refugium question

stealthbimmer · 10/30/2007, 09:22 PM

I have a 20g long tank, currently with two clowns and a lta. I am in the near future going to add a yellowhead jawfish. So the tank will only have 3 fish. I do not have a problem with nitrates atm, nor have i ever. I keep up with w/c and do not overfeed. I am looking at hob refugiums. My question is, would it be ok to add just a hob refugium...or should i get one with a protein skimmer in it. I was origianlly going to get a sapphire aquatics hob w/ skimmer, but they cost around 300 bux. I can get just a standard cpr hob refugium for 60. I am thinking since i do not really have a nitrate problem that just a refugium would be fine. TIA

coast2coast7390 · 10/30/2007, 11:02 PM

get the biggest fuge that you can buy...just remember not to cut corners when it comes to equipment...you usually get what you paid for

bertoni · 10/30/2007, 11:03 PM

Tough choice. I'd probably go with the skimmer for more aeration.

bboy aqua · 10/31/2007, 12:53 AM

get a skimmer thats seperate from the fuges
from what ive heard and read about almost all of the skimmers built onf HOB fuges arent so good

papagimp · 10/31/2007, 08:04 AM

make sure you have sufficient amount of sand in that tank for the yellowheaded jawfish, minimum of 3-4" while it's small, may need more when he gets larger. My yellow head has a 4" sandbed to play in and when he gets to diggin, he'll burrow and uncover a large section of the bottom pane of glass with little trouble. Also, when they are NEW to a tank, very prone to jumping right back out, keep a close eye on him, cover the tank if need be, and for gods sake dont try to sneak up on him. They swim vertically above their burrows and when startled, they got 2 directions they'll run, back down to their hole or straight up and out of the tank.

fwiw, a skimmer does more than just assisting with nitrates, so just because you have no nitrates showing up on the test doesn't neccessarily mean you shouldn't get one.

stealthbimmer · 10/31/2007, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by papagimp
make sure you have sufficient amount of sand in that tank for the yellowheaded jawfish, minimum of 3-4" while it's small, may need more when he gets larger. My yellow head has a 4" sandbed to play in and when he gets to diggin, he'll burrow and uncover a large section of the bottom pane of glass with little trouble. Also, when they are NEW to a tank, very prone to jumping right back out, keep a close eye on him, cover the tank if need be, and for gods sake dont try to sneak up on him. They swim vertically above their burrows and when startled, they got 2 directions they'll run, back down to their hole or straight up and out of the tank.

fwiw, a skimmer does more than just assisting with nitrates, so just because you have no nitrates showing up on the test doesn't neccessarily mean you shouldn't get one.

yes ik that about the jawfish, thats what i like about them. As for the skimmer, ik i should get one but im just wondering which would be more benficial to me atm. Im kinda on a strict budget atm, and thinking a hob refugium may be more benficial ( and cheaper) then a skimmer. I do not overfeed, and i only have two fish and a good cuc. There really are not many spare nutrients for a skimmer to pull out imo.

10/30/2007, 09:22 PM	#1
stealthbimmer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 225	refugium question I have a 20g long tank, currently with two clowns and a lta. I am in the near future going to add a yellowhead jawfish. So the tank will only have 3 fish. I do not have a problem with nitrates atm, nor have i ever. I keep up with w/c and do not overfeed. I am looking at hob refugiums. My question is, would it be ok to add just a hob refugium...or should i get one with a protein skimmer in it. I was origianlly going to get a sapphire aquatics hob w/ skimmer, but they cost around 300 bux. I can get just a standard cpr hob refugium for 60. I am thinking since i do not really have a nitrate problem that just a refugium would be fine. TIA

10/30/2007, 11:03 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Tough choice. I'd probably go with the skimmer for more aeration. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/31/2007, 08:04 AM	#5
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	make sure you have sufficient amount of sand in that tank for the yellowheaded jawfish, minimum of 3-4" while it's small, may need more when he gets larger. My yellow head has a 4" sandbed to play in and when he gets to diggin, he'll burrow and uncover a large section of the bottom pane of glass with little trouble. Also, when they are NEW to a tank, very prone to jumping right back out, keep a close eye on him, cover the tank if need be, and for gods sake dont try to sneak up on him. They swim vertically above their burrows and when startled, they got 2 directions they'll run, back down to their hole or straight up and out of the tank. fwiw, a skimmer does more than just assisting with nitrates, so just because you have no nitrates showing up on the test doesn't neccessarily mean you shouldn't get one. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

10/30/2007, 11:02 PM	#2
coast2coast7390 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 3,627	get the biggest fuge that you can buy...just remember not to cut corners when it comes to equipment...you usually get what you paid for

10/31/2007, 12:53 AM	#4
bboy aqua Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: in your closet Posts: 670	get a skimmer thats seperate from the fuges from what ive heard and read about almost all of the skimmers built onf HOB fuges arent so good