What is the difference between a sump and refugium?

[Mike628]

Im still fairly new to the hobby I've only been in it for about a year. I was just wondering what the difference between a sump and a refugium is?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Pete polyp]

A sumps purpose is to hold additional water and equipment. A refugium is lit and usually contains macro algae.

 

[melypr1985]

Pete said it! Some sumps have refugiums built into them too :)

 

[Mike628]

So would a refugium hold things like chaeto and pods?

 

[melypr1985]

yes. it's a place for you to grow macro algae and let pods breed without being eaten by anything else.

 

[Mike628]

I have a 29 gallon biocube and I want a mandarin but I know I need some place to culture the pods. Is the back part of the biocube where all the water goes a refugium?

 

[roman1]

I think there is a clear opening on the back of the bio cube that one could put a light back there to grow cheato

 

[Mike628]

There is but I do believe I have to take out the bioballs. Would I be able to put this in one of the other spots that have a clear opening and grow chaeto with pods?

 

[AlexG]

A refugium is any tank or part of a tank free of predators. It can be lit or dark. Normally people grow macro algae in them as it is a great means of nutrient export. I have run both types with success. Mandarins need lots of pods and the back of a bio cube might not be able to sustain a large enough population for that fish. If you really want one I would suggest a bigger tank or culture pods/buy live pods.

 

[inetjnky]

The refugium on a Biocube should be in the middle chamber.

 

[Mike628]

But would I have to take the bio balls out and put in chaeto or could I just out the pods straight in?

 

[Mike628]

How fast can a mandarin demolish pods? I used to have one in my 4 gallon nuvo pico that I never put pods in and he lived for a couple of months. After a while he just quit eating. I fed him frozen brine shrimp. What caused him to do that?

 

[Rybren]

It likely died of starvation. A mandarin can eat a thousand pods per day. There's no way a 4G could support that many pods.

 

[Mike628]

He lived about 4 months and he would accept frozen brine then he stopped eating.

 

[inetjnky]

Yes take the bio balls out and the false floor.

 

[Mike628]

What should I put in?

 

[inetjnky]

Up to you really. I got an InTank media basket and Fuge basket for mine. I'm still cycling but at some point I'll be putting cheato in my Fuge and pods.

 

[Mike628]

Can you possible put a picture on

 

[inetjnky]

 

[Mike628]

Is that your tank?