Refugium...Did I do it right?

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knowthemath

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Feb 16, 2004
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I decided about a month ago to set up a refugium. I took a 10 gallon, had a hole drilled near the top, and set it on a base next to the main tank which made it about 3" taller than the main tank. I (or should I say my husband) plumbed a pipe through the hole, and I now have a gravity feed to the main tank. I placed a mini pump in the skimmer box of the main tank to pump water into the refugium.

I have a 2" sand base, a piece of live rock, grunge from GARF, and some macro algae in the tank at the moment. When I set it up, I used about 4 gallons of water from my main tank and used makeup water to finish filling it. I let it set for a couple of weeks before I ever actually connected it to my main tank. I have the regular florescent bulb that came with the hood.

It seems like everything is working correctly, but I still have a few questions.

What should I feed my refugium?
Do I need a powerhead for circulation?
What kind of critters should I have in it?
Do I need to change the lighting?
I
 
Sounds like it should be fine with what you've got. If you want to speed the critters along, feed a tiny about of food that includes a little meat and a little algae for different types of feeders. Otherwise light to grow hair algae will give you amphipods and such to feed off of it with the GARF Grunge in there.
 
Overall, sounds very good. But you asked, so...

What should I feed my refugium?
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I have never fed mine. My view is that one point of a refugium is to let the detritivores take care of the debris that comes in from the main tank. Looking at the profusion of amphipods, mysis, and worms in the fuge, I think it works.

WHat kind of macroalgae did you get? For the past few yaers, I have been using chaetomorpha (spaghetti algae or brillo pad), which grows well, is easy to export and gives tons and tons of nooks and crannies for your pods.
Do I need a powerhead for circulation?
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I'd say no. Refugia are normally supposed to have lower flow, and the powerhead will be a bit of a hazard for the residents.
What kind of critters should I have in it?
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I have had the most success with amphipods, mysis shrimp, terebellid worms, bristleworms and strombus snails. I have tried kits from IPSF and Inland Aquatics, which both had their strengths.
Do I need to change the lighting?
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Like Ben, I think more light would be good. I just put two 19 watt PC floods over a fuge about the same size as yours, and the macroalgae have been growing like, well, weeds. You might try a PC retrofit from Aquarium Hobbyist, or you can do something cheaper with screw-in PC bulbs if you want to do a little DIY.
 
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