Refugium ???

[Ducman996]

Can someone explain the purpose of a Refugium? Also how to set one up?I can't seem to find any information about them on this site.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm very surprised you can't find info on refugiums here....

There are many reasons for a refugium.

1 - A place free from predators for food animals to grow (copepods, Mysid Shrimp, etc)

2 - A place to grow algae for nutrient export. Grow a bunch, harvest it and give it/throw it away.

3 - A place for a remote sandbed. If you don't want 4" of sand visible in the display tank you can set up a large refugium and have a DSB for Nitrate reduction.

4 - Stabilize PH. If you light an algae filled refugium opposite the display tank the the PH will not drop overnight as it sometimes does.


As for how to set one up, I suggest a search in the DIY section. That should get you started. Then you can ask more detailed questions.

Do you already have a sump?

 

[CraigLampe]

I agree with these 4 reasons, I originally built mine for reason (1) to grow isopods, amphipods which would intermittenly fall (with gravity) into the main tank.

I also threw whatever macroalgae I could find into it (2), although there is not enough light to acheive the (4) pH stabilization function, and it doesn't grow quite enough algae for the (2) nutrient export function...

alas, it is a POOR REFUGIUM...

 

[Dumb Guy]

If I set up a refugium under the main tank and had return water pumped back up to it, does this mean that food animals growing in the refugium will not make it back into the main tank (being killed in the pump maybe)?

 

[MarkO1]

I recently set one up. I found some pretty good information here:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Vall ... ugium.html
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CSI: NY Forum

 

[Anonymous]

If I set up a refugium under the main tank and had return water pumped back up to it, does this mean that food animals growing in the refugium will not make it back into the main tank (being killed in the pump maybe)?

Most of the critters except the larger ones will arrive unharmed.

 

[CraigLampe]

the reason that dumbguy state was the EXACT REASON I put my refugium ABOVE the main tank and the water simply overflows into the main tank, without the (possible) violence of a pump!!

 

[danmhippo]

I passed some ghost shrimps thru the return pump. 80% survived the trip. These ghost shrimps are about an inch long. If they made the trip, I an pretty much assure your pods will make the trip unharmed.

 

[CraigLampe]

I agree that about 90%-95% of your isopods/amphipods and small creatures will survive a pump trip just fine or with minimal damage, and in essence, all they have to do is survive and keep wriggling until one of your fish eats them, so...