). SWC 300A Cone (had SWC 200 w/ Red Demon); it's AWESOME! BRS DOSER(Cal, Alk, and Mag). Current Tank Info: 170g+50g sump

02/09/2011, 09:53 PM	#13
huskysglare1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,406	i see a lot of detritus where the live rocks are. is this bad? __________________ Since Jan 2008 Current system: 170G+50g Sump/Bio-Pellet Reactor. 2x400w Radium+2x110w VHO. 2 x HYDRO Magnum 8 + 1xMP60w (removed 2 x Koralia 4). SWC 300A Cone (had SWC 200 w/ Red Demon); it's AWESOME! BRS DOSER(Cal, Alk, and Mag). Current Tank Info: 170g+50g sump

02/09/2011, 10:21 PM	#14
koralkrab125 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 54	fuge is not necessary but is beneficial and can make acheiving a high level of results easier to acheive

02/11/2011, 10:50 PM	#15
huskysglare1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,406	the margin of people using/not using a refugium isn't that big. __________________ Since Jan 2008 Current system: 170G+50g Sump/Bio-Pellet Reactor. 2x400w Radium+2x110w VHO. 2 x HYDRO Magnum 8 + 1xMP60w (removed 2 x Koralia 4). SWC 300A Cone (had SWC 200 w/ Red Demon); it's AWESOME! BRS DOSER(Cal, Alk, and Mag). Current Tank Info: 170g+50g sump

02/11/2011, 11:39 PM	#16
jmchzn123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 240	Aaaaaaahhhhh fuge........ Made a mess. Don't like it one bit. Create an Eco system in my DT. DSB and every year or so I get a detrivore kit. Wanna buy one barely used. No Mandy. I just never seen one survive in a little tank like mine anyway. I'm just saying! __________________ 10 years running - 90 gal Tech Tank, 48x18x24/ 30 gal sump/ BK 180 mini/ 3 AI Sol Blues/ DSB / UV / Tunze Wave Box/ APEX-Lite controller/ dosing pumps on the way/ Goldfish

02/12/2011, 03:35 PM	#17
huskysglare1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,406	I have 2 in my tank and they're pretty heathly. Mandarins are the best. __________________ Since Jan 2008 Current system: 170G+50g Sump/Bio-Pellet Reactor. 2x400w Radium+2x110w VHO. 2 x HYDRO Magnum 8 + 1xMP60w (removed 2 x Koralia 4). SWC 300A Cone (had SWC 200 w/ Red Demon); it's AWESOME! BRS DOSER(Cal, Alk, and Mag). Current Tank Info: 170g+50g sump

02/12/2011, 08:45 PM	#18
djt511 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 59	interesting numbers, ive been wondering this as well, since i currently don't have one, and contemplating adding it.

02/12/2011, 09:01 PM	#19
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I think most of us have sumps, and it's just way too easy to add a fuge, and there are certainly benefits that outweigh any neg IMO. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

02/13/2011, 12:16 AM	#20
huskysglare1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,406	Does anyone add live rubble rocks in the sump? I added rubble rocks to the sump and i've noticed a lot of detritus build up where the rocks are. __________________ Since Jan 2008 Current system: 170G+50g Sump/Bio-Pellet Reactor. 2x400w Radium+2x110w VHO. 2 x HYDRO Magnum 8 + 1xMP60w (removed 2 x Koralia 4). SWC 300A Cone (had SWC 200 w/ Red Demon); it's AWESOME! BRS DOSER(Cal, Alk, and Mag). Current Tank Info: 170g+50g sump

02/13/2011, 12:26 AM	#21
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	I am real big on fuges. I have been using one since my early days in reefing. I took my fuge off line for a few weeks to clean, rid myself of CCA and replace sand bed. My no3 has always been undetectable until I took the fuge off line. A few weeks with no lights and no chaeto growth made no3 go up to 5-10ppm. I have LR rubble and 2-3 lbs pieces of LR in my fuge.

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