View Full Version : Ideal refugium
WESTIE
04/14/2015, 07:17 PM
]I will be adding a stand alone 20 gal refugium to an existing 50 gal sump with a 72 Gal display tank. This will be reef with several fish. The question,
What is the ideal most effective set up for this arrangement concerning, sand, live rock,algae to grow for PO4 removal,lighting,water movement, any thing else I did not mention.
Thanks in advance for your expert suggestions.
d2mini
04/14/2015, 08:00 PM
Is nutrient removal your main goal?
It was for me so i simplified it as much as possible. I have a 22x22x24 cube that has nothing in it but a ball of chaeto and it's lit by a 150w HPS grow lamp. The flow through the refugium is from right to left and keeps the cheato rotating and suspended. The cheato goes from softball size to beach ball size in a matter of a few weeks.
There is no sand to collect junk, no rock for the cheato to snag on.
CHizer
04/14/2015, 08:01 PM
I used always used cheato and live rock rubble. Just about any cheap lighting will grow that stuff. Use a fairly low flow. Just water you're moving though it. No extra powerhead or anything.
d2mini
04/15/2015, 06:08 AM
Rubble just traps detritus and gives the cheato something to get caught up on.
Pods will thrive in the chaeto ball so the rubble is not necessary.
Any cheap light will grow anything, but any good light will grow it faster. Faster growth = faster nutrient export.
Go to the marijuana forums and see what they are using for lighting. ;)
As to the flow, it doesn't matter where it comes from but if you can get it to tumble/roll you will have an advantage. First, it keeps the cheato lighter/expanded, allowing light penetration deep into the center. This is important as it gets larger. Two, like a rotisserie chicken, you are getting light to all sides, and again helping light to penetrate through to all areas. And third, when it sits still, it's prone to getting other nuisance algae growing on it.
WESTIE
04/15/2015, 12:39 PM
Nutrient removal and pods are the main goals for this refugium
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.