Refugiuem advice please.

[G1GY]

I have a 90 gallon with 100 lbs of Indo rock. I'm using a closed loop pump system (Mag 18) and a fluval 403 for my carbon (Other than that the 403 is empty.) I'm also using a Remora skimmer which is working great! (I made a good move ditching the sea clone!)

Is it worth the effort to put a Aqaclear 500 on the back for a little HOB refugeium?

I kind of think so, but please tell me if you think it's a waste of time.

Thanks for your input.

[Delphinus]

I don't think a refugium is ever a waste of time.

You could try to find one of those "Mini Mite" (or whatever they're called) lights to light it and you could even have a little macro growout area.

[G1GY]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I'm going to get the Aquaclear 500 and the light right now!

[Bob I]

I am going to take the opposite tack and say that a refugium the size of an AC 500 is indeed a waste of time and money. Somewhere in part 1, or two in the series to which I will post a link is some information backing up my claim.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/eb/index.htm

[G1GY]

Too late.

I just went and bought an AC 500 and a tiny little pc light for my algae. I think even if there's no bennefit having it there at the very least I have a safe place for bipods, copods..ect to multiply in. (I hope.)

Thanks for the input, it's much appreciated.

[Edmonton Eskimo]

Hey Bob we can discuss this further at the meeting. Here is my take on it. I have an ac 500 fuge on my 50 gal and it has kept my mandarin alive for 2 months now and my nitrates have gone from 40ppm to 20ppm in the last month. I haven't changed anything else that I was doing. Granted a small fuge will take longer to do what you need but IMHO any fuge is better than none. Don't expect the small fuge to do great miraculous things though.

[G1GY]

I'm not expecting much at all. I'm hoping that it will be maybe a tiny improvement to the overall well being of my aquarium, but I'm realy hoping to be able to replenish the pod supply a bit.. (I'm catching some tonight with my turkey baster and moving them to their new home.)

If the only benefit I see is the pods (fingers crossed), then it was well worth the hundred bucks it cost for this experiment and I'm one happy guy.

I too want a Mandarin goby, but want to make sure it has a food supply before I buy it.

Thanks again for all the replies.




Gary.

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by Edmonton Eskimo

Hey Bob we can discuss this further at the meeting. Here is my take on it. I have an ac 500 fuge on my 50 gal and it has kept my mandarin alive for 2 months now and my nitrates have gone from 40ppm to 20ppm in the last month. I haven't changed anything else that I was doing. Granted a small fuge will take longer to do what you need but IMHO any fuge is better than none. Don't expect the small fuge to do great miraculous things though.

The whole deal is if it makes you happy then I say great. I myself would not recommend a small HOB refugium. You have to remember that I have tried them. I have had a 12" HOB refugium and found that it made very little difference, so I sold it. I have had a Mandarin for eight months. It has more than doubled in size. I have no refugium. For that reason I do not advise going to the $100.00 expense. But as my signature line says that is my experience yours might differ.

[G1GY]

No problem Bob.


I probably would just have wasted the cash on something stupid anyhow. (Like a stupid speeding ticket.) If there's no benefit, I still have the ac 500 to use on a qt or hospital tank I guess. (Or I can put it under the crawlspace with the many boxes of freshwater stuff. )


I appreciate all the advice that I've gotten here (It's not like I'm paying for it) and realize that allot of things in this hobby are based on opinion and experience.


Thanks again.

[Edmonton Eskimo]

A lot of the reason I did mine too is because I got three ac500's at a garage sale for like 15 bucks-add some boredom and wham fuge