Settings up refugium

[Signalhead]

I'm getting ready to set up my refugium, and I have been reading and Each site is different. It will be in the sump. Between return pump and skimmer The space I have is about 15 gallons, so I need:
A light, 6500k LED,
miracle mud or just sand. Whats the best choice? How much thickness of mud?
Do I need Ceramic bio filters? If so what type?
A circulating pump to circulate at slow speed
Can I add snails?
And add the micro algae, easy easy.

Thank you for your recommendation.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

All you really need is light and macro algae. All the other stuff is extra.

I personally wouldn't do sand in a refugium but if you did, then yea snails are fine. Ceramic bio filters also not required unless you want more surface area for bacteria. Circulating pump not needed but it has its benefits.

 

[Signalhead]

All you really need is light and macro algae. All the other stuff is extra.

I personally wouldn't do sand in a refugium but if you did, then yea snails are fine. Ceramic bio filters also not required unless you want more surface area for bacteria. Circulating pump not needed but it has its benefits.

Thank you,

 

[sfin52]

All you really need is light and macro algae. All the other stuff is extra.

I personally wouldn't do sand in a refugium but if you did, then yea snails are fine. Ceramic bio filters also not required unless you want more surface area for bacteria. Circulating pump not needed but it has its benefits.

Agree. I would put the skimmer before the Marco.

 

[Signalhead]

Agree. I would put the skimmer before the Marco.

If you look at my sump. Left to right water come in on the left and it has two socks, to the skimmer, neptune/apex sensors and heaters netx to the right i have the pump for the UV and another one for phosguard, and that's the space that I will be using for refugium. The last one to the right goes to back to the tank.

Thank you

 

[Doctorgori]

just tossing this out there but endorse the submersible Tunze lights and also btw,the cheaper reef & white models perform just as adequately as the more expensive “refugium” model …for sample I own 8 btw

 

[wally311]

My first response would be, what is the goal of your fuge? Is it just nutrient export? Pod production? Just want to keep other interesting critters? You can have just a ball of chaeto and a light, or you can keep a whole ecosystem in there (mud, macro algae, crabs, sponges, etc). I've had it both ways. The ecosystem can be cool, but it's additional maintenance. The ball of chaeto approach can work well for keeping nitrates and phosphates in check, and can even grow pods, with minimal upkeep. I personally found, for my system, the chaeto zeroed out my nutrients. As such, my current system doesn't have a fuge, so to speak, just some rock rubble (no lighting). Every system is different, so defining the goal of your fuge is the first step.

 

[Lavey29]

Neptune Gro light

 

[paragrouper]

I have a HOB refugium running. I use a light from innovative marine that’s probably overkill and Chaeto. I did drop some left over rubble in there too. I like to keep those bits around for use in mounting corals.

 

[exnisstech]

I ran cheap led grow lights from Amazon and chaeto thrived

 

[Signalhead]

just tossing this out there but endorse the submersible Tunze lights and also btw,the cheaper reef & white models perform just as adequately as the more expensive “refugium” model …for sample I own 8 btw

For my clarification, you have 8 lights on your sump/sumps? So the ebay or Amazon 20.00 are ok?

 

[sfin52]

My refugium

 

[sfin52]

For my clarification, you have 8 lights on your sump/sumps? So the ebay or Amazon 20.00 are ok?

I picked up lights from menards

 

[sfin52]

I put 2 of them on it

 

[BryanM]

I'm getting ready to set up my refugium, and I have been reading and Each site is different. It will be in the sump. Between return pump and skimmer The space I have is about 15 gallons, so I need:
A light, 6500k LED,
miracle mud or just sand. Whats the best choice? How much thickness of mud?
Do I need Ceramic bio filters? If so what type?
A circulating pump to circulate at slow speed
Can I add snails?
And add the micro algae, easy easy.

Thank you for your recommendation.

Have you considered an Algae Turf Scrubber? They are basically self contained fuges on steroids.

 

[Pistondog]

No need for expensive lights.
Elevate your macro close to the surface to maximize par.
Some of us use this light, works well.
https://a.co/d/1cDqAov

 

[Signalhead]

My first response would be, what is the goal of your fuge? Is it just nutrient export? Pod production? Just want to keep other interesting critters? You can have just a ball of chaeto and a light, or you can keep a whole ecosystem in there (mud, macro algae, crabs, sponges, etc). I've had it both ways. The ecosystem can be cool, but it's additional maintenance. The ball of chaeto approach can work well for keeping nitrates and phosphates in check, and can even grow pods, with minimal upkeep. I personally found, for my system, the chaeto zeroed out my nutrients. As such, my current system doesn't have a fuge, so to speak, just some rock rubble (no lighting). Every system is different, so defining the goal of your fuge is the first step.

1. The reason is for nutrients export more than anything. I would like keep in check.
2. Yes to pod production. And give the fish something to have fun during the day.
3. About creating a whole ecosystem sounds good, but when the doors of the cabinet are close, we won't see them. So I'm still on the fence.
4. I was thinking of using other than cheato in the system.

You has give me a lot of information, thank you for your help.

 

[exnisstech]

No need for expensive lights.
Elevate your macro close to the surface to maximize par.
Some of us use this light, works well.
https://a.co/d/1cDqAov

That is the one or one just like the one I used. My sump was a 125g in the basement so I had access to all sides. I used three of those,1 hanging and one attached to the front using Velcro and another on the back and chaeto grew crazy fast.
I'll just mention this for people new, chaeto does not have to tumble regardless of what some YouTube stars say.

 

[sfin52]

1. The reason is for nutrients export more than anything. I would like keep in check.
2. Yes to pod production. And give the fish something to have fun during the day.
3. About creating a whole ecosystem sounds good, but when the doors of the cabinet are close, we won't see them. So I'm still on the fence.
4. I was thinking of using other than cheato in the system.

You has give me a lot of information, thank you for your help.

Caulerpa is a good alternative. Fish and urchins love it

 

[Signalhead]

Have you considered an Algae Turf Scrubber? They are basically self contained fuges on steroids.

No I have not. I will do some research