Looking to add a refugium

melancthon · 02-11-2007, 01:46 AM

I'm wanting to add a refugium to my 55gal FOWLR tank to help with the inevitable problem of nitrates and the like. I'd like to use it to grow some macro (the lily-pad caulerpa type) for the herbivores. How would I even go about starting this? Currently I just have a 350 canister for filtration.

**leebca** · 02-11-2007, 11:00 AM

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

You have several options. You can put a refugium on the 55 very much like a hang-on piece of equipment., or You can build a separate tank for the refugium and employ an overflow device.

The safest configuration is one that won't allow the refugium or display tank to overflow. That is a type of overflow device on the 55 that feeds the refugium. Starting at the refugium: Water is pumped from the refugium into the aquarium with a back-flow device to prevent water from siphoning back into the refugium. The 55 spills over the excess water back into the refugium by gravity. The cycle continues. The refugium in essence becomes your sump and you can think of it like that.

For some specific do it yourself ideas, you may wish to post this in the Do It Yourself Forum here at Reefland.

Typical herbivores are Tangs and Surgeonfishes, together with most large Angelfishes and some Butterflies. Your 55 is unsuitable for any of the Tangs, Rabbitfish, large Angelfishes, etc. I'm unsure what it is you want to feed, specifically, but some types of macro algae used for Tang food are included in this post:
Tang Macro Algae Foods

If you just want to focus on removing nitrates, then you need a 'work horse' macro algae like Chaeto.

If you don't have a skimmer operating, you would want to get one of those before investing in a refugium, IMHO.

melancthon · 02-11-2007, 11:13 PM

Alright, let's change the question around just a bit in light of new information I found out about today...

Through looking around about the forums, and some insight from leebca, I've got a question that's more a request for "Tell me what to do!"

I've always been under the (probably mistaken, of course) impression that I need to have some sort of "real" filter - whether that was a hang-on biowheel kind or a canister or something. In fact, that's why I got _back_ into my saltwater meddling - Goodwill had a Magnum 350 with all the plumbing and unused filters and junk for $22, and my wife let me buy the tank and setup stuff.

Now I've come across a strange situation where some of our friends are willing to just give me their 75 gallon (we think) tank and fluval 405 that they used to use with turtles (yeah, cleaning nightmare there I know). Indeed, my dear wife has even let me look at a nice 110-gallon stand/tank/cover combo at one of the pet stores in the area, provided that we don't have to spend another $200 on a filter (I have to actually _get_ our friends' stuff first, _then_ we'll "talk about it").

Is the fluval an option while we slowly build up a live rock supply? That's what I've been doing with my 55 - 110lbs of rock all at once is just too much for the pocket book to bear (though the $450 for the new tank wouldn't be?) The new tank isn't drilled for a sump, so I would be looking at in-tank or HOB skimmer and the fluval for a bit of water movement.

I'm looking for recommendations/suggestions/opinions/demands

as to what anyone would suggest. My wife may want a clown/anemone eventually, but aside from traditional cleaners (shrimp, snails, no hermits, leebca!

) that would be about the only invertebrate in there. Maybe a chocolate chip - again, a lot of that I'd need more info and suggestions from people.

**leebca** · 02-12-2007, 09:25 AM

You have such high hopes, good intentions, and an open mind that I really hate to be the bearer of negativity.

I think you should get to reading some basics. Not all the guidance can be done from this type (Internet) of media. I suggest you read closely:
Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium
In the above reference will be links to other important posts of information.

It sounds like you want to start a FOWLR system. Buying small quantities of affordable live rock and putting it into the tank as the tank tries to mature is, in my opinion, the exact opposite of the right way to do things. You want to start off on the right foot and let the aquarium mature in order to be ready for marine life. You might also want to read: The Mature Aquarium

I don't understand why, if a person can't afford to start right, that they can't save the money first rather than piecemeal the setup? Anyway. . .

There are multiple types of filtration. The two primary types in a FOWLR system is mechanical and biological. But there's a lot more equipment to consider and you'll want to read the above reference.

Save your money. When you have enough, then buy all the live rock you need. Try not to build a system a little at a time; instead, save your money up a little at a time then buy the system when you're ready, educated, and decided what you want to do. You should understand what role the live rock plays in the marine aquarium depending upon it. You'll find that information and a partial answer to you query about filtration, here: What is Live Rock, Anyway?

The Anemonefish--Anemone relationship is a lot of hype. Unfortunately, it looks 'cute.' Actually, keeping anemones is difficult, requiring special lighting and a more expensive system to operate. Putting a fish with an Anemone is actually detrimental to the Anemone. Hosting a fish is not good for the Anemone; the fish annoys the Anemone. You may want to reconsider this as a goal.

I think you'll find answers to your other questions if you'll read and think about the information in the above first link recommended.

Good luck!

melancthon · 02-12-2007, 12:58 PM

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