Dividing refugium - does this sound like a good idea?

LobsterOfJustice · 02/09/2009, 07:16 PM

I haven't had a lot of luck with my refugium. I'm thinking of putting a divider in the 30g tank. Water enters first into the chaeto section, which would either be barebottom with a ball of chaeto, or sandbed with a ball of chaeto. Then water flows under the divider to a section full of live rock. I want the water to flow under so that it actually circulates, instead of flowing over the divider and going right across the top and down the drain. I hope for this area to act as a cryptic refugium and help breed pods etc (it empties into the return section of sump).

Does that sound like a good idea? Anyone see problems with it?

jmking33 · 02/09/2009, 11:24 PM

Id go barebottom with chaeto in the first chamber, it wont trap as much debris in it, of course that depends on your substrate. I think I just answered a question and then debunked it in one sentence.....hmm, gonna have to think about that one.

LobsterOfJustice · 02/10/2009, 10:07 AM

bump for a new day

gimmic · 02/10/2009, 10:15 AM

What problem are you trying to solve? You said you havent had much luck with it..

LobsterOfJustice · 02/10/2009, 10:47 AM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1564005

just wanting to try something new - concentrate the chaeto under the lighting better, and move the LR to a different area so the chaeto doesnt get hung up on it.

Amoore311 · 02/10/2009, 11:13 AM

What kind of flow rate are you looking at for this fuge?

If you are going high flow, it sounds like a decent plan. If you are going low flow, then I think the rock is going to collect a lot of detritus.

That detritus is also going to be a pain in the but to siphon out with rock filling the chamber up.

I have a low flow barebotoom fuge with chaeto. Make it easier to siphon out the detritus which collects pretty readily on the floor of the refugium.

reefscape15 · 02/10/2009, 11:21 AM

I would keep it all bare bottom, and just add a powerhead in each section. Then you wouldn't get detritus accumulating on the rock or have it hard to remove from the surface of the sand. If you could divide it into 3 sections, you could make another section of sand and mangroves. Then you'd be able to get into the sandbed to remove wastes easier if it was necessary. The idea of flowing from the bottom of one section to the top of another is good though! I think it would help with circulation, but i'd still add small powerheads to each section as well.

LobsterOfJustice · 02/10/2009, 02:41 PM

Water will first go into the barebottom chaeto section, so most detritus will settle out there. I am considering having a powerhead on the bottom of the LR section that I can periodically switch on to blow the detritus out.

greggnyce · 02/10/2009, 03:01 PM

A power head in the cheato section will help. Cheato grows better if it has a good amount of flow circulating around it. I have a mj 600 pointed right at mine and it has been growing like crazy.

THE ROOK · 02/10/2009, 03:55 PM

I think it would be great to have 2 or 3 different sections w/ different life in each.

How about drilling holes in the baffle about an inch or two up from the bottom. That way most of the detritus will remain in the bare-bottom section. Keep it there & it will be easy to clean up.

LobsterOfJustice · 02/10/2009, 06:24 PM

Between the chaeto section and the rock section I will have an over baffle then an under baffle. This was originally done so that the chaeto section wouldnt end up with a slick on the surface, but the rock section would have sufficient upwelling flow. But this design should also make sure most detritus settles in the chaeto section. I think I will suspend the LR in the second section on an eggcrate platform and have a powerhead underneath it to minimize detritus buildup that makes it past the first section, or comes from the rock itself. I will also have a powerhead in the chaeto section.

Still would love more opinions... don't see anyone else doing it so I'm hesitant to.

reefscape15 · 02/11/2009, 05:29 PM

It sounds like a good idea to me! I'd just add a little more flow with small powerhead

02/09/2009, 07:16 PM	#1
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Dividing refugium - does this sound like a good idea? I haven't had a lot of luck with my refugium. I'm thinking of putting a divider in the 30g tank. Water enters first into the chaeto section, which would either be barebottom with a ball of chaeto, or sandbed with a ball of chaeto. Then water flows under the divider to a section full of live rock. I want the water to flow under so that it actually circulates, instead of flowing over the divider and going right across the top and down the drain. I hope for this area to act as a cryptic refugium and help breed pods etc (it empties into the return section of sump). Does that sound like a good idea? Anyone see problems with it? __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

02/09/2009, 11:24 PM	#2
jmking33 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: orlando,FL Posts: 1,652	Id go barebottom with chaeto in the first chamber, it wont trap as much debris in it, of course that depends on your substrate. I think I just answered a question and then debunked it in one sentence.....hmm, gonna have to think about that one. __________________ It is what it is! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon rimless w/ a fishroom located behind it

02/10/2009, 10:07 AM	#3
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	bump for a new day __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

02/10/2009, 10:47 AM	#5
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1564005 just wanting to try something new - concentrate the chaeto under the lighting better, and move the LR to a different area so the chaeto doesnt get hung up on it. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

02/10/2009, 11:13 AM	#6
Amoore311 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ulster County, NY Posts: 2,521	What kind of flow rate are you looking at for this fuge? If you are going high flow, it sounds like a decent plan. If you are going low flow, then I think the rock is going to collect a lot of detritus. That detritus is also going to be a pain in the but to siphon out with rock filling the chamber up. I have a low flow barebotoom fuge with chaeto. Make it easier to siphon out the detritus which collects pretty readily on the floor of the refugium. __________________ 30 Gallon FOWLR 2004-2006 90 Gallon LPS Reef 2006-2008 180 Gallon SPS Reef 2008-20012 100 Gallon Custom Rimless Mixed Reef 2012-2014 29 Gallon Biocube Reef! Current Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Biocube, StevesLED Upgrade, Neptune Apex

02/10/2009, 10:15 AM	#4
gimmic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 515	What problem are you trying to solve? You said you havent had much luck with it..

02/10/2009, 11:21 AM	#7
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	I would keep it all bare bottom, and just add a powerhead in each section. Then you wouldn't get detritus accumulating on the rock or have it hard to remove from the surface of the sand. If you could divide it into 3 sections, you could make another section of sand and mangroves. Then you'd be able to get into the sandbed to remove wastes easier if it was necessary. The idea of flowing from the bottom of one section to the top of another is good though! I think it would help with circulation, but i'd still add small powerheads to each section as well. __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H

02/10/2009, 02:41 PM	#8
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Water will first go into the barebottom chaeto section, so most detritus will settle out there. I am considering having a powerhead on the bottom of the LR section that I can periodically switch on to blow the detritus out. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

02/10/2009, 03:01 PM	#9
greggnyce Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellport, New York Posts: 1,782	A power head in the cheato section will help. Cheato grows better if it has a good amount of flow circulating around it. I have a mj 600 pointed right at mine and it has been growing like crazy. __________________ What you talkin about Mrs Lime. Current Tank Info: 120 gl oceanic tech, 30 gallon fuge, 40 gallon sump, Itech 200 skimmer, LED Lighting . Mixed reef.

02/10/2009, 03:55 PM	#10
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	I think it would be great to have 2 or 3 different sections w/ different life in each. How about drilling holes in the baffle about an inch or two up from the bottom. That way most of the detritus will remain in the bare-bottom section. Keep it there & it will be easy to clean up.

02/10/2009, 06:24 PM	#11
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Between the chaeto section and the rock section I will have an over baffle then an under baffle. This was originally done so that the chaeto section wouldnt end up with a slick on the surface, but the rock section would have sufficient upwelling flow. But this design should also make sure most detritus settles in the chaeto section. I think I will suspend the LR in the second section on an eggcrate platform and have a powerhead underneath it to minimize detritus buildup that makes it past the first section, or comes from the rock itself. I will also have a powerhead in the chaeto section. Still would love more opinions... don't see anyone else doing it so I'm hesitant to. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

02/11/2009, 05:29 PM	#12
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	It sounds like a good idea to me! I'd just add a little more flow with small powerhead __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H