Would you rather.... ?

[SaltwaterandLime]

...have a refugium or a skimmer?

All other things being equal, in an SPS dominated 60-70 gallon cube system, if you only had room for one, would you prefer a skimmer or a fuge, and why?

 

[Nano_Man]

Skimmer for me the work horse of your tank

 

[Doctorgori]

skimmer, if for no other reason than gas exchange

 

[GlassMunky]

Skimmer for sure.

If you’re short of space and still want to grow algae for nutrient reduction you could try an algae turf scrubber.
I’ve seen a few models that clamp onto the side of the sump or float on top and are only a little bigger than a cell phone

 

[GlassMunky]

HOG1 Hang-On-Glass UAS upflow algae scrubber from Santa Monica Filtration

www.santa-monica.cc

 

[Jekyl]

HOG1 Hang-On-Glass UAS upflow algae scrubber from Santa Monica Filtration

www.santa-monica.cc

First time seeing this. Have you tested this product?

 

[GlassMunky]

First time seeing this. Have you tested this product?

no, but hes been around for over a decade. used to be a sponsor on here, not sure if he still is or not.

 

[kevgib67]

Skimmer , that is all I have ever had.

 

[Spare time]

Refugium. There's no need for a skimmer unless you have major concerns about oxygenating the water.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

skimmer 100%

 

[BeanAnimal]

...have a refugium or a skimmer?

The answer is bacon.

If that does not suffice, then a skimmer.

Not a fan of macro refugia for the most part. Ran one for almost a decade and think it was more trouble than it was worth in terms of keeping balance, although it was good for pH stabilization on a reverse lighting cycle.

 

[stoney7713]

I have 2 tanks, 75g with a skimmer (small HOB refugium) and one with a 40g large sump refugium only.

The one with a skimmer I have to watch phosphates as they tend to climb.

The one with a refugium I have to dose both nitrates and phosphates.

I may try removing the skimmer and switching to a refugium on it.

 

[Rjukan]

...have a refugium or a skimmer?

All other things being equal, in an SPS dominated 60-70 gallon cube system, if you only had room for one, would you prefer a skimmer or a fuge, and why?

I used to run both, but now the small fuge section in my sump is just live rock pieces, plus my frag racks when I'm not using them.

Main reason for ditching the fuge was light spill in the sump, grew algae everywhere, even inside the skimmer.

Now I feel like I have the best of both worlds with a skimmer and a ATS both in the large main section of my sump.

 

[Lavey29]

I have both but if only one choice then skimmer.

 

[Garf]

...have a refugium or a skimmer?

All other things being equal, in an SPS dominated 60-70 gallon cube system, if you only had room for one, would you prefer a skimmer or a fuge, and why?

I went from a skimmer to an air pump with air stone for aeration, near zero maintenance. Salt creep is negligible with vertical surfaces. No refugium. 1.5% daily waterchanges on 60gallon. I've got a bag of sand in the sump that I wash weekly.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

The answer is bacon.

If that does not suffice, then a skimmer.

Not a fan of macro refugia for the most part. Ran one for almost a decade and think it was more trouble than it was worth in terms of keeping balance, although it was good for pH stabilization on a reverse lighting cycle.

Bacon is always the answer!!!