Do you run a refugium in your sump?

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm "listening" in for ideas. I had cheato in the refugium section of my Trigger Systems sump. My issue was keeping the cheato in the refugium section. It would clog up the sponge filter leading to the return section. The water level rose and the stuff would spread. Came back after a few days out of town, and my skimmer pump (external skimmer) wasn't pumping any water into the skimmer (very little water). The pump intake screen was covered in chaeto. So I put it in a reactor wrapped with an LED light strip.

I like the idea of growing red algae and then moving it to the display tank for my herbivores.

you do have to consider the baffels w chato. its not in the picture, but the return chamber has a piece of "plastic canvas", google that, over the inlet baffel to the return chamber. it also has an adjustable baffle cut in the black abs.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My HOB (CPR 2) just came today. I'll get a couple of pounds of rock grunge and some rubble from the LFS and have it run off cycle just so I can watch all the life that I usually don't see. It will replace my HOB filter so I'll throw the heater in there as well.

a tip, keep the detritus down in a hob fuge.(ant really) but I used to be able to tell if it was time to clean the fuge if the glass on the dt got green in less than three days.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Here's mine the main tank you see if the refugium, the one on the left is a DSB.

how big is that?
How big is the DT?
Pretty sweet.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The skimmer is taller than you, isn't it?;)

 

[Rick.45cal]

I've decided to plumb in a standalone refugium to my display tank. So this thread came at a perfect time.

So what's the skinny on using miracle mud?

Since this will be a visible secondary tank, I'm thinking a variety of macros vs. chaetomorpha. As visually it's more interesting too me. I'm not particularly interested in nutrient export via algae growth (although that's icing on the cake) but I am looking to help increase my dissolved oxygen levels (it will be running reverse photo period).

I had an idea for the substrate, but the miracle mud and macro growth may have caught my attention
(I'm still in designing/researching phase).

 

[Lionfish Lair]

The skimmer is taller than you, isn't it?;)

HAH! They didn't call me "The Chihuahua" for nothin'. Attitude of a pit bull in the body of a pup.

 

[Cary Meredith]

how big is that?
How big is the DT?
Pretty sweet.

The fuge is 18 gallon, the DSB next to it is same size and the display is 125 gallon, also have a sump which is about 30 gallons and a 40 gallon frag tank all plumbed into the same system.

 

[FugeTown]

To hide new corals from the spouse or the ones she doesnt like in the Display.

Hahaha also you gotta hide those big receipts they send you in the mail or then your really busted like my girlfriend found my cyber Monday receipt and said I thought you said these corals were cheap lol oops

 

[Ineedhelp]

does the extra live rock help gather algae? could you have it without LR?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

You could, but you'll need something for the pods to hide in if that's a part of your goal.

 

[joaocdestro]

Yes, a refugium is a good idea! I run with chaeto and 3X per week I shake the algaes to liberate "mulm" to feed my corals with that bacteria mulm. Eventualy I put some algae on display tank for the happyness of my TANG's. Lights - I have one bulb 6500k and one bulb Grow light (450nm + 660nm) I don't see to mutch difference in grow. And the final consideration is No3 and Po4 reduction safety, because Algae will not remove NO3 and PO3 aggressively like some medias. So I only use medias when needed! IRON - is very important to supply some chelated iron if you run algaes on refugium, just a small quantity of iron is enough (I put in Calcium baling) - Do not try to measure iron to some value, because iron will be consumed/transformed very fast, so if you dose is OK, more than 0,15 ppm of iron is poisonous.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

does the extra live rock help gather algae? could you have it without LR?

no, its just extra places for bacteria. Yes, for many I pers recommend not having it as a fuge can build up detritus. so a couple big pieces is better than rubble.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

HAH! They didn't call me "The Chihuahua" for nothin'. Attitude of a pit bull in the body of a pup.

Hahaa. I was a bit worried about pokin the pit bull. I tease cuz I luv.

Hey How big is the refugium on that set up. Your overall water vol is around 350?
Bloody sweet set up if yall havent looked at it. A Mercedes Benz Tank IMO.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So what's the skinny on using miracle mud?

Imo just a different substrate. Read up on the Eco System Method. Basicly a method to add a refugium and run skimmerless. Leng teamed up w M Paletta and added a kimmer to it and the called it a Paletta Method.
Leng got Blasted for just using sand and minerals to create a soil for planting, his method used rooting Plants, Calurpa Prolifera? I belive. Yes a lot of marketing.
The term Mud was coined as DSB were in vogue and Shimek and others called it Mud, as it was generally a reference to the very small particles of oolites and others used at the dime to make a fairly dense substrate..
My low budget version of miracle mud was about 4 kinds of aragonite I had laying around and oolites and a can of Fiji mud.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Hey How big is the refugium on that set up.

My fuge?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My fuge?

jes.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

That's 65g in the picture and it's attached to a 210g, so 275 altogether.

 

[G8trBait16]

I have a trigger system Sapphire 34" sump, instead of using sand or live rock in my fuge, I just have 2 marine pure blocks with chaeto and a hydor nano pump to keep circulation up in the area.

 

[BigHildy53]

you do have to consider the baffels w chato. its not in the picture, but the return chamber has a piece of "plastic canvas", google that, over the inlet baffel to the return chamber. it also has an adjustable baffle cut in the black abs.

Do you use this between the skimmer and refug sections? Or the refug and return section? or both?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I use a mesh over the fuge standpipe as well.