"Refugium as Filtration"

[Miklos]

I read Fenner's book twice and he discussed how he does not use mechanical filtration but refugiums.He even does this for his large tanks but he says that the refugium would have to be well lit and of a large size, planted iwth many macro algaes and a deep live sand bed.I was wondering would this be possible in a 180 gallon tank.I was thinking about maybe setting up a tank like this and buy the pumps and refugium and possibly a calcium reactor from lifereef.com.I was thinking about lighting the tank with vho lighting from iceacp and heating it with ebojagger heaters and proving a 3 in sand bed in the tank and a much deeper sand bed in the refugium.I was thinking about lighting the refugium with pc or vhos also.Then I was thinking about buying ls from inlandaquatics.com and from ipsf.com.Then add one ipsf package to the refugium and one to the tank and then add one inland aquatics refugium package to the refugium and a critter package to the main tank.This I will figure will give alot of diversity to the tank.Then I was thinking about getting aquacultured corals from tropicorium.com and aquacultured fish from a few places.What does everyone think.If needed I will add a powerfilter with carbon every once in awhile if there are alot or organics or water changes to a yellowich color.Any ideas.opinions,and comments are welcome.
Nick

 

[Jeff Hood]

I highly recomend a large refugium for a large tank. go as large as you have room for. I use a 150 gallon tub for my 500 gallon system. My nitrates are 0. Not much bioload yet but I harvest about a pound of Macro every week or so. The refugium is also just as pleasurable to me as the main tank. My queen Conchs have grown two inches in one month. They love the fuge.

I use two 175 watt MH lights with 5000 K lights, and three 65 watt LOA fixtures from Home depot.

No micro or macro in the main tank other than coraline algae.

No micro in the refuge. but tons of macro.

Jeff