Refugiums?

[Xtremedave67]

for building a refugium...is there any rules of thumb about how large a refugium area should be?
in my attempt to make a Sump/Fuge of a 10 gal tank, in limited space. I was thinking of building the refugium area to be about 20 in long but only 3 in wide.

thoughts? and thanks

 

[bigblue141]

You should try to get about 10% of your volume as a fuge if you have the room. If you don't something is better than nothing.

 

[TJL]

Fuges : bigger is better

As Ryan said something is better than nothing, go as large as you can/have space for. Anyway to increase the volume of the overall system will only help and maximizing the fuge will add to the export of nitrate & phosphate. I only have a 75g DT but use a 40g as my fuge of which 4/5 lighted 24/7 stuffed with macro and 1/5 with bio-balls unlit for non-photo critters as my outlet section. My overflow from DT is dispensed into the fuge via a spray bar to evenly distribute water through macro algaes which act as my bubble diffuser before going over a black acrylic divider into non lighted return section.

Todd

 

[TJL]

Are you refering to a HOB style fuge ie: CPR brand or one you plan to build ?

Todd

 

[Xtremedave67]

Thanks, I am challenged with space, and attempting to utilize a TurboFlotor 1000 as my skimmer ( that a buddy will sell me if I want it).
making a sump/Fuge from a 10 gal tank alone isnt so challenging, it is placing this skimmer with its footrpint within and have a Fuge as well. I just cant place skimmer along side, no place. obviously I can get a HOB skimmer if I wish to maximize the 10 G space for my Fuge

 

[TJL]

Hey Dave, I ended up selling my ASM G-3 and using a Eshopps HOB skimmer so as to get maximum fuge volume for my system. Its a great little skimmer and the only issue I have with it at all is the small collection cup. I may try to mod/build a larger oval collection cup for it at some point.

Todd

 

[Xtremedave67]

TJL thanks, good to know since I am not savvy on knowing what maker is good for what product yet I was looking online at the Aquac Remora. currently running a Prizm hand me down, but will need to replace soon due to the HOB part being structurally comprimised

 

[thatguy559]

do you have a picture of the space this is going in to? maybe you can stack

 

[Xtremedave67]

No pic right now, but I dont think I can do that either, though Ill measure and see

 

[tjk971]

What is a refugium. Is this something really needed for a reef tank? I know it sounds like a silly question but I figured I am new and i need to learn some how.
Thanks
Tom K

 

[TJL]

Dave, some of the many reasons for choosing the Eshopps HOB was that it has its pump at the bottom of the unit not in the tank (overflow section in my case), reasonable price $150 retail, already comes w/ mesh modded pinwheel and bubble plate and pretty darn quiet.

Tom K, a refugium is just that, a safe place for macro algae and pods to live w/o predation plus 2 added bonuses of increasing overall volume to system and the macro consumes available nutrients from display tank inso reducing available said nutrients for undesirable algaes in display. Plus if you have a DSB (deep sand bed) in the fuge there is now a place for anaerobic bacteria to safely grow outside of your display.

Todd

 

[Xtremedave67]

TJL, I looked up that Eshopps after your post and it looks like it would do the trick for my needs thanks

and what is "Deep sand bed"? more than a typical 2 inch DT substrate?

 

[TJL]

TJL, I looked up that Eshopps after your post and it looks like it would do the trick for my needs thanks

and what is "Deep sand bed"? more than a typical 2 inch DT substrate?

Ya 3-4" of fine substrate will give a good no oxygen zone for anaerobic bacteria to grow (same stuff thats on inside of live rock) all that said I only have a little over an inch right now but will be adding another inch of two of
'Miracle Mud' or something similar over time.

I modified my Eshopps outlet adjustment tube to fit underneath my canopy by shortening from top end and then cut a coin slot in plug with dremel for fine tuning.

Todd

 

[tjk971]

thanks for the info more to add on to the list.

 

[Xtremedave67]

So I dropped the idea of building my Rfeuge/Sump around the Skimmer. figured I would go with TJL suggestion and get a eshopps or similar HOB.
So now I am going to maximize the Fuge as much as possible. I plan to have a single baffle to a return pump chamber...but was going to place 2 partial partitions along the course of the Fuge to direct flow from one side to the other in a zig zag pattern to increase the linear distance flow will travel thru Fuge....anyone seen or have done this?