I just set up my sump for a refugium, i need some suggestions and help

[michael99420]

the refugium is 15 inches long, 11 inches high, 12 inches deep.
As far as sand bed i was thinking 4-6 inches deep. I would prefer on the 4 side because i dont have a ton of height. If i do 6 it leaves me with 5 inches for plants and such. I also dont want to under do it.

As far as plants i was thinking cheato, but would be open to a few other recommendations. as far as livestock down there what should i get?
also looking for a recommendation for lighting for it...

thank you in advance

[shrimphead]

maybe some nassarius snails, to keep the top of the sand aerated, cheato is a good algae to grow because it's easy to prune and keep in check idealy if it was me i would put a bare bottom tank with cheato in with circulation so the cheato is constanly spinning, and you could also use this section as a water changing section then have another section with a deep sandbed with slower growing algaes like the red bamboo type and maybe some feather dusters aswell.

[michael99420]

dont know if this will make much of a difference but the overflows go into the refugium (which i have elbows so i dont kick up the sand bed) and that flows into the skimmer chamber, and then to the pump chamber

[danel]

I have a bare bottom fuge with cheato as well. I just tumble it once in a while

[heisenberg]

For those of you with tumbling/free floating Chaeto, how do you keep it from passing into the next chamber and/or clogging up the return pump? Does it just tend to not pass over the lip of the overflow?

[danel]

For those of you with tumbling/free floating Chaeto, how do you keep it from passing into the next chamber and/or clogging up the return pump? Does it just tend to not pass over the lip of the overflow?

I had that problem before with an old ghetto sump and I just ended up using some black mesh to block the top of the sump so I wouldn't go the the return chamber

[michael99420]

So is the consensus bare bottom or an I going to benefit from the sand? I have no problem either way, I just want it to be as good a setup as possible.

Lighting wise I am clueless, I don't want to over power it.as far as time I plan on running it at night to lessen ph swings, is 8 hours enough or should I go longer?

[michael99420]

also if i have my skimmer after my fuge are any copepods going to make their way to the dt?

[krak256]

i see many people put sand in their fuges. i believe it gives a place for fauna to breed and burrow. unless its a large fuge with 4-6 in of sand, u wont get the benefit of a DSB.

lighting wise, use a 5000-6500k bulb. 8-12 hrs should be fine.

[michael99420]

i see many people put sand in their fuges. i believe it gives a place for fauna to breed and burrow. unless its a large fuge with 4-6 in of sand, u wont get the benefit of a DSB.

lighting wise, use a 5000-6500k bulb. 8-12 hrs should be fine.

how many watts? i dont want to over power it...

[aleonn]

Has anyone tried the JBJ LED refugium light? I figure it would be less heat, and you won't have to change the bulbs (at least for a very long time).

[goochesfish]

I would do bare bottom if I had to do it over again.

[krak256]

how many watts? i dont want to over power it...

id say a 65w bulb should be fine.

[michael99420]

Has anyone tried the JBJ LED refugium light? I figure it would be less heat, and you won't have to change the bulbs (at least for a very long time).

i would love to do any kind of led down there, i dont want any heat from the sump... i would be interested how well they work

[reefgeezer]

+1 Bare Bottom. If you want a deep sand bed, make it removable. A bucket works just fine.

[lolgranny]

5" of sand, snails, dusters, chateau

100w shop light on a different timer from your DT lights. When the DT turns off the fuge light turns on and vice versa.

[LifeAquatic]

1-2" of sand bed. Cheato doesnt have to tumble. 24wt 6500K. Bam, everything you need to know.

[michael99420]

+1 Bare Bottom. If you want a deep sand bed, make it removable. A bucket works just fine.

Why would I want it removable? Is there issues with sand long term?

[michael99420]

1-2" of sand bed. Cheato doesnt have to tumble. 24wt 6500K. Bam, everything you need to know.

so is 4-6 inches overkill?

[Dadekster]

You are getting a lot of different opinions on how to do this because you haven't really stated what your goal of running a fuge is. Are you looking to primarily use it for nutrient reduction, bio-diversity, a place to shelter new arrivals, or even as a place to keep something like a mantis shrimp or whatnot? Once you have a better idea what you want to use it for you'll have a much better idea of how to set it up imo.

[Scuba Steve]

I had that problem before with an old ghetto sump and I just ended up using some black mesh to block the top of the sump so I wouldn't go the the return chamber

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/supersteve13/100%20gal%20reef/DSC02495.jpg

For a light for the sump. Cheap clamp on light from homedepot and the light bulb is daylight 100w 6500k. That will grow Chaeto great and mushrooms just find in a sump/refug.
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/supersteve13/eeeaa3f8.jpg

[Scuba Steve]

I had that problem before with an old ghetto sump and I just ended up using some black mesh to block the top of the sump so I wouldn't go the the return chamber

Put a piece of eggcreat across the baffle to stop Chaeto to pass through!
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/supersteve13/100%20gal%20reef/DSC02495.jpg

For a light for the sump. Cheap clamp on light from homedepot and the light bulb is daylight 100w 6500k. That will grow Chaeto great and mushrooms just find in a sump/refug.
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/supersteve13/eeeaa3f8.jpg

[Scuba Steve]

Never had a problem with Chaeto slipping by the baffle.
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/supersteve13/c47af252.jpg

[michael99420]

You are getting a lot of different opinions on how to do this because you haven't really stated what your goal of running a fuge is. Are you looking to primarily use it for nutrient reduction, bio-diversity, a place to shelter new arrivals, or even as a place to keep something like a mantis shrimp or whatnot? Once you have a better idea what you want to use it for you'll have a much better idea of how to set it up imo.

My goal is two fold, i want nutrient reduction, i also want a more stable tank. i have read that this would help that. I would like some bio diversity and really am looking for the most stable tank as possible. I would like to have a copepod breeding ground because eventually i would like to have a mandarin and not have it starve to death.

The only problem i foresee is that i had to put the fuge before the skimmer and i am hoping that the skimmer will not prevent all of the copepods from reaching the display. I am really looking for some direction for what to add that is beneficial that i may or may not have overlooked. I was going to add cheato and sand and maybe a sifter or two and go from there.

[heisenberg]

Has anyone tried the JBJ LED refugium light? I figure it would be less heat, and you won't have to change the bulbs (at least for a very long time).

I have one on the precut "window" on the back of my Biocube29 for Chaeto (it's growing in a plastic container that I submerge in chamber 2). They are bright and work well for a small amount of algae but you'll probably want two of them for proper coverage in that larger space. Let me know if you have any questions about them..

[heisenberg]

Why would I want it removable? Is there issues with sand long term?

I think he just means so that it isn't in-line or part of your sump. You can make a DSB in a 5 gallon bucket, and just have enough water flowing through to prevent detritus from building up- it doesn't need light. That way you can keep it out of your sump.

[Lyfey]

I just built a refugium also. It is 30"x12"x18" and placed right next to my DT on two salt buckets with the doors from my petstore DT stand placed over the buckets, the braces for the doors fit perfectly on the buckets creating a suprisingly sturdy small stand. I think the tank is a 29 gallon but possibly a 20 gal, not sure, the rc tank volume calculator is not working for me right now. I am also running a mixed SPS/LPS DT 75 gallons.

I am wondering what critters / fish are refugium safe? I plan to put all my hermit crabs in the fuge, so they stop eating my CUC snail crew in my DT. Besides the normal, LR / Chaeto / some sand sifters what is also beneficial?

I was planning on getting another decorator crab for the fuge, is this a go or a no go?

What other kinds of algaes will be beneficial besides chaeto? I am running a 2x 65w CF fixture with one daylight and one actinic running on reverse photo cycle to my DT. I plan on getting another daylight to replace the actinic. I have 1 inch of livesand from my DT and around 30-40 lbs of LR places almost as pillars. I also places some GSP, leathers and shrooms and zoos. Also places a favia / monti encrusting rock in there also, I may place that back into the DT. I wanted to get some LR from my DT into the fuge to help seed any fauna, stars and also coraline. I also added my 2 year old ginopora that hasnt been doing good at all for the last year or so. I was hoping possibly the lower light and the calmer environment would be good for it. for flow I have a new tunze silence pump (the smallest placed in my sump running to a vertical spraybar running around 125-175 gph and a Koralia 4 with the attached flow guide right below trying to make a small gyre for flow.

Are gobies safe for a refugium? Basically I am asking, what should we not place in the fuge that would be a predator to the algae / fauna / pod populations. I know wrasses and mandarins and sand sifting starfish should not go in the fuge, what else though? thanks guys!!

PS: Did not want to hyjack, just wanted to add my input and also ask to keep this forum full of info for further reference.

-Chris

[Lyfey]

I also wanted to mention this would be a Display / refugium with alot of life in the tank. Not 100% intended on nutrient removal, but would love the best mix of the two.