What Size Refugium?
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Mr Miagi
Veins are flowing with SW, now going back to FW!
It would surfice, but what do you plan to do with it?
Its going to be hard to have a layer of substrate, some rock rubble and then grow suitable quantities of macro-algaes suitable for decent nutrient expoprt in that size tank. Besides, after factoring in the water displacement of all that substrate etc, your left with very little water volume.
IMO, a fuge that size, dealing with that size tank isnt really worh it. It might suit a nano, because it would be potentially doubling a 5 gallon nanos volume, but its only adding less than 5 gallons to a 55 gallon system.
As big as you can fit in your cabinet is usually the go. What do you plan to keep in the 55? Fish only or a Reef?
Its going to be hard to have a layer of substrate, some rock rubble and then grow suitable quantities of macro-algaes suitable for decent nutrient expoprt in that size tank. Besides, after factoring in the water displacement of all that substrate etc, your left with very little water volume.
IMO, a fuge that size, dealing with that size tank isnt really worh it. It might suit a nano, because it would be potentially doubling a 5 gallon nanos volume, but its only adding less than 5 gallons to a 55 gallon system.
As big as you can fit in your cabinet is usually the go. What do you plan to keep in the 55? Fish only or a Reef?
You got a point, 5 gallons isnt compared much to 55, but the thing is i plan on getting an HOB fuge and i cant see the side of my tank supporting a 10 gallon fuge....can glass support that kind of weight?
I plan on having some macro algae in there not really counting on growing pods colonies there because since there are pods in NYCs water supply ill replenish the colonies everytime i do a water change....
I would install a sump with a fuge and skimmer and everything in there but the tank is going to be in my livingroom and it would be an eye sore... But if worst comes to worse ill build a sump that fits in the small under compartment of the stand.
I plan on having some macro algae in there not really counting on growing pods colonies there because since there are pods in NYCs water supply ill replenish the colonies everytime i do a water change....
I would install a sump with a fuge and skimmer and everything in there but the tank is going to be in my livingroom and it would be an eye sore... But if worst comes to worse ill build a sump that fits in the small under compartment of the stand.
Mr Miagi
Veins are flowing with SW, now going back to FW!
A 10 gallon HOB? Im not sure there is such a thing is there? Or are you going to DIY?
I would NOT do a 10g HOB fuge. Thats gonna be clear over 100lbs of weight and a lot of that will be torque force instead of compression force. The glass itself can support the weight, but the seams might slowly bow and split over time.
Great Lakes
Always do right, not popular...
OK I guess it is up to me this time to have the differing view from the others. Just to keep your options open...lol
Refugiums started not too long ago as smallish tanks just as you have mentioned with a 4.5 gallon. If this is what you have, make it useful.
A refugium by definition is simply meant as a refuge for pods and delicate creatures to flourish without the trauma of the predators in the main tank. Originally fed by a small pump, it was placed higher than all else and an overflow back to the main tank allowed the "critters' to randomly find thier way back to the display tank to supplement the dietary needs of your stock.
Over time, the bigger is better crowd felt that a refugium ought to be a massive undertaking and started large debates on putting them under the tank and whether or not pods and such would survive the trip through the pump up to the display tank.
I find this sad because how cool would it be to have the little fella out where you could see it and all the creepy crawlies growing in it.
I say do it. Start with your small one. You can always add a bigger one later. It is all mad scientist stuff anyway. The more pipes and hoses and lighting and electrical you have run...the better...
GL
Refugiums started not too long ago as smallish tanks just as you have mentioned with a 4.5 gallon. If this is what you have, make it useful.
A refugium by definition is simply meant as a refuge for pods and delicate creatures to flourish without the trauma of the predators in the main tank. Originally fed by a small pump, it was placed higher than all else and an overflow back to the main tank allowed the "critters' to randomly find thier way back to the display tank to supplement the dietary needs of your stock.
Over time, the bigger is better crowd felt that a refugium ought to be a massive undertaking and started large debates on putting them under the tank and whether or not pods and such would survive the trip through the pump up to the display tank.
I find this sad because how cool would it be to have the little fella out where you could see it and all the creepy crawlies growing in it.
I say do it. Start with your small one. You can always add a bigger one later. It is all mad scientist stuff anyway. The more pipes and hoses and lighting and electrical you have run...the better...
GL
Rafael Dilone
Fishaholic
Well here are a few refugiums. They are at great prices. I will put the websites below
http
/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=10667&Ntt=refugiums&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...=1&N=2004&Nty=1
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...=1&N=2004&Nty=1
http
/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=10667&Ntt=refugiums&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1http
/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...=1&N=2004&Nty=1http
/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...=1&N=2004&Nty=1I was looking at the refugium from the second link, but i ended up building a sump with a 15 gallon fuge which i have no doubt will serve the tank well.Well here are a few refugiums. They are at great prices. I will put the websites below
http
http
http
Hey, GL! I got my 75 GALLON refugium in my basement fish room so I see it all the time. And I can personally and without any doubt whatsoever confirm that critters can survive the trip through UV, past skimmer, through pump, up pipes and out the return nozzle unscathed (or, at least, still alive).
I know this because I saw with my own eyes a little, miny brittle star (the ones with the spindly legs, not the asterina sp. that sit on the glass), pass through the overflow on the fuge and into the sump. 2 hrs later, looking at the display, I saw it pop out the nozzle! He bounced down the glass to the sandbed, and scurried underneath. 5min later he wiggled a leg out, looked around to make sure the radiant wrasse was nowhere in sight, and scurried to the rockwork never to be seen again. I have to assume he has taken up residence inside the large, zoanthid-covered fiji rock into which he disappeared.
Large is an issue of water volume, of course, the larger the better. More water makes for more stable environment and all. I think the 4gal thing is small. Someone once said to me that a fuge that is less than 15% the volume of the main will not grow enough macro to be able to outcompete undesireable algae in the main ... that was MY motivation for adding a fuge, not so much the "pod farm" aspect, though the two go hand in hand (pods eat waste, bad algae doesn't grow). Then again, large not a goo didea if you are hanging it off the edge of a 55gal tank! Those weight issues are obviously relevant.
But a fuge buried in a cabinet never to be seen? Have to agree with GL. My favorite part of the hobby is watching the pods, worms, and other critters. What a waste never to be able to see them in their spawning environs!
I know this because I saw with my own eyes a little, miny brittle star (the ones with the spindly legs, not the asterina sp. that sit on the glass), pass through the overflow on the fuge and into the sump. 2 hrs later, looking at the display, I saw it pop out the nozzle! He bounced down the glass to the sandbed, and scurried underneath. 5min later he wiggled a leg out, looked around to make sure the radiant wrasse was nowhere in sight, and scurried to the rockwork never to be seen again. I have to assume he has taken up residence inside the large, zoanthid-covered fiji rock into which he disappeared.
Large is an issue of water volume, of course, the larger the better. More water makes for more stable environment and all. I think the 4gal thing is small. Someone once said to me that a fuge that is less than 15% the volume of the main will not grow enough macro to be able to outcompete undesireable algae in the main ... that was MY motivation for adding a fuge, not so much the "pod farm" aspect, though the two go hand in hand (pods eat waste, bad algae doesn't grow). Then again, large not a goo didea if you are hanging it off the edge of a 55gal tank! Those weight issues are obviously relevant.
But a fuge buried in a cabinet never to be seen? Have to agree with GL. My favorite part of the hobby is watching the pods, worms, and other critters. What a waste never to be able to see them in their spawning environs!
75 gal refugium?! wow lol.......About the viewing of the fuge i wouldnt have agreed with you untill yesterday when i recieved my live sand.... I was shocked by the emmese diversity! It was really so amazing, and yeahh why would i ever wnat to keep that stored away where i cant ever see it! Its going to be under my stand so when i open the door ill get a nice view into the fuge. Thanx for the advice everyone!
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