how to make a refugium?

johnjamieson · 07/13/2008, 03:06 PM

I have had a 40 gallon up and running with nothing in it and decided to buy the lights and turn it into an SPS/LPS/zoo tank. I decided I really want to do this tank right and I've heard much about the refugium. How exactly would I go about setting one up ... I really have no idea where to start, so if anyone could point in the right direction that'd be great thanks, would love to do a DIY refugium if possible.

kau_cinta_ku · 07/13/2008, 04:51 PM

check out www.melevsreef.com lots of good info there.

abulgin · 07/13/2008, 07:13 PM

First, buy Anthony Calfo's book, "Reef Invertebrates" as a starter--awesome chapter on fuges. Thatfishplace.com had it for like $25. I learned a lot from the book. As for making one, it depends on how pretty you want it. Melev's site is awesome but it is definitely geared towards the "prettier" side of things. I made my own and it is very functional (but not so pretty). I bought a 30g plastic storage tub from Target. I drilled two holes in the back--a hole for a 1" bulkhead to handle outflow and a 1/2" bulkhead for inflow. Dumped 4" of fine aragonite sand, 15 lbs of live rock and a clump of Chaetomorpha. Connected a Maxi-Jet 1200 to the in-flow tube and threw it in the first chamber of my sump, and connected the outflow tube so that it drains into the last chamber of my sump. I bought 4 Lights of America 17W undercabinet stip lights from Wal-Mart ($9.99 each) and swapped the bulbs out for 18W GE Aqua Rays Saltwater bulbs that I got at Lowes. Zip-tied them together, put the clear top on my fuge and threw the lights on top. Presto.

07/13/2008, 03:06 PM	#1
johnjamieson Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 17	how to make a refugium? I have had a 40 gallon up and running with nothing in it and decided to buy the lights and turn it into an SPS/LPS/zoo tank. I decided I really want to do this tank right and I've heard much about the refugium. How exactly would I go about setting one up ... I really have no idea where to start, so if anyone could point in the right direction that'd be great thanks, would love to do a DIY refugium if possible.

07/13/2008, 04:51 PM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	check out www.melevsreef.com lots of good info there.

07/13/2008, 07:13 PM	#3
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	First, buy Anthony Calfo's book, "Reef Invertebrates" as a starter--awesome chapter on fuges. Thatfishplace.com had it for like $25. I learned a lot from the book. As for making one, it depends on how pretty you want it. Melev's site is awesome but it is definitely geared towards the "prettier" side of things. I made my own and it is very functional (but not so pretty). I bought a 30g plastic storage tub from Target. I drilled two holes in the back--a hole for a 1" bulkhead to handle outflow and a 1/2" bulkhead for inflow. Dumped 4" of fine aragonite sand, 15 lbs of live rock and a clump of Chaetomorpha. Connected a Maxi-Jet 1200 to the in-flow tube and threw it in the first chamber of my sump, and connected the outflow tube so that it drains into the last chamber of my sump. I bought 4 Lights of America 17W undercabinet stip lights from Wal-Mart ($9.99 each) and swapped the bulbs out for 18W GE Aqua Rays Saltwater bulbs that I got at Lowes. Zip-tied them together, put the clear top on my fuge and threw the lights on top. Presto.