Refugium Question

[Mace Windu]

What exactly is a refugium and what's it used for?

Could I add one into my sump design?

 

[ChrisRD]

What exactly is a refugium and what's it used for?

Basically an area of your system where critters can multiply with no natural predators thereby providing a natural food source. In addition, many people also use the refugium area to grow macroalgaes for additional nutrient export.

Could I add one into my sump design?

Sure, you can use dividers/baffles to section-off part of the sump for this.

If you do some searches on the board you'll find a lot on this topic.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

Another way to think of a refugium is as a "living filter". They're often the place to establish a deep sand bed (for denitrification), and the macros Chris mentioned are indeed a form of filtration.

 

[Anonymous]

I have recently purchased a fuge also...im awaiting funds for LS but i have the macros(prolifera and Gracillia) I have them isolated in my main tank but it doesnt seem to be helping with Nutrient exportation....Im hoping when i move all that into the fuge, the combo with LS will create my BIO/Living filtration

 

[Anonymous]

Why buy live sand? Get good quality live rock, place it with the substrate, and let it seed. It'll take a while to kick in/seed, but it still works.

 

[Richison]

Well buying live sand or getting some from an established tank is a good way to jump start the process.

 

[Anonymous]

True dat. I'm exceedingly CHEAP, though, and don't see the point in paying for something I can get/make through other means. <shrug>

 

[Mace Windu]

Thanks guys.... I have seen one before but just didn't realise what it did. So basically it's for propogating a live food source plus extra fitration at the same time!?

 

[Anonymous]

YES! You've got it now.

 

[Anonymous]

its a 12x12x14...dont have a whole lot of room for LR...Besides i wanna do it right the first time...I think LS will be the way to go...If i had a larger fuge definitely LR its cheaper for the most part..

 

[dwall174]

I’m new to this board! When I set up my refugium I used that bagged sand from my LFS (CaribSea Arag-Alive) I know that a lot of people say that it’s not really live sand! But that’s all I could get locally, It worked fine! Might have taken a little longer than if I could have gotten some true live sand but it did work. I had bunch of pods & other little critters in about two months.

 

[dwall174]

Mace Windu
HERE'S a link that has a lot of information on refugiums. I don't know if I would want all that weight sitting on top of my tank! they can be alongside or even under the main tank. Any way this should give you some type of idea of how they work.