Refugium function

[SesameSeed]

I've read about the importance of having a refugium, especially for reef/saltwater tanks. My understanding is that a refugium serves primarily as a home for organisms that act as biofilters, such as macroalgae and microorganisms. I have also read that they can be used as a home for Copepods, which can be a food source for some of the life in your tank. In all of the sump refugia I have seen online, the refugium is placed before the main filtration stage in the water flow. I'm wondering how the Copepods make their way to the display tank from the sump? Are they able to travel through the skimmer and filter media before making it to the return pump? Or do you need to transfer (by hand) some Copepods from the refugium to the display tank for feeding? Thanks in advance.

 

[Spare time]

So a refugium works best after the filter socks and protein skimmer. The idea is that pods make their way to the return pump and into the tank.

The primary function of a refugium is going to be nitrate and phosphate reduction as well as a pH booster. Pods will live anywhere that there is food. If you have alge eating fish, you can take some macro algae (some are "tastier" than others) and feed it to display fish (which in turn brings whatever pods were living on it out into the display).

 

[SesameSeed]

So a refugium works best after the filter socks and protein skimmer. The idea is that pods make their way to the return pump and into the tank.

The primary function of a refugium is going to be nitrate and phosphate reduction as well as a pH booster. Pods will live anywhere that there is food. If you have alge eating fish, you can take some macro algae (some are "tastier" than others) and feed it to display fish (which in turn brings whatever pods were living on it out into the display).

Thanks so much for your response!

 

[Spare time]

If you are setting one up for the first time, I'd be more than happy to help you pick out the right lights, algae, and possible trace element supplements for the algae!

 

[Raysup88]

If you are setting one up for the first time, I'd be more than happy to help you pick out the right lights, algae, and possible trace element supplements for the algae!

I just built my sump. 3 chamber 20 gal long. I have very high nitrates so need to get refugium going. What ya got

 

[Spare time]

I just built my sump. 3 chamber 20 gal long. I have very high nitrates so need to get refugium going. What ya got

Algae: Chaeto, Red Gracilaria (Ogo), Green Gracilaria (ogo), etc.
Light: Nicrew hyperreef 50w (or 100w if the refugium area is big), Kessil Fuge, AI Fuge 16hd, or par38 bulb for reefs or grow
Supplements: I like chaetogro, but there are a variety.

 

[Raysup88]

Algae: Chaeto, Red Gracilaria (Ogo), Green Gracilaria (ogo), etc.
Light: Nicrew hyperreef 50w (or 100w if the refugium area is big), Kessil Fuge, AI Fuge 16hd, or par38 bulb for reefs or grow
Supplements: I like chaetogro, but there are a variety.

I have been doing some research and people are also saying to get some marinepure spheres or blocks or doing sand or mud whatever that is. Also copeepods? Is this overkill?

 

[Spare time]

I have been doing some research and people are also saying to get some marinepure spheres or blocks or doing sand or mud whatever that is. Also copeepods? Is this overkill?

You can add marine pure or what not if you prefer less rock in the display, but I prefer a clean refugium. I have matrix biomedia in some bags in my sump in a different compartment. You can add pods. They don't have any downsides.