Do I need a Refugium?

So I've done some quick review to see if I could gather some info regarding refugiums, while there was some great stuff in there it has made me confused!

I currently run a 12 gallon display tank (if I add the refugium that is) and I'm thinking of adding a 10 gallon refugium. Do I need this or can I continue to run without it?

I would add live sand and cheato to it.

Also, I've seen that some people add their heaters and filters to them as well. Is this a good idea?

My last levels were as follows: dkh 10, phos .5, nitrate 5, ph 8, ammonia and nitrites 0

I'm sure there is something out there for me to read but I just couldn't find it....

Any help would be greatly appriciated! ;D

 

Here's a great link for you http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-aquarium-articles-how-tos/all-about-sumps-filters-fuges-79852.html

 

Thank you for the link! Amazingly enough as soon as I posted this I stumbled across that exact same thing!!!! I have no idea how I missed it in the first place!

 

While the refugium is not necessary it does make your keeping much easier specially since you will be increasing the water volume.

 

No problem! That was one of the first threads I hit when I got here since I'd never had a refugium before. I was scared of it LOL. Can't imagine NOT having one now!

 

i just set one up about a 3 weeks ago, and i will never not have a tank without one..increasing water volume, and growing cheato that literally sucks the daylights outta nitrates and phosphates, i would advise everyone to have one on their tank,, it also makes my tank so much easier, i never have to do anything to it anymore...

i also like that when i do water changes i dont have to dump a ton of water into the display and spass out all my fish..fuges are a must i think for smaller tanks but everyone should set one up, its cheap to set one up, or you can buy one already made..

 

Once again the 3reef community comes through!! Thank you all for the quick replies!!!! :thumb_up:

I've learned what seems like a lifetime of information just from reading around! My tank is a much happier place than it would have been had I not joined here!

Sounds like I will be setting up my own Refugium in the coming days! ;D

 

Great! besides having chaeto, live sand, and live rock for help keeping parameters in check, you could also add a small fish or shrimp ;D

 

My refugium helped my tank's overall health immensely.

 

Some people do have "display" refugiums, but ideally they should be predator free so the pods can procreate without being decimated by something eating them.