Refugium Questions

1Adam12 · 11/08/2006, 05:47 PM

Ok... so the refugium (fuge) is the largest part of the sump, right?

You need to have a sand or mud base, right?

You want the fuge to grow algae, right?

To grow algae, there needs to be light, right?

Does the light have to be special or just a regular incandescent?

Why do you want to grow algae?

Oh and maybe a few pounds of LR?

I'm sorry for this thread but the more I read about sumps without actually seeing a working model and talking to the keeper of the working model, the more questions I come up with.

Thanks in advance for the help....

Adam

reefnetworth · 11/08/2006, 06:01 PM

1: i use 6" of aragonite sand. more coverage for beneficial bacteria.
2: yes, you will benefit from algae, it absorbes/eats ammonia and nitrate. (chaetomorfia is the best and cheapest)
3: Lowes or Home Depot have clip-on lights suitable for (plants) growlights. use a 60 watt bulb or a flood light with higher wattage.
4: rubblerock/small pieces of liverock are best. www.premiumaquatics.com sells it by the pound. tell Jeremy, nano4brains refered you, he might give you a price cut.

John,

reefnetworth · 11/08/2006, 06:05 PM

almost forgot, some chose to place inhabitants such as crabs, copepods, starfish, snails in there also. check-out the "DIY" forum, for set-ups and designs.

John,

1Adam12 · 11/08/2006, 06:10 PM

Thanks for the info reefnetworth (John).

Is the fuge a necessary thing for a 150G reef setup?

Why do you put creatures such as those you mentioned in the fuge? No one can see them there... since it's under the tank...

Adam

reefnetworth · 11/08/2006, 06:15 PM

they eat deteris and uneaten food mostly, and they keep the sand stirred-up/open. these things (deteris and uneaten food will cause the sinful nitrite, ammonia, and nitrate. all part of the nitrogen cycle but it helps keep it under control and in the desired parameters. nitrite, 0.0, ammonia, 0.0, nitrate under 10 ppm.

John,

jerry11901 · 11/08/2006, 06:16 PM

I use this bulb : http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/Merc...Category_Code=
and recommend it to you .

reefnetworth · 11/08/2006, 06:22 PM

that one will work fine. keep it about 8" above the sump water level, they put out alot of heat, and make it difficult to control temp. in your main/display tank.

John,

reefnetworth · 11/08/2006, 06:22 PM

double clicked. admin's, please delete this reply, sorry.

John,

reefnetworth · 11/08/2006, 06:30 PM

1Adam12, the reason for keeping them in the sump is because some critters will eat some corals and accidently knock-over or break them.

John,

1Adam12 · 11/08/2006, 07:14 PM

Thanks for all the info. I'm just starving for information. Being new for me means I can't get enough knowledge. I really want this to be a success.

Thanks again...

Adam

Shagsbeard · 11/08/2006, 07:54 PM

I also disagree that your fuge should be your biggest volume in your sump. It should be if you have an auto-top off. If you have no auto-top off, your return area should be the larger volume.

11/08/2006, 05:47 PM	#1
1Adam12 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stony Plain, Alberta Posts: 9	Refugium Questions Ok... so the refugium (fuge) is the largest part of the sump, right? You need to have a sand or mud base, right? You want the fuge to grow algae, right? To grow algae, there needs to be light, right? Does the light have to be special or just a regular incandescent? Why do you want to grow algae? Oh and maybe a few pounds of LR? I'm sorry for this thread but the more I read about sumps without actually seeing a working model and talking to the keeper of the working model, the more questions I come up with. Thanks in advance for the help.... Adam

11/08/2006, 06:01 PM	#2
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	1: i use 6" of aragonite sand. more coverage for beneficial bacteria. 2: yes, you will benefit from algae, it absorbes/eats ammonia and nitrate. (chaetomorfia is the best and cheapest) 3: Lowes or Home Depot have clip-on lights suitable for (plants) growlights. use a 60 watt bulb or a flood light with higher wattage. 4: rubblerock/small pieces of liverock are best. www.premiumaquatics.com sells it by the pound. tell Jeremy, nano4brains refered you, he might give you a price cut. John, __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

11/08/2006, 06:05 PM	#3
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	almost forgot, some chose to place inhabitants such as crabs, copepods, starfish, snails in there also. check-out the "DIY" forum, for set-ups and designs. John, __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

11/08/2006, 06:15 PM	#5
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	they eat deteris and uneaten food mostly, and they keep the sand stirred-up/open. these things (deteris and uneaten food will cause the sinful nitrite, ammonia, and nitrate. all part of the nitrogen cycle but it helps keep it under control and in the desired parameters. nitrite, 0.0, ammonia, 0.0, nitrate under 10 ppm. John, __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping. Last edited by reefnetworth; 11/08/2006 at 06:52 PM.

11/08/2006, 06:22 PM	#7
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	that one will work fine. keep it about 8" above the sump water level, they put out alot of heat, and make it difficult to control temp. in your main/display tank. John, __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

11/08/2006, 06:10 PM	#4
1Adam12 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stony Plain, Alberta Posts: 9	Thanks for the info reefnetworth (John). Is the fuge a necessary thing for a 150G reef setup? Why do you put creatures such as those you mentioned in the fuge? No one can see them there... since it's under the tank... Adam

11/08/2006, 06:16 PM	#6
jerry11901 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island N.Y. Posts: 167	I use this bulb : http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/Merc...Category_Code= and recommend it to you .

11/08/2006, 06:30 PM	#9
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	1Adam12, the reason for keeping them in the sump is because some critters will eat some corals and accidently knock-over or break them. John, __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

11/08/2006, 07:14 PM	#10
1Adam12 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stony Plain, Alberta Posts: 9	Thanks for all the info. I'm just starving for information. Being new for me means I can't get enough knowledge. I really want this to be a success. Thanks again... Adam

11/08/2006, 07:54 PM	#11
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	I also disagree that your fuge should be your biggest volume in your sump. It should be if you have an auto-top off. If you have no auto-top off, your return area should be the larger volume.