Refugium?

[brisco]

I have been toying with the idea of adding a refugium to my system. I would have to be either in my sump or immediately on top, there isn't too much room. I am thinking that it might help with some algae growth in the display and also keep a bigger pod population around. Other than those two goals, I really don't have a great need. Algae isn't out of control or anything. Any thoughts? I run a big skimmer, RowaPhos, and 2 gallons of hydroton in the 25 gal sump.

[spedly]

I was wondering the same thing a few weeks ago. In the end I decided not to go with it for a couple of reasons:

- The refugium space in my 36g sump wasn't large enough for adequate nutrient export in my 150g display

- Only pod larva would be small enough to survive a trip through a return pump. Seemed better for them to have their own system if I wanted to raise pods as a source of food

- Additional expense in terms of new hardware, etc.

I think refugiums are a neat concept but not super practical in the grand scheme of things. It would probably be better to set up an inexpensive 10 gallon tank and use it as a refugium.

[FishyFishy!]

In my opinion, unless the refugium is of adequate size, It will have minimal benefits.

Running cheato is a good way of keeping phosphates under control. I run large refugiums on my systems, and I stopped running GFO about 2 years ago.

[brisco]

I guess that the bigger the better as far as refugiums go but what would the minium size required to make a difference for my 100 gal display? I would just probably run Chaeto.

[brisco]

Would it be that hard for pods to make it into the display through the return pump? because if that is the case then 1 of my reasons for the fuge is shot already.

[rsisvixen]

Most pods we see in our systems are benthic pod species, meaning they tend to live on the substrate, rocks, walls etc and aren't free swimming, and the larvael forms that are free swimming will tend to stay in your refugium because of the ideal enviroment there and those that do go on the trip through the return will only see a 20%-30% survival as they are pretty fragile at that stage and the turbulance of the return pump will kill off most. Thus the pods making it into your display will be minimal at best.

Best is to breed pods in a separate area and add to your tank as needed.

[brisco]

so manual scooping pods out of a refugium area is the only reliable way to ensure a continuous pod population in my DT? Would anybody recommend just adding a light to the skimmer chamber are of my sump with some chaeto and use that as a refugium area?

[duncangweller]

^ thats what I did and it worked well. Only downside is that my sump became a coralline farm.

Chaeto had lots of pods as did display.

[brisco]

Originally Posted by duncangweller

^ thats what I did and it worked well. Only downside is that my sump became a coralline farm.

Chaeto had lots of pods as did display.

That is kind of what I am after. Did you have a power head in there for the Chaeto?

[BCOrchidGuy]

Years ago I had an above the tank refugium and I had a small pump feed it and let it overflow into my main. in my opinion it worked great, YOU could build an acrylic one to the size you want for above your tank, it doesn't have to be huge but long would be good, add live rock rubble and cheato or something similar and let it overflow back into your main tank.