Refugium Debate...

[hurrifan]

I have a newly set up 180, but I am still a novice regarding this hobby. I have heard a lot of talk about refugiums. I have serached Reefs.org archives, but cannot find anything comprehensively explaining what a refugium is and what it is supposed to do. I have pieced together some info, but still am in the dark. What goes into an effective refugium, sand, rock, fish, inverts, etc.? Can a wet/dry with with bio-balls be made into an efective refugium? I am really in the dark, and would love some insightful information. I want to have a very healthy, stable tank. I am looking to house sps, lps and just about everything else. Will a refugium help produce better results? Please enlighten me!!!

 

[Anonymous]

A refugium is not necessary,but,it will definately help your tanks nutrient load disappear. A refugium will increase the amount of infauna that will eat detritius. This will remove waste before it becomes toxic. Now if you use algae in your refugium,it too will remove phospates and silicates before they grow in the main system.

Sand,rocks,algae and small critters(worms and amphipods should be encouraged to grow in your refugium)should all be present.

GL

Dan

 

[ajx22]

You have MAIL!!

 

[GMH320]

The basic idea behind a refugium is to provide a area, outside the main tank, to grow algae. The algae absorbs the nutrients from the main tank, so when you harvest the algae, you are removing nutrients. It can be as simple as just algae growing under strong lighting or as diverse as a mini aquarium with live rock, sand and whatever critters you want to put in there. As long as the water flows from the main tank, throuigh the refugium, and back to the main tank, it works great. I use mine basically like a sump. It houses the heater, skimmer pump, pH probe etc. and contains some pieces of live rock. Everytime I get a hitchhicker (Things I don't want in the main tank) come in on a piece of coral or live rock i dump it in the refugium, it adds boidiversity which can't be bad.

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/3389/reeftank/refugium.html

 

[danmhippo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Greg:
<STRONG>Everytime I get a hitchhicker (Things I don't want in the main tank) come in on a piece of coral or live rock i dump it in the refugium, it adds boidiversity which can't be bad.</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not unless the hitchhiker(s) decided to breed and populated in your main tank. I had hitchhiker crabs that chew out of my clam farm, one by one. By the time I caught the third crab (while there is another identical one in the refugium), I see that it is already pregnant with eggs exposed. I just hope my fish eat up all the larvae before they grow to adulthood.

 

[smokinreefer]

just a quick note, the purpose of a refugium is not to grow and export macroalgaes! that is an algae filter.

a refugium is to provide a refugewhere microfauna can grow and reproduce without any predation.

exportation of macroalgae, is a bonus in a refugium.

a refugium will help maintain good water quality in that you can export some macroalgae. and it will increase the biodiversity of your system by allowing microfauna to flourish without predation. some of this fauna will make its way back into the main tank, providing a healthy natural nutritious snack for all reef inhabitants to enjoy.

what you need,
lighting
some sand, DSB if you want
some LR or atleast some rubble rock
and some macros to grow

oh yeah, do not add any animals to the refugium that may prey upon microfauna, you will be defeating its purpose.

as i understand it you can get some kits to start your refugium off, that is it will come with some worms and pods and such

but it is not absolutly neccesary, i have never bought any kits, mainly because they are not available to me, but my refugium is now full of pods and whatnot.

HTH

[ September 19, 2001: Message edited by: smokinreefer ]