vetteguy53081
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There have been many new aquarists entering the reef hobby replacing their freshwater systems with conversion to saltwater. While in the good old days, we used standard tanks with hang on filters, undergravel filters and the evolution of wet/dry hang on filters, we managed but still had chemistry issues. Many have entered with the same concept but without the biological concept of undergravel units are experiencing cloudy water, higher nitrate and phosphate levels and not sure what to do. The hang on units are mechanical but there is an absence of chemical and biological means.
Because they dont have a sump, there is an absence of the advantages of a refugium such as an area for bacteria to grow and thrive (biological) and an area for copepods and other organisms to thrive and reproduce. Also added algae or Chaeto can be useful in reduction of nitrate and phosphate. A hang on version can satisfy the absence of a sump both cost effective and friendly for a beginner reefer and the ability to hang on the tank and making it easy to do maintenance.
It's in essence, diversity in a box.
Some of the popular hang on units are:
Fiji cube refugium
CPR hang on refugium
AquaMaxx HOB-R
Have you used or considered a hang-on refugium unit?
If you have, what can you tell others about the pros and cons of utilizing this device?
How did your tank and coral benefit from it?
I used what was called CPR Backpack on my larger tank displays at my store and at the time were costly but effective with more delicate fish and corals I had on display. Maintaining them were quick and simple and were a great alternative at the time to Wet/dry filter units.
CPR:
Fuji:
Because they dont have a sump, there is an absence of the advantages of a refugium such as an area for bacteria to grow and thrive (biological) and an area for copepods and other organisms to thrive and reproduce. Also added algae or Chaeto can be useful in reduction of nitrate and phosphate. A hang on version can satisfy the absence of a sump both cost effective and friendly for a beginner reefer and the ability to hang on the tank and making it easy to do maintenance.
It's in essence, diversity in a box.
Some of the popular hang on units are:
Fiji cube refugium
CPR hang on refugium
AquaMaxx HOB-R
Have you used or considered a hang-on refugium unit?
If you have, what can you tell others about the pros and cons of utilizing this device?
How did your tank and coral benefit from it?
I used what was called CPR Backpack on my larger tank displays at my store and at the time were costly but effective with more delicate fish and corals I had on display. Maintaining them were quick and simple and were a great alternative at the time to Wet/dry filter units.
CPR:
Fuji: