AquaFuge Refugium

[Davidkirschenbaum]

What do you think about getting this for my 90 gallon tank?
I know I need to get a pump but do I need to buy sand and rock and anything else? Do I need to do any cleaning to this when it is running?
Thanks
David

 

[masterswimmer]

David, you can do a lot better, efficiency wise, if you can possibly set up a 15 or 20 gallon tank as your fuge. The aquafuge is much too small to be effective.

swimmer

 

[fishywoo]

I use one on my tank with Cheeto. It's flow is from my chiller return. It's main purpose for me is as a pod breeder constantly feeding into my main tank. Seems to work well for that purpose.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I have one on my 55 and I love it, it's packed with a sandbed, live rock and macro and a few little critters. I unfortunately can't have a sump because of the condo association rules but If I could I would have done a sump/refugium combo instead.

 

[mgchan]

I have one on my 55 and I love it, it's packed with a sandbed, live rock and macro and a few little critters. I unfortunately can't have a sump because of the condo association rules but If I could I would have done a sump/refugium combo instead.

Which model do you have?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I have the medium (18") Fuge, THey now have a new model I was reading about and the back of it is black so the fuge light doesn't leak/shine into the tank.

 

[thepudge]

I have the large aquafuge (24'') on my 46 gallon bowfront (I support the bottom of it with a stand, because I'd rather not have that kind of pressure on the back of my tank). It has worked very well for me in reducing nitrates but may be small for a 90 gallon. FYI the large aquafuge holds about 4.5 gallons of water.

I have mine running with a DSB and cheato.. I would suggest getting a small power compact light to put on top of the fuge so you can grow cheato. They are inexpensive (around $20) and well worth it.

 

[DonCisco]

I have a 12G nano, and it is designed for that kind of small aquarium, for a 96 gall? I would get between 15 to 20% of the water volume. imo

 

[tomzpc]

What do you think about getting this for my 90 gallon tank?
I know I need to get a pump but do I need to buy sand and rock and anything else? Do I need to do any cleaning to this when it is running?
Thanks
David

What is your goal with it? Do you want it for nitrate removal (as a vegetable filter) or as refugium for pods to supply live food for the tank, or both?

BTW it comes with a pump. Sand and rock is optional but you will probably want a small light to go on top of it. Jalli makes some nice mini PC fixtures that work well with the aquafuge. A ball of chaeto and some pods to seed it and it will become a pod factory in no time with gravity flow back to the tank.

 

[House of Laughter]

David,

I used a dual breeder in my for chaeto for the longest time in my 92 corner - it was about 10" x 4" x 4" and worked wonders, so, the aquafuge will be fine

JMO

House

 

[meschaefer]

I unfortunately can't have a sump because of the condo association rules but If I could I would have done a sump/refugium combo instead.

sorry kind of off topic, but I am just interested. What type of condo association rule would prevent you from having a sump/refugium?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

One that had a problem before with an owner who had a large tank and his overflow broke siphon but the pump from the sump never shut off proceeding to flood his and the units below him with water.


It is not uncommon to hear about rules like this as Tim reported he has a client who has a similar rule in his condo/co-op association.

 

[inline6]

Wow, glad I'm not living in a condo w/rules like that.
Funny that I'm upgrading from a Aquafuge to a sump designed reef tank.
Keeping my fingers crossed.

One that had a problem before with an owner who had a large tank and his overflow broke siphon but the pump from the sump never shut off proceeding to flood his and the units below him with water.


It is not uncommon to hear about rules like this as Tim reported he has a client who has a similar rule in his condo/co-op association.

 

[masterswimmer]

One that had a problem before with an owner who had a large tank and his overflow broke siphon but the pump from the sump never shut off proceeding to flood his and the units below him with water.


It is not uncommon to hear about rules like this as Tim reported he has a client who has a similar rule in his condo/co-op association.

The moral of the story is, set up a reef ready tank (no overflow for siphon to break), with a sump that has enough capacity to handle backflow in a power outage . Then you don't have to deal with condo rules or insurance companies :shhh: .

I've lived in and owned a couple of condos, and they each had different rules and regulations. The r & r are a main reason we went into a house.

swimmer