Refugium size

pack93 · 08/13/2007, 06:51 PM

I have a new 90 gallon tank and I am working on my sump and refugium. Should both of them be a certain size according to the size of my tank. I had read in one post that said your refugium should be 30% of your tank size. Is this correct? With a 90 gallon tank I would have to have a 30 gallon refugium in my sump and I do not know how that would fit in the stand.

Carlos · 08/13/2007, 07:02 PM

The 30% is just an estimate. To be honest, this is the first time I read of it. If you were to go that route, the larger the refugium, the better... why limit it to 30 percent.

Refugium is just an area of the tank (most of the times a separate tank) where microorganisms can reproduce free of fish predation.

By those terms, a small 10 gal tank packed with macroalgae would work just fine.

In terms of size, do whatever size you can do. If you have the space, go with a large refugium. If your space is limited, then go smaller. It all depends on what you are able to do.

Carlos

pack93 · 08/13/2007, 08:08 PM

Will a larger refugium help in reducing the nitrate level or will a smaller one reduce it just as much?

salty55 · 08/13/2007, 09:28 PM

it will depend on the bioload of the tank/how much nitrates are being produced. a lot of macro algae can grow in a small space.

Misled · 08/13/2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AllenA
Will a larger refugium help in reducing the nitrate level or will a smaller one reduce it just as much?

A softball size ball of cheato is still a softball size ball of cheto. I have a 20 gal sump but my skimmer takes up alot of space. I used a 2.5 gal acrylic tank for my fuge. I have sand on the bottom, a few lbs of rubble above that and about 6" ball of macro on top.

Forgot to say though the bigger the better because it increases your water volume.

08/13/2007, 06:51 PM	#1
pack93 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 48	Refugium size I have a new 90 gallon tank and I am working on my sump and refugium. Should both of them be a certain size according to the size of my tank. I had read in one post that said your refugium should be 30% of your tank size. Is this correct? With a 90 gallon tank I would have to have a 30 gallon refugium in my sump and I do not know how that would fit in the stand.

08/13/2007, 07:02 PM	#2
Carlos Premium Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,258	The 30% is just an estimate. To be honest, this is the first time I read of it. If you were to go that route, the larger the refugium, the better... why limit it to 30 percent. Refugium is just an area of the tank (most of the times a separate tank) where microorganisms can reproduce free of fish predation. By those terms, a small 10 gal tank packed with macroalgae would work just fine. In terms of size, do whatever size you can do. If you have the space, go with a large refugium. If your space is limited, then go smaller. It all depends on what you are able to do. Carlos __________________ Carlos "Only a fool wants to hear the echo of his own voice." "What do you want for nothing? rrrrrrubber biscuit?" Current Tank Info: Custom 210 gal Reef Octopus Tank with SlimFlow overflow, IceCap 36XL Sump, Reef Octopus ELITE 200INT Skimmer, 2-Part Dosing, 3 x Giesemann VerVve, KH Guardian Alk Controller, ClariSea Roller Filter

08/13/2007, 09:28 PM	#4
salty55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: where the wind comes sweeping down the plains Posts: 509	it will depend on the bioload of the tank/how much nitrates are being produced. a lot of macro algae can grow in a small space. __________________ sent from my laptop while sitting on the couch! Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 20 gallon sump, 20 gallon display fuge, vertex IN100 skimmer, apex, tunze 6055x2, tlc kalkreactor/phosreactor, APEX controlled LED

08/13/2007, 08:08 PM	#3
pack93 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 48	Will a larger refugium help in reducing the nitrate level or will a smaller one reduce it just as much?