What goes in refugium?

[mpjmeyer]

I am planning on putting chateau in the refugium along with some extra sponges for the QT tank filter when I need them. Anything else you put in there? Should I put some extra rock in? What's in yours?

 

[robbie8691]

Following

 

[garethwood]

wow how bigs your refugium??!!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Chat only is the simplest and easiest.
Extra live rock adds Bio filtration. I like to avoid rubble as it collect detritus. Im big on cleaning. Chato is cool. Also look at dragons tongue and dragons breath. I like diversity. but some macros have special needs your fuge may not provide.Those are just options to have fun with.
Just like th DT there's a bit of see how it goes too. If the flow is a bit low you many not want to add too much stuff. You may want to add a CUC, but if theres not a lot of food in there you may not need too.
IMO start simple, and see where it goes.

Whats in mine? 3in DSB, several pounds of LR, Chato 2 kinds of caulerpa , a couple types of "dragons breath", common feather dusters, stomatellas , limpets, all kinds of pods.

 

[Hyde2406]

I have matrix as the bottom because my last one I had sand and it always ended up in my return section, not a lot mind you but still. Then live rock I just got from Tampa bay and a bunch of algae, random kinds but no cheto because I don't want high flow

 

[vdigiorgio]

I use Chato and miracle mud.. It does wonders for my tank. check out some of the videos on youtube( leng sy).. you have to keep the fuge lit 24hr a day

 

[mpjmeyer]

Thank you for all the responses. Here's a pic of my fuge. Just got the clamp light today

 

[Rick.45cal]

Thank you for all the responses. Here's a pic of my fuge. Just got the clamp light today

Cool! Is that a lifereef? I've looked at their standalone ones online. What are your impressions so far? It looks really nice!

Would you show how you have the return line plumbed into your sump? (I'm assuming that's what the fitting at the front of the refugium is, am I correct?)

Sorry for all the questions, it's a really cool design and I really want to understand it.

 

[Will2287]

I keep cheato and Man groves in mines

 

[mpjmeyer]

Yes it's a Lifereef. I like the overall design. The sump has a built in overflow on the right which drains back into the sump. It's plumbed in with the main pump and at the top is a spraybar which is behind the top black plastic

 

[Rick.45cal]

Very cool!! Thanks for the additional photos. It makes sense now.

 

[Will2287]

You're welcome

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yea, thats pretty. A couple big rocks chato some red macros, keep it pretty.

 

[Valkyrie]

I can't seem to keep chaeto alive, it deteriorates to nothing.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I can't seem to keep chaeto alive, it deteriorates to nothing.

That does happen.

 

[mpjmeyer]

I still need to get a bulb for the light. Thinking of getting one from HD that is 60W, 5000K 1000 lumens. Would that be good?

 

[bump3rb33tl3]

I have miracle mud, chaeto, 3 different types of algae, pods, mysis, and macro brittle stars. Occassionally I have stray snails that make the journey from my DT as well

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I still need to get a bulb for the light. Thinking of getting one from HD that is 60W, 5000K 1000 lumens. Would that be good?

yes.

 

[Hyde2406]

I can't seem to keep chaeto alive, it deteriorates to nothing.

Nothing for it to"eat"....your tank is too clean?

 

[Maacc]

I can't seem to keep chaeto alive, it deteriorates to nothing.

Odds are your tank is too new/clean or maybe too much GFO?