Whats the general purpose of a refugium? Ive had my tank up for nearly 5 years and never had one. Im wondering if Im missing out on something.
A reFugIuM ?
- Thread starter 1BadHawk
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Ideally, it's a separate unit. Most sumps' flow rates are too high for a fuge. A gentle flow is better. Although there are a lot of folks who use baffles and what not to sort of section off a part of their sump. Put a light over it, and it becomes a fuge. People have even used HOB filters to make refugiums. I guess the sky's the limit for the creative (and handy).
so you would get a small pump and run it from your sump to the refug and then pump the water back?
Yeah that would work. Only problem is you're going to loose a degree of critters as they get pureed in the return pump. One of the advantages to a fuge is providing an endless supply of natural food to the display (pods, worms, ministars, etc.). In a perfect world, the fuge would sit above the main display. Water would be pumped into the refugium and returned to the tank via gravity, saving all those critters from the wrath of the impeller.
If this isn't possible, you can do it the way you suggest. You'll still get the benefits of nutrient export and increased plankton that a refugium provides.
If this isn't possible, you can do it the way you suggest. You'll still get the benefits of nutrient export and increased plankton that a refugium provides.
aahhh ok now i gotcha... yor right pumping the water back in would kinda defeat the purpose...hmm maybe if you use like a gravel sucker type effect to get back into the main water system? or would the flow be to weak to pick up the critters?
No, that would work fine. You could use a siphon tube to return the water, or have the fuge positioned so that it overflows back into the display (like some HOB refugiums).
It's not just the critters you can see that will be benefiting your tank. Many of them reproduce via free-swimming larvae (zooplankton) that corals and other filter feeders will love.
It's not just the critters you can see that will be benefiting your tank. Many of them reproduce via free-swimming larvae (zooplankton) that corals and other filter feeders will love.
what would you put in the refugium? ive heard people talking about putting cucumbers in there? do you just put some live rock in there and let it grow out? or get some crittter cultures or something?