Refugium...or not???

[dakine]

I just got a sump running for my 40 FOWLR (hoping to add corals soon). It's a 10g Amiracle Reef Ready system. I have about 40-45 pounds of LR on live sand, should I make my sump into a refugium? In researching, I found those in favor and those not in favor of a refugium, I'd like to hear your experiences and opinions.
Thanks!!

 

[Anonymous]

Ive never had a sump but had a fuge..(until it sprung a leak) I loved it....Its great for Macros and growing pods for my mandarin...was good for doing that....

 

[Carpentersreef]

I can't think of any reason NOT to have a refugium. The diversity of life, the changes in population of different critters, changes in macro algae growth...ect. I find it pretty fascinating.

Mitch

 

[dakine]

How would you stock it? Live sand, live rock, macros? A combination of the three or all three?

 

[Anonymous]

All three. And if you want excellent information on refugia, get yourself "The Natural Marine Aquarium-Reef Invertebrates" by Calfo and Fenner.

 

[WannaBeReefer]

I just read the book and it has alot of info on that! Great book...

 

[Anonymous]

We're glad you like it.

 

[PeeJ]

What is a good amount of light for say a 10 gallon fuge?

 

[Anonymous]

I thinks its gonna depend on what you plan to keep within the fuge...some people keep corals so you may want higher light output...also ive been told if you keep macros its beneficial to use the process of reverse daylight...example when the tank lights are off turn on fuge lights and when tank lights are on to turn off the fuge......Ive never tried this process just what ive been told...keep the ph spikes to a minimum

 

[dakine]

I've heard about the reverse daylight process and I'll give that a shot. I should be up and running by this weekend.

 

[ChrisRD]

The purpose of the refugium is basically to produce food for the display tank. It also provides a convenient location to grow macros to aid in nutrient export (and the macros also provide habitat for the food critters).

If you're planning to grow macros, I'd recommend just using some type of inexpensive full spectrum lighting - nothing fancy. I've been using a cheap (about $30) 65 watt PC worklight for the past couple of years (the ones Lights of America makes) and it seems to do the trick (my fuge is about a 10-12 gallon partition of my sump).

Putting corals, fish, crustaceans, or any other predators in the refugium would sorta defeat the purpose of the refugium as they will consume a lot of the critters you're trying to cultivate to feed the display tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Chris i agree whole heartedly with not putting corals in a fuge..I know people who have and who am i to tell them not to..thats the only reason i said that..I grew macros in mine and pods as a byproduct...

 

[ndimuzio]

Can someone please explain to me exactly what a fuge is? I have a 73 Gallon reed w/ a 10 gallon sump underneith.. can I use that? What are they used for?

 

[Anonymous]

Fuges are generally used to cultivate copods and macro algaes.....They also act as a form of biological filtration....