Refugium Size for 50 gallon

[Anonymous]

I'm picking up a used sump this weekend. I think it's 30 gallons. What's the min to recommended size for a refugium? Hopefully I'll have the space to build one within the sump. What else would be recommended to store in the refugium?

 

[mr_X]

there is no minimum size. a 30 gallon should be big enough, even if you toss a skimmer in there with a medium footprint.
are you putting the skimmer in the sump and if so, what is the footprint?

what do you mean by "What else would be recommended to store in the refugium?"?
you mean other than macroalgae? you can put some live rock and/or live sand in there if you like, but it will get crowded pretty quickly then. also the live rock gets pretty cruddy due to the low flow of the refugium.
i like the sand bed in my refugium, because of all the critters that make it their home.

 

[Anonymous]

This is the dimension of the sump and Euroreef skimmer. I'm not sure which model, but it's rated for a 180.

"The skimmer is 26" tall and the base not including the sedra pump is 10" long by 7" wide.

The sump is 24" long sectioned with 13" on one end. It is 10" tall and 12" wide (12.5" outside")

I have a 30 gallon acrylic tank than can be compartmented into a larger sump and you can have it if you want as part of this deal."

This is the email. Interesting comment about the rock. I didn't think that could be a problem. Since I am using a barebottom for the display tank, I was thinking of having a sandbed in the refugium. The skimmer sounds big and I'm not sure how much of an area I'll have for a fuge.

 

[mr_X]

well, he doesn't list the dimensions of the acrylic tank, so i suppose we'll need to wait to find that out before you can make a plan. the existing sump he used is too small to hold that skimmer (10"x7" WITHOUT a pump) and a refugium, and have a return area as well. don't forget you'll need to have a large enough return area to allow for evaporation, because that's where it's going to happen.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks Mr. X, I get the stuff this weekend and I will ask him for ideas also.