What size refugium?

[princess]

I am planning on adding a refugium to my 110 gallon tank there is a 3in sandbed and 250 lbs of live rock how do i determine the proper size refugium and what would be the smallest size that would be effective because i am somewhat limited on space thanks

 

[2poor2reef]

The bigger the better but it also depends on what benefits you want. Originally regugiums were to provide a predator-free breeding area for food critters. For that application a small fuge is still pretty effective. Now they are also used for macro export and additional dsb area. For this purpose there isn't much impact of a very small refugium. There is no hard and fast rule for ratio. I run my 'fuges at 2/3 of main tank size but my mains are small.

 

[McReef1]

I agree with 2poor regarding that you should determine what purpose the refugium is for..and, the bigger the better!

I would shoot for 10-15% of your tank size if you are going to use it to grow macroalgae to export nutrients. I have a 225 gallon system, but could only fit a 18 gallon refugium. I still have good results.

Good luck,

McReef

 

[davelin315]

In reefing, too much is never enough IMHO. I have a refugium on my 300 gallon pond, and it's 60 gallons (all of it is rubbermaid tubs, check out my website to see it). I have a DSB in it, mangroves, and macroalgaes. Pods grow like crazy in it, but then again, they also grow like crazy in my main pond as well (the seahorses have constant food supplies everywhere).