display fuge

[pandora32]

My wife and me are curious about display fuges. I currently have my 55g tank setup as a qt by my 215g display like an L. Ive seen display fuges on the net, but havent a clue as to what to put in them as in macro algae. Or really how to set one up. I know Mr. Kpiotrowski has one, could you explain your setup? Is a display fuge setup like a standard display? Wife and daughter would like a seahorse tank. Would that work with the fuge?

 

[Chichas01]

I would say that by definition, a refugium needs to be predator free (no crabs, no fish, no shrimp, no nothing that eats the beneficial critters in the fuge. Herbivorous snails would be fine). Since Sea horses would eat pods that you are creating a 'refuge' for, then I would say no. If you want a Sea Horse display instead of a refugium, then sure, why not.

 

[tat2z_21]

The idea of a true refugium is a safe place for pods, and algae to grow, however just the added water volume, and macro growing, would definitely be a plus. With rock in the refugium and plenty of hiding places you would be able to have twice the amount of pods and still be able to have a seahorse in the refuge. I believe if that is what you are going for, you would want to set up the refugium, let it mature, let the pods populate just like before adding a mandarin and then you would be just fine. However if both tanks have pod eaters you may find yourself short.

 

[pandora32]

Hmmm, i think ill just set up a fuge with only snails as livestock. Let it mature for a year or so. Then maybe come back to a seahorse in it. How nout a sandbed. Should i use a dsb? I have a dsb in the fuge i currently am using. Its just over 4" deep. Maybe take all the sand out of the current fuge, put it in the display fuge, and keep cheato only in the current fuge and have the other macro in the display fuge?

 

[sedrostyle]

I wish I had a big enough fuge to put a seahorse down below
That'd be awesome.

 

[pandora32]

Im using a 55g as my qt with a 1.009 reading and 8.2 reading for ph. This is the tank we are thinking of using. Part of the reason i dont want to use copper.