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View Full Version : Is Small Refugium Worth Installing?


gilweb
10/25/2008, 07:20 AM
Basically like the question says, Will a small refugium do anything?

Tank Specs:
40 Breeder
20gal tall sump
MR-1 Skimmer

I want to setup a refugium but only have enough room for a 5 gallon tank. I was going to put Cheato and some rubble in it.

Is it worth going through the trouble or is it to small to export enough nutrients?

The tank is stocked with the following:
1 RBTA (6 inches fully opened)
2 Black Clowns (1" each)
1 Flame Angel (1.5")

3 Small Coral Frags

Thanks for any help,
Gil

Don-Coraleone
10/25/2008, 07:28 AM
go for it. i would put it on there it will give you an area to put the cheato and you could run a light on the fuge opposite your regular lighting. and that will help with keeping ph stable.

gilweb
10/25/2008, 07:33 AM
Excellent thanks. I have no algea problems and would like to keep it that way.

jbeltmann
10/25/2008, 08:58 AM
If its not that big of a deal to integrate one into your system then by all means. Granted you would generally want a bigger one than 5g but the benefits stated before are worth it alone.

Misslittlefoot
10/25/2008, 01:37 PM
would this work for a 12g nano tank and a 1g spare tank? or would I have to get a larger tank for the refuge?

Otty
10/25/2008, 04:08 PM
Good rule of thumb is 1/10 the size of display with 1/10 the flow in gph. 40g = 4g fuge and 4gph across it. This is just a good starting point as they can be any size. I run a 30g fuge on a 265g display.

monti1
10/25/2008, 04:41 PM
I would say that any size would be better than nothing. I had a 8 gallon on a 75 and it worked well. I now have a 30 gallon on my 120.

kes_reef
10/25/2008, 06:53 PM
In addition to nutrient control it can also provide live foods that will siphon back into the main display for fish/corals.

FranktheTankTx
10/25/2008, 07:16 PM
Yep - I own a HOB CPR refugium. It's the small version, but I have a DSB & will place chaeto in there as well.

If anything it can't hurt nutrient export & provides a nice safe haven for pods to grow and feed the tank.