Refugium Advice

Lacktaters · 12/14/2011, 12:09 AM

Hello all,

I'm thinking of adding a refugium to my system for two reasons. One it seems everyone is doing it. Two I would like to colonize pods and later introduce a mandarin dragonet. I thought I would consult the experts before I tear apart my sump.

Water enters my 20g sump from the left where a tall baffle holds the water in a tall/skinny 9in x 18 in x 12 in section containing a couple large boulders. It then flows over the large baffle into the section containing the skimmer. Then through a bubble trap into the last section where the gfo reactor and return pump are located.

The easiest method would be to add a sand bed, a light, and some chaeta to the section on the left and call it a refugium.

I'm wondering if there is any advantage to having the refugium after the skimmer. Should I redesign my sump so the refugium is between the skimmer and return?

I thank you in advance for any advice on how to set this up as well as suggestions on what lamp/bulb to penetrate 18in of water.

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scarface70706 · 12/14/2011, 01:06 AM

theres no proven fact that the fuge works better before or after the skimmer. my skimmer is after the fuge and i dont have any problems. same with skimmer before. my buddy has his like this and it works just fine. i think it all comes down to preference.

dallascwbyz · 12/14/2011, 03:32 PM

I personally like the fuge after my skimmer as it allows the cleanest water possible to enter the fuge area, and then whats left of any not as clean water, is further cleaned by the macros and mangroves in that section. Only after it has gone through all that does it re-enter the DT.

89Foxbody · 12/14/2011, 03:42 PM

Seems like having the skimmer after the fuge would lead to more of your pods/microfauna getting chewed up by the skimmer pump.

thegrun · 12/14/2011, 03:47 PM

+1, I don't think it's a big deal, but you will lose some pods to the skimmer and occasionally get a piece of cheato sucked into the skimmer pump.

MarineSniper · 12/14/2011, 03:55 PM

Putting your 'fuge before the skimmer will defeat the purpose, for the most part, if you're looking to grow pods. The skimmer would take a good portion out of the system.

My fuge is on the on the opposite end of the skimmer/drain section. It's fed by a submerged spray bar and overflows back into the return pump section. This allows me to have a very consistent water level with almost no flow. The glass on the dt was covered with pods 4 days after startup(although I used all live rock from established tanks and my other refugium)

12/14/2011, 03:32 PM	#3
dallascwbyz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seacoast NH Posts: 151	I personally like the fuge after my skimmer as it allows the cleanest water possible to enter the fuge area, and then whats left of any not as clean water, is further cleaned by the macros and mangroves in that section. Only after it has gone through all that does it re-enter the DT. __________________ 120G Reef, 30G refuge, 2 X 250 MH HQI, 4 X T5, LED Moons. Current Tank Info: 120g reef, clams,sps,lps, softies. fuge plumbed into basement.

12/14/2011, 03:42 PM	#4
89Foxbody Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 1,532	Seems like having the skimmer after the fuge would lead to more of your pods/microfauna getting chewed up by the skimmer pump. __________________ Red Sea Max 130D Mixed Reef: ReefKeeper2, Rapid-LED retrofit, MiniMaxx Reactor, Tunze 9001 Skimmer, 2x Jebao RW-4, 2x Maxi-Jet 600 returns, 2x Koralia Nano 425

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12/14/2011, 01:06 AM	#2
scarface70706 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,364	theres no proven fact that the fuge works better before or after the skimmer. my skimmer is after the fuge and i dont have any problems. same with skimmer before. my buddy has his like this and it works just fine. i think it all comes down to preference.

12/14/2011, 03:47 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1, I don't think it's a big deal, but you will lose some pods to the skimmer and occasionally get a piece of cheato sucked into the skimmer pump.

12/14/2011, 03:55 PM	#6
MarineSniper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 554	Putting your 'fuge before the skimmer will defeat the purpose, for the most part, if you're looking to grow pods. The skimmer would take a good portion out of the system. My fuge is on the on the opposite end of the skimmer/drain section. It's fed by a submerged spray bar and overflows back into the return pump section. This allows me to have a very consistent water level with almost no flow. The glass on the dt was covered with pods 4 days after startup(although I used all live rock from established tanks and my other refugium)