Refugium for 30 Gallon Tank?

[Hoxie]

Greetings! I'm running a 30 gallon tank (No sump), planning on adding coral once my parameters balance out. Its a newer setup tank, about a month old. My parameters dropped to safe levels after 9 days and I added fish and just got a cleaning crew in there. I got suggested getting a HOB Refugium to help keep parameters in line. Is this a move I should take? I'm not looking to spend a lot of money on one right now and haven't seen any inexpensive options out there. But with that, I want quality and will spend the money if needed.

Nitrates 40 ppm
Ammonia .25ppm - just spiked from cleaning and rearranging.
Nitrite 0
PH 8.2

TIA!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Personally I think it’s more expense and effort and more equipment hanging on the tank than needed. Weekly 5 gallon water change is 15% and should maintain parameters easily. If it doesn’t then I would question why (I.e., how many fish , how often you feed, etc…).

 

[Hoxie]

Personally I think it’s more expense and effort and more equipment hanging on the tank than needed. Weekly 5 gallon water change is 15% and should maintain parameters easily. If it doesn’t then I would question why (I.e., how many fish , how often you feed, etc…).

Thats what I was thinking also. I'm enticed by chaeto but don't want it over taking my tank/filter. Need to cut back feeding for sure. I think that has been a big culprit. Just need to shave less off the frozen block i guess!

Thank you for feedback!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I’ve kept a 32 gallon for many years. If anything I would suggest a hang on skimmer. If your only a month in then no hurry there, put it on your list of purchases sometime in the next year.

And I never suggest feeding less, I suggest feeding less per serving but more servings per day. Fish poop is better for the system to handle than rotting food. Good luck.

 

[Hoxie]

I’ve kept a 32 gallon for many years. If anything I would suggest a hang on skimmer. If your only a month in then no hurry there, put it on your list of purchases sometime in the next year.

And I never suggest feeding less, I suggest feeding less per serving but more servings per day. Fish poop is better for the system to handle than rotting food. Good luck.

Got a skimmer rockin

Thanks MOJO! Great advice