Benefits of a refugium.....

[The R/C Man]

OK Everyone this is a group project.... I'll start the list....


This is what I can think of....

1. Nitrate reduction
2. Oxygen production
3. PH stability (light opposite main tank)
4. Safe haven for pods etc
5. Algae and pods are live food source for tank inhabitents
6. Phytoplankton production???
7. Increased system water volume

Any more??????

[zhenya]

Greg,

I think if the refugium is large enough and you can pull out lots of algae weekly, possibly PO4 removal with the biomass could be added as well to the benefits. Probably not all that much, but worth mentioning, I think.
I'm also not sure about phytoplankton but zooplankton production by various organisms would be definately beneficial.

[scubadude]

1 creates other biodiversity
2 creates a habitat for unwanted pest such as flatworms, thus keeping
majority out of your main tank.
3 safehaven for frags
4 I personally like staring @ a fuge almost as much as the main tank...so Personal enjoyment too
5 Much easier in the long run than a biowheel or some of the conventional mechanical filtrations that LFS's sale
6 Creating more of an ecosystem thus its environmentally freindly
7 Safehaven for acclimating species

I might think of more later....but thats all for now

[The R/C Man]

Thanks Guys!

Gene,

I read somewhere that a fuge can act as phytoplankton reactor of sorts. I have been adding live DTs to the tank for a while now. Usually after I add it they will adhear to the glass by morning. Recently however they are there about every other day without the addition of the DTs. I do know that phytoplangton can be a problimatic algae and completetely turn a tank green. So they must be able to propigate themselves..... Maybe I just have the right situation.....