~Wildfire's New Reef ~

[WIldfireGirl]

;) Hi ! I am the new girl on the reef! *laughs* Well I am shooting for a natural approch to a small salt water reef tank. So far things are good But I have a feeling I end up getting more equiptment to run my tank.
I just wanted to introduce my self and any advice on my new reef tank would be greatly appericated. I been wondering about a refugrium system should be the next investment in my tank.....

[zhenya]

Hi WIldfireGirl and Welcome to Reefland!

Refugium is a very nice and useful addition to any marine tank, especially reef tanks. There are quite a few threads discussing this option and you can search this forum using that exact keyword. Also, check our RHO by-monthly magazine as well, where Anthony Calfo discussing best plants life for refugiums.

http://www.reefland.com/rho/1104/index.php
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0105/index.php

[scubadude]

Welcome to Reefland

Are you considering a Hang On refugium or a in-sump refugium. Also is there a main reason why you want a refugium? As a refugium has many benefits IMO.

[kevinpo]

Welcome to Reefland
I highly recommend a refugium as an easy low maintenance way to export nutrients which in turn helps tp avoid unwanted algae in the display tank.

Regards,
Kevin

[Don424]

;) Hi ! I am the new girl on the reef! *laughs* Well I am shooting for a natural approch to a small salt water reef tank. So far things are good But I have a feeling I end up getting more equiptment to run my tank.
I just wanted to introduce my self and any advice on my new reef tank would be greatly appericated. I been wondering about a refugrium system should be the next investment in my tank.....

If you want to maintain a "natural approach" to your tank, why not have your refugium in your display tank? Plant your macro algae in your substrate and anything that you had in mind to grow in the refugium. It will keep your tank beautiful and add the benefits you're trying to get from having that type of sytem outside your tank. While an outside the tank refugium has benefits as I've read over the years, IMO it's not natural...........just another piece of equipment to maintain and someone takes your money, when you can have it in your tank and it looks NATURAL. In the ocean you don't see the reef in one area and the plants in another seperate area.......they're together the way nature intended it to be. You can do the same in your tank and be successful as long as you do regular maintenance. Many reefers think it will relieve them of that very important ingredient...."maintenance"... and you can't get away from that in a closed environment.........that's "unatural". Just my opinion

[dougc]

The downside to growing macros in the display tank is controlling them. Macros can easily get out of control, especially caulerpas and anything else that spreads by runners.

[Don424]

The downside to growing macros in the display tank is controlling them. Macros can easily get out of control, especially caulerpas and anything else that spreads by runners.

Doesn't matter...........they grow at the same rate if not faster in the refugium...................you have the lights on longer therefore more growth............you have to trim them and treat them as another maintenace item whether they're in the display or refugium. They probably grow slower in the display.

[flip_3_6_0]

Doesn't matter...........they grow at the same rate if not faster in the refugium...................you have the lights on longer therefore more growth............you have to trim them and treat them as another maintenace item whether they're in the display or refugium. They probably grow slower in the display.

I would not recomend macro in the display tank. Not only will it take over the tank if not constantly pruned but by having it in a refugium you can run a reverse phot period to help maintain a more consistent pH in the system.

[Reefland]

I totally agree with keeping macro algae or plants in seperate vessels. It is much easier to prune and you have no worries with it attaching to all your liverock and making an unsightly display reef.

[dougc]

I speak from experience when I recommend keeping macros out of the display tank. I have macros in my refugium and it does not stop the macros in the display tank from growing like weeds. It is much easier to prune the macros in the refugium. I just rip out handfuls. There is nothing in the refugium that I need worry about getting overgrown. In the tank, it is a different story. It is a tedious chore to try to remove macros from the live rock and there are some patches I just can't get to, even with tongs, tweezer, and probably even scuba gear. It might not be so bad in a small tank, but in a 6 foot long, 2 1/2 foot deep tank, it is a time-consuming chore.

[miareefer]

Hi Wildfire Girl
A refugium can be a benificial addition to your reef tank best points that come to mind .
1 A sanctuary for copepods and zooplankton
2 A dedicated area for growing Macro Alagae
3 A emergency quarantine tank
4 Observation Tank
5 A increase in total net Volume .
Disadvantages
1 Nil

Good reefing
Mia

[MarinePig]

Just to add to the question about refugiums. Any major difference between hang on and sump ones? I have a wet/dry sump and would be easier for a hang on but I'd like to do it right. Yes, I know apparantly wet/dry's are the best of ideas for reefs but I already bought it and it's in use. Also, what kind of noise issues are there? The wet/dry filter I have right now makes a lot of water draining noise that I am trying to get rid of. Is there the same problem with the hand on refugiums or are they quiet? Thanks in advance.

[flip_3_6_0]

Just to add to the question about refugiums. Any major difference between hang on and sump ones? I have a wet/dry sump and would be easier for a hang on but I'd like to do it right. Yes, I know apparantly wet/dry's are the best of ideas for reefs but I already bought it and it's in use. Also, what kind of noise issues are there? The wet/dry filter I have right now makes a lot of water draining noise that I am trying to get rid of. Is there the same problem with the hand on refugiums or are they quiet? Thanks in advance.

I would shy away from a hang on fuge. Mainly becuase the size limitation and also because with a hang on you are adding another unsightly power head to the tank. I would use an 29gal tank as a fuge, you can find them used all the time and for next to nothing plus it will add a substantial amount of water volume to your overall system and allow you to grow enough macro to make a differance in water quality. as far as macro i would recomend Cheato as it wont go sexual like cualerpa and its good at nutrient uptake.