CPR Hang on AquaFuge

[BIGTEXT]

Does anyone have experience with this AquaFuge? I'm thinking about purchasing it from the LFS later. I only have room for it on the back of my tank. Will I need to do much inside the fuge once its going? I cant really reach behind the tank very well. So if I need to do daily maintenance, its not a good option.

What should I put inside the fuge if I do get it? I want lots of pods.

Thanks!

[Sugar Magnolia]

I used the small one on a 7 gallon minibow years ago. They are great to run on smaller systems. I had some rock rubble and grew chaeto in mine.

What size tank are you planning on using it on?

[BIGTEXT]

This would be installed on a 55 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump (no room for a refuge down there).

[Sugar Magnolia]

Go with the largest one that will fit on the back of the tank. http://www.marinedepot.com/miscellaneous_cpr_aquafuge_refugiums-ap.html

[FranktheTankTx]

I ran one on my 54 corner for nearly a year. I grew chaeto out the wazooo in that thing. I put about 6" of sand & cheato - a couple nassarious snails & one hermit. I had pods growing all over the place in there.

May I suggest something? Don't buy the acrylic stands & light. Because as it stands up - it bleeds light over into the DT. I ran my HOB Fuge on opposite light cycle - so it was never fully night time in my DT. Instead, I suggest purchasing a Current Satellite PC fixture & sit it directly on top so that no light spill occurs.

Overall, they work very well.

[BIGTEXT]

So if its on the back of my tank am I going to have any problems? I wasnt sure how often I would need to get into the refuge.

[Zebodog]

You'll need to access it at least every couple of weeks to prune back your macro-algae.

I also agree with what's been stated: don't waste your money on the "special" light and stands. I use a clip on desk lamp, and small 6500k spiral CFL bulb.

I got about 4" sand, some rock rubble, some species of dwarf caulerpa, an unidentified seaweed species and chaeto. Since I keep a pretty low flow through the aquafuge, I like to reach in and rotate the chaeto every few days. I find that after about 2 weeks the chaeto is packed like a brick and needs pruning along with the caulerpa.

It's a good unit - albeit a little pricey for what you get. You could probably construct an identical unit for half the price if you had the skills and inclination.

[reeftanknewbie]

I am using the largest one on my 55 gallon with great success. Growing a lot of Chateo in it. I bought a cheap clip on light at Lowe's with a 6500k florescent bulb.

[Felix T Cat]

When I had my 40B set up I bought a used CPR hob fuge with the skimmer included. Used a cheap clip on light and 6500k spiral light. Had about 4" of sand in the bottom and some rubble rock. Chateo grew like mad and the skimmer worked reasonably well.

[KeysGeezer]

I have the medium CPR on the back of my 90gal fowlr with the light that comes with it. True, light does leak over into dp but the fuge pumps out the pods and chaeto grows like weeds. I even have a mangrove growing in there.
The only maintenance is trimming the chaeto.
I am very happy with the performance.

[gdsmith56]

One of the LFS' that I visit had one set up on a tank and it was for sale - since I had been looking at them anyway, I bought this one. I think it's the medium size - 21" and it fits across the back of the 29g tank. It came with 2-3" crushed coral, a small ball of chaeto, and about two dozen mangroves. Like others have noted, I added a clip-on light from HomeDepot w/ a 6500K bulb. The chaeto has blossomed to the point that I have cut it and added to the fuge on my 65g tank, and the mangroves have all sprouted and half of them have also been moved to the 65g tank.

Although I have the occassional appearance of red-slime algae, I have no algae to deal with in the aquarium.