refugium?
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Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2161
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Topic: refugium?
Posted By: Kull
Subject: refugium?
Date Posted: March 24 2004 at 10:27am
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I have been seriously thinking about adding a refugium to my 10 gallon nano at work. I went as for as to buy a 30 gallon ribber maid container (food grade of course) and all the hoses to hook it up. I alread have the power heads and stuff I need to get the water back to the tank. Well, now I don't know if I really want to do this or not. I think the problem stems from not having a clue as to what I am doing. how am I going to get the water down to the refugium, I thought about making an overflow box, but I don't know how to do that either. I need some help if this is going to work. Also once I get the mechanics of the water movement solved, what kind of stuff do I put in the refugium? What should Iuse as a substrate? Should I put live rock in it? Where do I get the Macros? So many questions.
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Replies:
Posted By: Connie
Date Posted: March 24 2004 at 11:03am
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Posted By: Chem Guy
Date Posted: March 24 2004 at 11:14am
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Check out Darren Baucum's webpage on refugiums. It has a lot of links at the bottom that show other reefer's tanks with refugiums. Several ways of doing it. Mine is above and to the side of the tank so it can gravity feed without an overflow. One less thing to go wrong....
Darren's page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/3389/reeftank/refu gium.html ------------- Jim LaMunyon Richmond, Utah |
Posted By: Chem Guy
Date Posted: March 24 2004 at 11:15am
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There shouldn't be a space in 'refugium' in the link shown above.
------------- Jim LaMunyon Richmond, Utah |
Posted By: Kull
Date Posted: March 24 2004 at 11:34am
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Reefobsessed: I'll be over tonight to get the sea horse, I would like to take a look at you setup while I am there, and maybe grab some of that algae from you. Any thoughts on what type of sub straight to put in this? I have heard a lot of talk aobut using reef mud? Does a DSB work just as well or would I be better off going with the mud. I want to get the greatest benifit out of this that I can.
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Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 24 2004 at 7:11pm
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You win my award for the best question of the day. I love refugia. Have you read my article in the June 2002 Sea Star Online?
First off, I would caution you about using a refugium on a 10 gal at work. But if your employer is okay with it, then find a convenient, out of the way place for the tub and go for it 
The thing to think about is not only how to safely get water down and back, but nightime lighting will be important for a tub that size connected to a 10 gal tank. If it isn't lighted at night, it may create a pH problem when it gets a mature growth of algae. I can email you an article regarding the principles of overflow safety to avoid floods and the article tells how to make a DIY overflow too. Just email me mailto:[email protected] - [email protected] The reasons for refugia are best accomplished with a DSB and lots of algae. LR is okay but not as useful in the refugia as it is in the main tank where it's beauty can be seen. Keep asking questions. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Carl
Date Posted: March 24 2004 at 7:39pm
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 Uummmm... can I just say disagree?
Of course I just can't say that. LR not as useful in the refugia? What the...? How about all of the surface area, cracks, crevices and such for bugs? What about all of the filter feeders that will proliferate in the LR and lend to removal of excess nutrients and organics? Heck, it's also that much more area for algae to grow upon. I think that LR in a 'fuge is a great addition. But, just IMO. ------------- In Syracuse "I believe that forgiving them is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting." - Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf |
Mark Peterson wrote:Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 24 2004 at 7:57pm
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Sorry, Of course you are right Carl. I guess what I meant was only that I like it better up top where I can see and enjoy it.
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/3389/reeftank/refugium.html - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/3389/reeftank/refu gium.html There's the clickable link. Thanks Jim. IMO, don't bother with mud. Below is what Miracle Mud looks like up close. It's mostly silica sand which gives no benefit. Aragonite substrate, whether Oolitic sand or crushed coral is best.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: May 29 2004 at 2:40pm
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what kind of sand do you use in a refugium? i want to stabilize my ph and reduce nitrate----also what kind of plants? ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: May 30 2004 at 8:11am
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Aragonite/Calcium Carbonate, of any size you like. (I have some Lake Bonnevile Oolitic left that I'll give you for free. Don't let it's price fool you. It's fantastic substrate.)
What is your pH swing from 5PM to 5AM? Every kind of macroalgae and microalgae that will grow there. (Caulerpa, Chaetomorpha, Dictyota, Cyanobacteria, but try to stay away from hair algae.)  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: May 30 2004 at 9:03am
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first thing is i have to get up that early and have my brain working properly to take a test!!!!!! i just bought a hang on refugium yesterday so i won't get it until next friday. do you know of anyone who has made rocks usin ooclite sand? i wonder if there would be an advantage to it? ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: May 30 2004 at 10:21pm
| Kull, I have a really cool sump/refugia that would work for your tank. Complete with a skimmer. Its a ten gallon tank with a 4 gallon partition for a refugia. Let me know if you are interested... |
Posted By: rstruhs
Date Posted: May 31 2004 at 8:30am
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Mark, Have you heard or seen a pH meter that has a recording function? That would work great for those of us that are kind of forgetful or do not want to get up early or stay up late to check our tanks pH. Maybe something for the club to get? Rodney ------------- Rodney, Sandra, Jeffery, and Laura Struhs South Jordan, Utah 98th South & 40th West. (801) 282-2744 75 gallon reef 55 gallon reef 55 gallon FOWLR 20 gallon FOWLR |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: June 01 2004 at 7:22am
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Yes, but you only need to do this twice. Once before and once after the RDP Refugium is running with algae. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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