Do I really need a Refugium??

Do I really need a Refugium??

I am new to the reef world and want to know if I really need to maintain a refugium or is my RedSea Max 250 engineered so that, from a filtration standpoint, it is not necessary.

My goal is to eventually have an aquarium that focuses on Inverts with a few small fish to complete the aquascape. I have 120 lbs. of live rock (extra filtration), tank specks call for ½ that amount, I maintain a small “hospital” tank and I am disciplined enough to complete daily, weekly, etc. tank maintenance and check all the chemistry to keep things in balance.

I have no feeling one way or another regarding a refugium, to me it would be just another “wet box” I have to worry about. Help!!

 

Do you need a refugium? No, IMO. You have about 2lb/gallon live rock, which is plenty. This will house bacteria that will help you eliminate your nitrates as well as other nitrogenous wastes (ammonia, nitrite). What would be more helpful, IMO, is to have a protein skimmer. This will help eliminate wastes that your liverock may be unable to deal with. With a protein skimmer and liverock, you should be able to keep your water parameters in check, more or less.

However, if after a while you discover that your nitrate levels are rising, you may consider adding a refugium with macroalgae to further help you reduce your nitrates.

 

You don't NEED one but having one definetely has its positives. The reason for bulding a fuge usually is to grow algae in it for filtration or to provide shelter from predators in the DT. So if you have efficient filtration and don't have a mandarin or another fish that requires pods or a sea horse then you probably don't need a refugium.

 

He already has a skimmer

 

If you want pod protection and something else cool to look at go for it. I just set one up on my 1 year old tank last week. My PH was 7.8 all the time.. now I'm buffered big time with chaeto (macroalgae) and 24/7 lighting. I stare in my fuge just as much as my display tank now..lol. Love watching the pods attack a pellet! Worms and micro brittle stars galore!

 

I'm not familiar with the Red Sea surface skimmer - is this a full protein skimmer? I know that some companies make "surface skimmers" as products that skim the surface of the display tank just to filter out what floats to the surface....but they are not true protein skimmers.

In any case, if this is a full protein skimmer, forget my post But if it is simply a surface skimmer, I strongly suggest a protein skimmer.

 

I believe that a refug has more pros than cons. If your not having any issues with your paras( No3&Po4), I dont see why you should get one.


Luna

 

Unless you have some money to burn for cool factor.. or even a preventative.. just incase poo happens.. literally. I believe the Red Sea setup has a surface skimmer.. although it might come with a protein skimmer.. how good it is not sure.

 

I recently saw someone that had a refuge OVER their RSM 250, water was pumped up into a small tank (20 long I think) and then it had an overflow back down into the RSM, an interesting idea for a tank like yours. He made it into a display of its own.

But to answer the question, you dont need one. But they help.

 

Thanks for the info -- the RSM 250 has a very large surface skimmer integrated into the system, I know it works well because because of the very stinky, brown effluence I empty from it each day.