To refugium, or not to refugium. THAT is the question!

[McReef1]

I am looking for opinions on whether or not to build a refugium for my new 225gal bowfront. I have been running a successful 55gal without a refugium and am upgrading tanks.

If you prefer refugiums, please tell me why, and how large of one is needed? How would you set it up? Gallons? LS? LR? Lighting? etc..

Thanks!

 

[danmhippo]

Do you have a sump? Most likely yes in your case eventhough you did not mention in your original post. How big is your sump? I am one of the anal people that believe in redundancy. You have a sump? How about 2? what to put in the second sump?........REFUGIUM!!

I am for refugium, just don't make your DSB too deep like I did. 3-4" will do. Other than the obvious benefit of pod production, I use my refugium to grow macro algae & mangrove to increase bioloading capacity of the main tank above. Additional water volume also addes buffering capacity for the maintank. Refugium is also great for extra frags you aquired or for sick and injured corals to heal. I often find more to be discovered in the refugium than the main tank above, as most critters gets to grow large without being eaten when small.

This message is not as passionate as the other ones I did, but I tried. So, DON'T COMPLAINT!!!

 

[Len]

I wish I had room for a refugium. If the option is available to you, I recommend you utilize a refugium (larger the better). You'll see benefits any time you increase the overall water volume of your system.

Refugiums offer extra surface area of aerobic and anaerobic functions (effectively increaseing your systems biological capabilities) and can double as a frag grow out tank if lit properly. Refugiums augment and stabilize micro fauna and flora population, greatly benefitting the display tank (ie provides the system with readily regenerable plantonic nutrition). Refugiums may house macroalgae that you can harvest for additional nutrient control. Refugiums additional water volume will buffer chemical and physical parameters (e.g. temp & pH).

I wish I had planned my system for a refugium. If you have the funds and space, i don't see any reason why anyone would decide against utilizing a refugium.

BTW, how it's lit depends on what purposes you require of the refugium. Simple flourescent lighting is just fine for most refugiums. If you're planning on housing Tridacna sp. clams or fragments, MH is an option (though localized flourescent lighting would be adequete). Due to variations in pH and O2/CO2 levels, I'd recommend putting the lights on either a reverse photoperiod or 24/7.

As with the display tank, make sure adequete water movement is available in the refugium. Choice of LR inclusion is up to you; I personally would lightly stock the refugium with a few pounds of LR for purpose of species diversification.

 

[fnj]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

just don't make your DSB too deep like I did. 3-4" will do

Dan,

What did you mean by this? And what is "too deep"?

Thanks,
Frank

 

[danmhippo]

Over 5" would be too deep. I have 10" and 6" for my 2 refugiums, and I do not see any worms activities 4" below the sand surface. Total anaerobic zones (fine sands mass without any acitivities from worms and critters) would greatly lead to H2S build up and may end up in a disaster like I did....coral wipe out. Its the worms' digging the burrowing that slowly vent out the H2S in small quantities.

 

[whirley]

My answer:
"YES !!!"

whirley

 

[jdeets]

Easy answer: YES! I agree with whirley completely. I guess I'd share my thoughts, but I'd rather turn the tables and ask "Why not?" IMO there aren't any downsides, other than the time it takes to set it up, and there are tons of benefits.

 

[scavdog]

hmm, my 6" lagoon is fairly new. Any ideas on how to promote more life below 6"? I am adding seagrass as opposed to more macro-algae. Should I add more worms?

 

[THillson]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by danmhippo:
<STRONG>Over 5" would be too deep. I have 10" and 6" for my 2 refugiums, and I do not see any worms activities 4" below the sand surface. </STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I also have a DSB (8" deep) in my sump/refugium. Your right in saying you won't see any activity in the deep layers. This is what you wanted, a large anaerobic layer to process waste to complement the aerobic layer above it.

<STRONG>
Total anaerobic zones (fine sands mass without any acitivities from worms and critters) would greatly lead to H2S build up and may end up in a disaster like I did....coral wipe out. Its the worms' digging the burrowing that slowly vent out the H2S in small quantities.</STRONG>[/QUOTE]

Ron Shimek has published allot on DSB, production of H2S in the deep layer is not harmful to the tank. I can't remember the whole chemical reaction but the H2S is converted in the aerobic layer before it ever gets out of the DSB. Ron's only experience with a H2S kill was from a plenum (no flames please).

Add the refugium if you have room, the largest you can. Mine is an 80 gallon tank connected to the main 170 gallon tank (pics on my web site). Why wouldn't you want the added stabilizing influence and room one provides. Light it with only a 20W PC and you have a perfect place to grow and harvest macoalgae to feed your fish and remove nutrients. The pod/worm population that will grow without predation in the refugium will feed and repopulate the main tank constantly. Their spawn will feed your corals in a way you cant.

In short, yes.

 

[LINK]

Go for the refugium! IMHO, go with reverse lighting not 24/7. Give your life (pods and plants) some dark time. Nocturnal pods will thank you for it.

 

[McReef1]

THANKS for all the replies!

Still, no one has said..."Why NOT to have one." Seems in this hobby there is ALWAYS a differing opinion.
Could this be the issue that everyone agrees upon?

Couldn't be!

Is there such a thing as a refugium that is TOO small? I have room under my tank for about a 2 ft by 2 ft by 2 ft one. And, damnhippo, yes, I do have a sump.

McReef

 

[jdeets]

McReef--that's about the size of the refugium I have on my 180. It's a nice size. I made mine out of a clear plastic sweater box I got at the container store. It's sitting on top of a milk crate. I got a plastic container so I could cut a hole for a bulkhead myself. It is fed by a "take off" from one of the overflows, and then overflows through the bulkhead into the sump.

I think the benefits of refugiums are such that you won't find anyone who will think it's a bad idea.

 

[yznhmr]

i have a 30 gal refugium on my 65 (soon to be a 120 aga) it has done wonders for my tank, in only about 4-6 weeks,there are pictures on my website below, take a look,

and to the opposition..

The top 5 reasons not to have a refugium...hmmm

5:you like to buy food to feed your corals
4:you like to buy live culpra to feed tangs
3:you like to have nitrate prob
2:you like to have detritus/organics build up

and the #1 reason not to have a refugium is:
you like scrubbing hair algee of of your rocks and corals!!

 

[Anonymous]

One other good reason to have one; I don't think its been mentioned: lighting the refugia when the main tank is off will level out ph swing greatly.

 

[McReef1]

Nice reply, yznhmr!! Very funny and informational.

 

[Hammer]

Actually there is a reason to not have a refugium. But that doesn't stop me. If you have a lot of macro algea that decides it wants to create a huge mess in your system by going sexual.
And until we actually KNOW the reasons for this, we will always be taking that risk.

Small risk at that. I am personally in full support of refugiums. And I am considering adding a second one to my system.

 

[AlexS!]

refugium- so awesome! great for growing food!