Small Fuge even worth it?

cleverbs · 10/07/2016, 03:09 PM

I am looking at two sumps right now one with and one without a fuge. The one with a fuge is 10x8.5" this sump is going into a 93g cube. Will I really see any benefit from such a small fuge? Sure Ill have a place some pods can multiply but will I really see any good nutrient export or other benefits? I have always doubted fuges but at the same time have thought it may be cool to have one. what are your Thoughts?

ca1ore · 10/07/2016, 04:00 PM

I'm a big fan of refugia, for many reasons, and tend to think that any is better than none. Benefits will be proportional though.

Maritimer · 10/07/2016, 05:59 PM

Big enough to grow some chaeto or caulerpa for the 'pods to nibble and crawl in. Big enough to host a cryptic zone beneath the macroalgae, where sponges and worms can feed on suspended matter and detritus.

I think quite worthwhile ... but that's just non-expert-me.

~Bruce

Sonyardo · 10/07/2016, 06:01 PM

I would go for a largest custom sump that I could get into the stand, and I would make sure it had a fuge in it

CStrickland · 10/07/2016, 07:32 PM

If you don't want to commit to the whole lighted fuge, you stick some 'pod condos' in there. If you use corrugated plastic, or a mesh bag of rocks, or even some non-antibacterial sponge, you'll cultivate live food for fish that eat that sort of thing. If you set it up so the condos can be shaken out every couple months you'll be able to keep detritus from accumulating and causing nitrate problems like it can when people fill up their sumps with rock.

Some reefers have more intense but really interesting 'cryptic' fuges, a dark place for sponges and filter feeders to grow away from predators. Another option is to use it as a settling area, where the water slows down a little and detritus falls to the floor for easy removal with a siphon of shop vac. So there's option to use the space without growing algae, for sure. That said, if the fuge part is taking space away from the part where you'd keep your equipment, do consider if maintenance will be annoying because things are cluttered. The harder it is to get at you skimmer, the less likely you are to clean it on schedule. And when everything is packed in close its easy to have pockets of crud develop.

10/07/2016, 03:09 PM	#1
cleverbs Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,041	Small Fuge even worth it? I am looking at two sumps right now one with and one without a fuge. The one with a fuge is 10x8.5" this sump is going into a 93g cube. Will I really see any benefit from such a small fuge? Sure Ill have a place some pods can multiply but will I really see any good nutrient export or other benefits? I have always doubted fuges but at the same time have thought it may be cool to have one. what are your Thoughts?

10/07/2016, 04:00 PM	#2
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I'm a big fan of refugia, for many reasons, and tend to think that any is better than none. Benefits will be proportional though. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

10/07/2016, 05:59 PM	#3
Maritimer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SW Connecticut, U.S.A. Posts: 419	Big enough to grow some chaeto or caulerpa for the 'pods to nibble and crawl in. Big enough to host a cryptic zone beneath the macroalgae, where sponges and worms can feed on suspended matter and detritus. I think quite worthwhile ... but that's just non-expert-me. ~Bruce __________________ Because anything else ... is just a fishtank. Zoey's Reef has come to life! Zoas, 'shrooms and LPS of several sorts, CUC, dartfish, wrasses and others swim above the sand . . . Current Tank Info: Kingston & Zoey's Reef; 220g, Deltec skimmer, 2 MaxSpect Gyre x-50s, 2,500gph or so through the sump. SPS are surviving . . .

10/07/2016, 07:32 PM	#5
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	If you don't want to commit to the whole lighted fuge, you stick some 'pod condos' in there. If you use corrugated plastic, or a mesh bag of rocks, or even some non-antibacterial sponge, you'll cultivate live food for fish that eat that sort of thing. If you set it up so the condos can be shaken out every couple months you'll be able to keep detritus from accumulating and causing nitrate problems like it can when people fill up their sumps with rock. Some reefers have more intense but really interesting 'cryptic' fuges, a dark place for sponges and filter feeders to grow away from predators. Another option is to use it as a settling area, where the water slows down a little and detritus falls to the floor for easy removal with a siphon of shop vac. So there's option to use the space without growing algae, for sure. That said, if the fuge part is taking space away from the part where you'd keep your equipment, do consider if maintenance will be annoying because things are cluttered. The harder it is to get at you skimmer, the less likely you are to clean it on schedule. And when everything is packed in close its easy to have pockets of crud develop. __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

10/07/2016, 06:01 PM	#4
Sonyardo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: OC California Posts: 522	I would go for a largest custom sump that I could get into the stand, and I would make sure it had a fuge in it