sump

can a sump be a refugium also? i figure a sump is a refugium without the light right? what should a sump have in it and what should a refugium have.

jeff

Bugzme, You have it backwards ... Your Refugium can be your Sump

You are right, a sump becomes a refugium when it is lighted to allow growth of macroalgae, microalgae, coral and microfauna (Copepods, Amphipods, Annelid worms, etc. that come in LS.). I even place snails and a hermit in it to keep it kinda cleaned up. Some people also add Sea Cucumbers.

I prefer simple undivided tanks for my Sump/Refugium where a large powerhead sits a couple inches below the water line to let me know when it needs more water, unless it has auto top off. The water coming down is put through a flexible corrugated pipe that floats so that the incoming water doesn't stir up the sand.

If you are interested, the last article in the Feb. 2002 Sea Star Online gives my story of starting a Refugium and how it made such an astounding difference.

BTW do you want some Lake Bonneville Tufa?

Edited by Mark Peterson

Jeff, you could pretty easily go see a few if you wanted.  It's nice to have some comparisons if you haven't put it together yet.

Helps... try some extra LR or a DSB, as well.

Up to you, I guess. Me, I'ld get some good base rock from Mark and throw a few pieces in. They'll "liven up" in no time and should aide in denitrification.

Just call me to arrange getting some rock and gumbo. yummmm.

bugzme wrote: so basically you use your sump as a refugium- correct? add plants live rock snails and hermits!

   
Refugium>refugia>refuge

A refugia is a place where life can have "refuge" from the tank. Some
tanks can't grow macro algaes 'cause they have herbivores to eat the
nuisance algae, who also eat the macros. The fish in the main tank eat the
little crawly amphopods and copepods and worms and stuff, so we grow
those in a refuge area where they are protected from harm from larger
predators. That way, their larvae and spawn can be food for the corals
,returned to the main tank via the pump.

If you add hermits and snails, they eat the stuff you are trying to protect.
I don't care what nuisance algae grows in my sump, 'cause it's removing
the nutrients that the the same crappy algae would eat in my main
system. I actually try to get it in the sump. I put a piece of bryopsis in
there a while back. It's now gone from the main system, and it went away
from my sump when I put a big trouble maker hermit in there and forgot
to feed him!

Because of him, and our large growth of macro algaes in our main
system, we now him the cleanest sump/refugia in town!