What size of refugium do I need?

[Lynn]

I'm thinking of ordering a 18"lx12"hx4"w hangon refugium by cpr (thought I'd hang it on the sump) would this help me out at all on my 180 or is it so small that it won't do any good at all.thanks Lynn

 

[Anonymous]

Will you see a huge noticeable difference in the tank? Probably not, but IMO even a little refugium is better than nothing and the the 18" AquaFuge is a reasonably sized unit.

 

[Reefscap]

Lynn, YGM

 

[SPC]

Lynn, are you sure that you can use this type of refugium with your sump? Will you be able to hang it low enough into the water?
Steve

 

[Lynn]

SPC...I'm not sure?? never actually thought about that. Just assumed that it would?? I though I'd hang it on the side of the sump, but the water in the sump is only 4" or so deep? would this work?

 

[texman]

I think that hanging the refugium on the sump would defeat half the purpose of the refugium. Generally, refugia are designed to gravity feed water back into the main tank so that small critters are not chopped up by the impellers of a return pump. I have a 20g tank as a refugium on my 600 and it grows lots of calerpa which I harvest and use as fertilizer for my tomatoes. I figure that removing all that calerpa must be removing some organic stuff which my skimmer is missing.

 

[esmithiii]

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I think that hanging the refugium on the sump would defeat half the purpose of the refugium. Generally, refugia are designed to gravity feed water back into the main tank so that small critters are not chopped up by the impellers of a return pump.

I have seen plenty of life inside my skimmer during cleaning so I would think that plenty of life survives the trip through the pump. My refugium is part of the sump.

Lynn, why not convert part of your sump to a refugium?

Ernie

 

[Lynn]

I don't have enough room in the sump for it. So I thought on the side would be good?? thanks

 

[squeezix]

I have this refugium, Lynn. I'ts water level is about 3" higher than any tank you attach it to, but you will need water up to at least 2" from the top of the tank you hang it on unless you want to do some modifications.

 

[Anonymous]

Real simple modification to hang it n the sump, basically just need to plumb an extension from the pump to the refugium and just take the elbow off the downspout so that it drains straight into the sump.


Pump impellers don't kill plankton, that is a myth so it's not an issue with this installation.

 

[whusband]

i am very limited in space under my 55. currently i have a sealife systems sump in there, which is no where big enough for a refugium. so i measured the remaining space and had a tank designed for it. it measures 24*9*17. i'm picking it up tomorrow. it has a bulkhead on one side to separate the return pump from the substrate. i'm really looking forward to getting some flora and fauna action going on down there

 

[EmilyB]

Lynn, IMO, I would get your tank up and running and matured before worrying about keeping yet another segment of it in sync.