lfs set up tank-no refugium??

CAROLGYRL · 08/24/2008, 05:13 PM

Being a newbie--I just found this site after 1/12 years!! I had them set up my tank because I knew nothing about a salt water tank--Have learned a lot over the past 1 1/2 year. A lot from you ugys-thanks--anyway-I see everyone seems to have a refugium, I have a sump underneath my tank, of course, 180 gallons, a skimmer, of course, but no refuguim? I do water changes every three weeks, but I need help with my nitrates. I read thats what it is for. Why did he not set me up with it? My sump is only about 2'x18x18 " deep. We had it built over a 6' cabinet that we already had( turned a bar area into a tank holder.water supply there already.

D to the P · 08/24/2008, 05:22 PM

Refugiums are still not seen as mandatory (and I use that word loosely because people have shown that a lot of equipment we hold near and dear isn't necessary).
So people still aren't in the know about refugiums. Some people don't want a refugium. And so on.
I'm not sure how old your tank is, but if its less than 6 months, than I would attribute the nitrate problem to an immature tank.
If you're not using RO/DI water, than it could be your water source.
If you have fish in there, you may be over feeding.
If you have corals in there, make sure you're not over feeding them either.

So the short answer would be either he/she didn't know any better, they don't use them, or its just because they are still not seen as a necessary element to a tank (at least not nearly as much as a protein skimmer).

Sk8r · 08/24/2008, 05:24 PM

Well, not everybody has one, but if you want a reef, they're a good thing. Can you possibly relocate your skimmer by putting it outside the sump? That would free up the skimmer compartment to be a fuge.
I'd also ask if you've got any filters: those are a prime reason for nitrates; and if you're using only ro/di water. Tap is a nitrate source.
I drilled 2 small holes in the floor and took all the gear to the basement: a wonderful thing for a sump/fuge.
describe your system in greater detail; You might, for instance, set up a 'display fuge,' a planted and pretty tank (unlike the typical fuge, which is gross; mine is)---and do some clever plumbing. lots of choices.

Zestay · 08/24/2008, 05:51 PM

you have a sump there fore you have a refugeiem. the only diffrence is a fuge has macro algae in it. sumps house just equipment

either way get some macro and a light and boom instant fuge

CAROLGYRL · 08/24/2008, 06:24 PM

i don't have any filters,I only have a filter sock, that I wash out and reuse.I have a 45 gallon plastic trash for my water system, with a filter ro/di.I tested the water coming from it, it is still o for nitrates, not time to change yet.I could relocate my skimmer, I guess, they put it in the sump.I don't have much room underneath, though. Is there a plant that I can put in my reef tank? Yes, I really like my corals, have been busy with them. Not adding any more fish, they add to the nitrate problem. I have 1 copperband, 1 vlangii, 4 chromis, 2 damsels, 1 sainfin, and 1 hippo.

D to the P · 08/24/2008, 06:29 PM

Yes there are different macro algaes that you can put in your tank, but as zestay said, it can be as easy as putting a ball of macro in the sump. It won't be perfect, but it'll still serve a purpose.
With a tank that big, depending on your nutrient out put, you would be better off with something bigger than just a ball of macro with a small lamp over it though.

D to the P · 08/24/2008, 06:57 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

Check out that thread for MANY ideas on how you can integrate a refugium into your system. And feel free to post any questions in there as well. They're all really helpful guys (I think some gals too).

CAROLGYRL · 08/24/2008, 07:19 PM

thanks all, I'll go the the site,

Sk8r · 08/24/2008, 07:21 PM

Well, and macro in the tank blocks out the light you just spent all that money for, so that's a problem.

08/24/2008, 05:13 PM	#1
CAROLGYRL Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: PALM DESERT, CA. Posts: 184	lfs set up tank-no refugium?? Being a newbie--I just found this site after 1/12 years!! I had them set up my tank because I knew nothing about a salt water tank--Have learned a lot over the past 1 1/2 year. A lot from you ugys-thanks--anyway-I see everyone seems to have a refugium, I have a sump underneath my tank, of course, 180 gallons, a skimmer, of course, but no refuguim? I do water changes every three weeks, but I need help with my nitrates. I read thats what it is for. Why did he not set me up with it? My sump is only about 2'x18x18 " deep. We had it built over a 6' cabinet that we already had( turned a bar area into a tank holder.water supply there already.

08/24/2008, 05:22 PM	#2
D to the P Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Amishville, USA Posts: 2,047	Refugiums are still not seen as mandatory (and I use that word loosely because people have shown that a lot of equipment we hold near and dear isn't necessary). So people still aren't in the know about refugiums. Some people don't want a refugium. And so on. I'm not sure how old your tank is, but if its less than 6 months, than I would attribute the nitrate problem to an immature tank. If you're not using RO/DI water, than it could be your water source. If you have fish in there, you may be over feeding. If you have corals in there, make sure you're not over feeding them either. So the short answer would be either he/she didn't know any better, they don't use them, or its just because they are still not seen as a necessary element to a tank (at least not nearly as much as a protein skimmer). __________________ Nature V.S. Nurture: Nature Always Wins. Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Aquapod reef with LED's, multiple nano's at work.

08/24/2008, 05:24 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Well, not everybody has one, but if you want a reef, they're a good thing. Can you possibly relocate your skimmer by putting it outside the sump? That would free up the skimmer compartment to be a fuge. I'd also ask if you've got any filters: those are a prime reason for nitrates; and if you're using only ro/di water. Tap is a nitrate source. I drilled 2 small holes in the floor and took all the gear to the basement: a wonderful thing for a sump/fuge. describe your system in greater detail; You might, for instance, set up a 'display fuge,' a planted and pretty tank (unlike the typical fuge, which is gross; mine is)---and do some clever plumbing. lots of choices. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/24/2008, 06:29 PM	#6
D to the P Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Amishville, USA Posts: 2,047	Yes there are different macro algaes that you can put in your tank, but as zestay said, it can be as easy as putting a ball of macro in the sump. It won't be perfect, but it'll still serve a purpose. With a tank that big, depending on your nutrient out put, you would be better off with something bigger than just a ball of macro with a small lamp over it though. __________________ Nature V.S. Nurture: Nature Always Wins. Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Aquapod reef with LED's, multiple nano's at work.

08/24/2008, 06:57 PM	#7
D to the P Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Amishville, USA Posts: 2,047	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1 Check out that thread for MANY ideas on how you can integrate a refugium into your system. And feel free to post any questions in there as well. They're all really helpful guys (I think some gals too). __________________ Nature V.S. Nurture: Nature Always Wins. Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Aquapod reef with LED's, multiple nano's at work.

08/24/2008, 05:51 PM	#4
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	you have a sump there fore you have a refugeiem. the only diffrence is a fuge has macro algae in it. sumps house just equipment either way get some macro and a light and boom instant fuge

08/24/2008, 06:24 PM	#5
CAROLGYRL Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: PALM DESERT, CA. Posts: 184	i don't have any filters,I only have a filter sock, that I wash out and reuse.I have a 45 gallon plastic trash for my water system, with a filter ro/di.I tested the water coming from it, it is still o for nitrates, not time to change yet.I could relocate my skimmer, I guess, they put it in the sump.I don't have much room underneath, though. Is there a plant that I can put in my reef tank? Yes, I really like my corals, have been busy with them. Not adding any more fish, they add to the nitrate problem. I have 1 copperband, 1 vlangii, 4 chromis, 2 damsels, 1 sainfin, and 1 hippo.

08/24/2008, 07:19 PM	#8
CAROLGYRL Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: PALM DESERT, CA. Posts: 184	thanks all, I'll go the the site,

08/24/2008, 07:21 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Well, and macro in the tank blocks out the light you just spent all that money for, so that's a problem. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.