Refugium ideas

[Turbonutzz]

Hey so new to this forum and was just wondering what you guys think of putting a refugium behind the Nuvo 38G tanks. The tanks are really nice and I love it, but there is really no room for anything. I was looking at it the other day and it seems like this would be a perfect spot, but never had one on my last tank so not sure. I would add a small light back here and some sand and rock along with a ball of cheato. Do you guys think this will work and actually be effective? Or is it too deep? thanks any advise or other ideas are appreciated.


Tank by turbonutzz, on Flickr
By the way this is a stock photo, don't have a heater back there.

[Cliff]

It could work. I have read about many people using HOB refugiums like this one. Just make sure you have the lighting on a revers schedule from your main tank lights in order to help stabilize your pH

If this is a option for you, a sump with a large refugium compartment would be a little more effective as you could grow a lot more macro algae in there. More algae will lead to better water quality

I have also moved your thread to the salt water section so more people with experience may find this thread and hopefully offer more opinions

[glarior]

I would check into a UAS (upflow algae scrubber) They have been great for small spaces. All you need is some knitting screen, air pump/air stone, 'zip' ties and a light (660nm LED or sprial light bulb), maybe some reflective material (not required) There is also a pre-done kit for sale now but you can make one for way less.

[Cermet]

+1 for glarior; I use one and it is the best filtering system I've ever had - so small that a modest piece of wood hides it. My unit would easily fit in a 5 gal and still leave 95% of the tank volume but it handles my 75 gal (with a canister filter!) tank fine.

Your pictured system looks fine - the more algae, the better the system works but also, the algae MUST be cleaned out weekly so access is critical.

[Turbonutzz]

Hey thanks for the advise! Looked it up and it seems easy enough to make. Not quite sure what its purpose is though, Just to be clear, the algae scrubber builds beneficial algae to help breakdown nitrates, extra food in the water correct?

[Cliff]

Yes, that is correct. Whether you are growing macro algae in a refugium, or algae in a algae scrubber, you should be achieving the same thing provided both are done right.

My personal preference is growing macro algae in a sump so I get the additional benefit of added water volume. My nitrates (in both of my tanks) never get about 2ppm and my phosphates are undetectable by my test kit. But this is only one key part of a over-all set-up. Other factors, besides macro algae and/or a algae scrubber also have a influence here.

If you add a algae scrubber, just make sure you size it correctly to your set-up.

[glarior]

Hey thanks for the advise! Looked it up and it seems easy enough to make. Not quite sure what its purpose is though, Just to be clear, the algae scrubber builds beneficial algae to help breakdown nitrates, extra food in the water correct?

+1 to Cliff

Plus, since the algae grows on the screen it will not grown in the display tank (if screen is sized correctly)

The living organisms that grow in fuge will still grow and pass though the scrubber.

If you build one post pictures!