Thinking about a Refugium and could use your advice

[Patrick Cox]

Hello,
I have been running my primarily SPS 100G tank for about 5 1/2 years. I have had a lot of ups and downs but I am fairly happy with the tank. However over that time I have battled different forms of algae. And in the last probably 6-12 months I have started noticing new types of algae that just appeared without me adding anything new to the tank. My rock was live rock from Tampa Bay salt water that was introduced when I first started the tank. I guess this algae was dormant in that rock for several years.

My phosphate and nitrate always test low though. I really just run a skimmer and do 8 gallon water changes every couple of weeks.

Now I am thinking about added a refugium. So I wanted to ask for any thoughts on refugiums. Do any of you run them and if so, would you recommend to others? Will they help slow algae in the display? Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.

I will post a recent picture later today when my lights come on.

Thanks!

 

[PeterC99]

Absolutely start a Refugium with chaeto. Keeps PO4 & NO3 low and provides many benefits for your aquarium especially keeping nuisance algae at bay. Here’s my cheap Refugium made out of egg crate in my sump with light. Will never run an aquarium with it!

 

[Patrick Cox]

Great, thanks. I'll look into it.

 

[Schraufabagel]

I run a refugium in my 25 gallon AIO. It has helped hold my parameters at 8.5 NO3 and 0.05 phosphate every day. If you consistently overfeed too, it is very helpful for balancing that out. I dose Brightwell’s ChaetoGro daily and MicroBacter7 weekly to help it. It’s also seeded with apex pods

 

[Subsea]

@Patrick Cox

Not having run SPS tanks, my thoughts may not be relevant to you. In my experiences, running low nitrogen in your system favors nuisance algae, which have adopted nutrient strategies that survive & thrive during adverse conditions that weaken competitors.

Cynobacteria is one example.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-38481-2

 

[Subsea]

Instead of a macro refugium, consider a cryptic refugium and focus on sponge loop & microbial loop.

 

[mfinn]

Refugiums are just one tool used to help reef tanks thrive.
I don't think I've ever heard of a down side.
I say why not?