Your Refugia Advice is much Needed, Please...

[Guest oracleoca]

I am interested in setting up a refugia for two reasons:

 

1. raising pods for a future mandarin

2. growing Chaetomorpha for nutrient export

 

Here is my dilemma, possibly:

 

I have a 50 gallon display with a built-in overflow and live rock which the volume is essentially ~40 gallons and I have a 13 gallon sump. So my total water volume is ~55 gallons. I only have so much room in the stand to fit a refugia and I want to know from you if it is worth it. To the right of my sump underneath my stand, I can fit a refugium with the dimensions of 7" w x 12" d x 18" h. With the plumbing involved, I will have a maximum volume of ~5+ gallons. I plan on putting my left-over live rock rubble (maybe a quart) in the refuge as well.

 

So, what do you think? Please advise a newbie!

 

Thanks

 

Janie

[Jarosh]

If space is tight, there are some decent hang on back refugiums, that have some decent water capacity.

 

Otherwise I would remove your current sump and get a larger container to convert to a sump/refugium. This is how I run. It is split with once section holding the skimmer and pumps while the other section holds sand, LR rubble, cheato.

[Guest oracleoca]

I would love to have a hang-on but I have an acrylic tank that has the braces. Are there any that can be used with an acrylic tank?

 

Janie

[GaryL]

JMsAquarium has a little critter keeper that is modified to sit on top of his canopy and seems to work great. i have a fuge in my sump on my 29g i have a modded 20t that has cheato in it. on my 150g i have a 75 fuge in another room right behind the tank. but not everyone has the space. if i were to put one under the tank i would setup a 55g i think that would fit under there.

 

the critter keeper on top is a great idea since most of the pods wont get scrambled in the pump on the way out. you can do it inexpensivly(cheap) put a lights of america par 38 bulb from home depot on top with some cheato and BAM! great pod and cheato growth. im sure i left something out. so HTH.

 

Gary

[fishface]

I second the over-tank unit. I have a mud sump will macro but will make an over tank one shortly.

Someone else just posted on this. Davelyn315 has made a combo 'fuge/surge device that is great...Look for that posting or contact him.

 

FF

[JMsAquarium]

As Gary mentionned, I have a little critter keeper on top of my canopy. It's a 3 gal or so plastic thingie.

 

It is fed by a minijet 606 pumping from inside the overflow, up to the fuge. Idrilled a hole and put a bulkhead and PVC pipes for the return to the main tank. The the water flows back to the tank by gravity.

Flow is gentle but enough. Lights is a energy saver bulb from HD. I have plenty of pods and larvae flowing back to the tank without being chopped. It works really well and I am very pleased by the pods reproduction rate.

[steveoutlaw]

There is also the option of using a hang on refugium but having it on your sump. this can save you space and still give you all the benefits of the refugium. Just a thought.

[Caribbean Jake]

As I recall, you had a small area in your sump that you could turn into a small refugium, have you though of adding some rocks, mud, and caulerpa in there and see if you get a pod population started?

 

Also, Steve's idea is a possibility. There are several sizes of refugiums maybe one can fit under your system and hang from the sump.

 

as an apart. I am sorry I have not had the chance to pick up my left behind tool. I will make it over next week if you are home, just let me know when. Also, how is the tank and aquascape doing?

Jacob