Refugiums

Flame*Angel · 09/18/2000, 04:17 AM

I've been reading a lot of posts about refugiums here and have noticed that many of the experts recommend them too. I'm planning a 120g with a Lifereef sump below in the basement. Someday, when my tank is very stable and mature I'd like to have a manderin dragonet and I've heard that these can benefit from a refugium.

Do many of you run a refugium? Would you say it's helping your tank overall? Also, how complicated are they to run? In "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner he mentions a sandbed, live rock and plant growth with maybe a few cleanup crew type critters - all under a grow light.

Would this need a pump? I don't understand how it would be connected to the system, before or after the protien skimmer.

Staceon · 09/18/2000, 07:24 AM

Good morning FA,

The term "refugium" seems to throw off some. The idea is two parted, one for extra food the other for export functions. A "refugium" can be anything, from a simple bredder box in the back corner of the tank, to a gravity feed tank located above the display. You can basically use anything that will hold water.

The export function is where hobbiest use macros and sometimes LR. These two will help to aid in conversion/uptake of nitrates.

The extra food comes from the fauna that will grow undistrubted from predators. So you pod pops have a place to multiply and hopefully leak back into the main system for extra food(they can also help in export).

There are all kinds of different fuges, from in-tank, gravity feed, in sump, to hang-on.

Dont know if this helps you or not, but hopefully might stir up so more questions.

Here is one link for more info:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/V.../refugium.html

smpolyp · 09/18/2000, 08:02 AM

It is glad to see that you are planning your tank out better than I did. I din't even think about a refugium when I started up my 230. I ended up not having any room ,but for a 20 gal tank. It still has alot of life and I enjoy it alot. It has alot of bugs and the Halimeda has just about taken over the whole tank.

DougL · 09/18/2000, 11:10 AM

Flame*Angel;

The link Staceon provided is IMHO the best refugium page out there. It even links to my more modest attempt at an explanation.

I run a refugium and see great benefits.
Lots of Export from macro and micro, lots of nutrient recycling and tons of life.
I would not run another system without at least a little one.

HTH;

DougL

------------------
Email: dougl@speakeasy.org
Alt email: douglxyzzy@netscape.net

Homepage sites.netscape.net/douglxyzzy/homepage

salttess · 09/18/2000, 11:12 AM

Can I ask where you guys buy the plants for the refugiums? and what kind they are? TIA

Staceon · 09/18/2000, 11:18 AM

salttess,

I use a variety of different macros...I got them all here:
www.inlandaquatics.com

Flamin`Angel · 09/18/2000, 11:25 AM

Hey Flame,
Flamin`here lol
Try out http://sites.netscape.net/douglxyzzy/refugium.html
After reading alot on this board I am convinced of the many benefits a refugie provides.
Maybe you should consider to make it a place also for a deep sandbed.RDP Reverse DaylightPhotosyntesis could also be helpful.This way you get maximum out of your algae/dsb/refugie,at a resonable cost!!

I plan to do this,but feel free to ask away.
Best Regards
Michael

RWD · 09/18/2000, 11:25 AM

I just set up a refugium on my new 300 reef. The water comes from a corner overflow. The container is a 25(?) gal Sterlite container. I put in 50 lbs of HD sand and about 10 lbs of live sand on top. I also added 15 lbs of live rock and some macro algae I had laying around. It is lit by a 65 watt pc fixture from Menards on a reverse daylight cycle. After only 2 weeks it looks good but it's hard to say if it has any effect on the tank so far. Here's a pic of it:

Bob

------------------
Visit my Reef Site

[This message has been edited by RWD (edited 09-18-2000).]

salttess · 09/18/2000, 11:46 AM

Hey Staceon, thanks I have been searching all over. Can I also put tang haven in there?

Staceon · 09/18/2000, 11:48 AM

Nope thats a www.ipsf.com product...sorry I just re-read your question. Yes you can put that in there. Sorry thought you were asking if you could buy from IA.

[This message has been edited by Staceon (edited 09-18-2000).]

salttess · 09/18/2000, 11:51 AM

Sure appreciate the help!! Tina

npaden · 09/18/2000, 12:32 PM

Flame,
Another vote for the benefits of a refugium for all of the above reasons.
I simply use a 15 gallon tank sitting on a bookshelf next to my tank for a refugium. The hardest part of my set up was finding a tall enough bookshelf with a big enough top to fit a decent sized tank.
Here are some pics of the refugium on my site:
Close up of refugium
Tank and refugium
Full view of tank (all open) and refugium

HTH, Nathan

------------------
Visit my homepage at padens.homepage.com

npaden · 09/18/2000, 12:33 PM

P.S. - I got my macroalgae from http://www.gulf-view.com when I ordered some live rock and sand from them.

09/18/2000, 04:17 AM	#1
Flame*Angel Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 3,034	I've been reading a lot of posts about refugiums here and have noticed that many of the experts recommend them too. I'm planning a 120g with a Lifereef sump below in the basement. Someday, when my tank is very stable and mature I'd like to have a manderin dragonet and I've heard that these can benefit from a refugium. Do many of you run a refugium? Would you say it's helping your tank overall? Also, how complicated are they to run? In "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner he mentions a sandbed, live rock and plant growth with maybe a few cleanup crew type critters - all under a grow light. Would this need a pump? I don't understand how it would be connected to the system, before or after the protien skimmer.

09/18/2000, 07:24 AM	#2
Staceon Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,662	Good morning FA, The term "refugium" seems to throw off some. The idea is two parted, one for extra food the other for export functions. A "refugium" can be anything, from a simple bredder box in the back corner of the tank, to a gravity feed tank located above the display. You can basically use anything that will hold water. The export function is where hobbiest use macros and sometimes LR. These two will help to aid in conversion/uptake of nitrates. The extra food comes from the fauna that will grow undistrubted from predators. So you pod pops have a place to multiply and hopefully leak back into the main system for extra food(they can also help in export). There are all kinds of different fuges, from in-tank, gravity feed, in sump, to hang-on. Dont know if this helps you or not, but hopefully might stir up so more questions. Here is one link for more info: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/V.../refugium.html

09/18/2000, 08:02 AM	#3
smpolyp Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Orlando,Fl. USA Posts: 1,279	It is glad to see that you are planning your tank out better than I did. I din't even think about a refugium when I started up my 230. I ended up not having any room ,but for a 20 gal tank. It still has alot of life and I enjoy it alot. It has alot of bugs and the Halimeda has just about taken over the whole tank.

09/18/2000, 11:10 AM	#4
DougL Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Wheaton Il Posts: 374	Flame*Angel; The link Staceon provided is IMHO the best refugium page out there. It even links to my more modest attempt at an explanation. I run a refugium and see great benefits. Lots of Export from macro and micro, lots of nutrient recycling and tons of life. I would not run another system without at least a little one. HTH; DougL ------------------ Email: dougl@speakeasy.org Alt email: douglxyzzy@netscape.net Homepage sites.netscape.net/douglxyzzy/homepage

09/18/2000, 11:12 AM	#5
salttess Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 620	Can I ask where you guys buy the plants for the refugiums? and what kind they are? TIA

09/18/2000, 11:18 AM	#6
Staceon Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,662	salttess, I use a variety of different macros...I got them all here: www.inlandaquatics.com

09/18/2000, 11:25 AM	#7
Flamin`Angel 10 & Over Club Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Denmark Posts: 116	Hey Flame, Flamin`here lol Try out http://sites.netscape.net/douglxyzzy/refugium.html After reading alot on this board I am convinced of the many benefits a refugie provides. Maybe you should consider to make it a place also for a deep sandbed.RDP Reverse DaylightPhotosyntesis could also be helpful.This way you get maximum out of your algae/dsb/refugie,at a resonable cost!! I plan to do this,but feel free to ask away. Best Regards Michael

09/18/2000, 11:25 AM	#8
RWD Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Chicago,Il USA Posts: 701	I just set up a refugium on my new 300 reef. The water comes from a corner overflow. The container is a 25(?) gal Sterlite container. I put in 50 lbs of HD sand and about 10 lbs of live sand on top. I also added 15 lbs of live rock and some macro algae I had laying around. It is lit by a 65 watt pc fixture from Menards on a reverse daylight cycle. After only 2 weeks it looks good but it's hard to say if it has any effect on the tank so far. Here's a pic of it: Bob ------------------ Visit my Reef Site [This message has been edited by RWD (edited 09-18-2000).]

09/18/2000, 11:46 AM	#9
salttess Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 620	Hey Staceon, thanks I have been searching all over. Can I also put tang haven in there?

09/18/2000, 11:48 AM	#10
Staceon Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,662	Nope thats a www.ipsf.com product...sorry I just re-read your question. Yes you can put that in there. Sorry thought you were asking if you could buy from IA. [This message has been edited by Staceon (edited 09-18-2000).]

09/18/2000, 11:51 AM	#11
salttess Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 620	Sure appreciate the help!! Tina

09/18/2000, 12:32 PM	#12
npaden Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,511	Flame, Another vote for the benefits of a refugium for all of the above reasons. I simply use a 15 gallon tank sitting on a bookshelf next to my tank for a refugium. The hardest part of my set up was finding a tall enough bookshelf with a big enough top to fit a decent sized tank. Here are some pics of the refugium on my site: Close up of refugium Tank and refugium Full view of tank (all open) and refugium HTH, Nathan ------------------ Visit my homepage at padens.homepage.com

09/18/2000, 12:33 PM	#13
npaden Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,511	P.S. - I got my macroalgae from http://www.gulf-view.com when I ordered some live rock and sand from them.