Do I need a Refugium?

Hello everyone,
I want to set up a 60 Gallon tank, with a canister filter and protein skimmer. The Canister is a Renea xp3 rated for 175 Gallons, more on it on the Filtration section. I'm not really sure what a refugium is in the first place. Do I need one? Anyone give me an explanation of what one is in a way its easily understandable.

Thanks,
David

 

A refugium is a place to keep living biological media; remote to the display tank. Sand or mud, plants, macroalgae, copepods are common refugium livestock. Some even use the refugium to house a fish or a hitchhiker nuisance species found in the DT. Try a search on the 3reef forum under refugium, and you'll find plenty of useful information.

And, hey! Welcome to 3reef, David!

 

refugium = plants do your filtering in another tank

not always needed, hobbyists have found many different ways to have a successful tank without one/

 

I think I understand. So a sump /refuge combo with fuge on one side and skimmer on the otehr and return to main tank in the middle, is that enough filtration? Or does a fuge basically just replace the need for stuff like Bio Balls/Bio Wheels?


David

 

Live rock is your bio filter in a reef tank. Read this. It will answer some of your questions.

 

I think fuges are a nice add on if you have the room. Put a ball of chaeto in with a light over it and it will help reduce your nitrates.