Fuge or Wet/Dry

I already posted the same basic post in the newbie area, but got little response, so thought maybe in this area I'd get more. I'm just trying to understand what the fuge is, what it does, if it replaces the wet/dry or goes with it and just the basics. I've gather a little info from reading other posts, but still confused. I just recovered from a high nitrate problem (like in the 100+ ppm range) and have heard the fuge is good for keeping those levels down. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

Basically fuge is short for refugium. A refugium is basically a seperate area connected to your tank where you can grow macro algae, pods, microfauna, etc. without predation from fish or other critters. The macro algae will consume nitrates, phosphates, and other nutrients thus removing them from the water column.

Does your current wet/dry contain bio balls? Bio balls should only be used on a fish only tank. You really don't need them with a reef tank. Bio balls are a breeding ground for nitrifying bacteria which produce nitrates. If you are using bio balls I would remove them (assuming you have a reef tank).

 

Additionally, I have a Deep Sand Bed (DSB) in my fuge. It is about 4 inches deep...some say at least 6 inches deep. This helps out with the reduction of nitrates...the final stage of denitrification. It will exhaust over time, that is why I have it in my fuge....when it starts to fail, I can shut it off from the rest of the system, rip it out, and replance sandbed and water before hooking it back to the main tank

 

Birdlady, are you saying that the dsb will exhaust over a period of time? and if so, how long of a time. and by sandbed are you useing livesand in your fuge?

 

HI Tresguey!

I am saying (now let me be careful here...) that IMHO, from what I have read, Yes . The sandbed will sink nutrients to capacity and then no longer work. Symptoms may be increased nitrate, cyanobacteria, algal blooms.

The problem with having it in the main tank (IMHO) is that when you try to remove the old sand, you are very likely to run into pockets of Hydrogen Sulfide gas which is fatal to the system. SO, if it is only in the fuge, which can be shut off on its own, cleaned out, sand AND water replaced in the fuge, then hooked back up again, I feel I have the best of both worlds. Plus, I don't like the look of 4 to 6 inches of sand in my display tank.

Time span is dependent on how stocked the aquarium is, plus I plan on using a denitrifying coil to hopefully extend the life of my rather small DSB. Probably a couple years? :-/

Yes, I used live sand, but only because I got it free where I got my rock. I believe you can use dry sand for a DSB.

You can do a search here on DSB discussion, and on the home page, 3 steps to a reef aquarium discusses pros and cons of it. Do your own research and make your own decisions because you will have to live with the results ;D

I think I looked into sand for about 2 months before I decided what to do and I had a major headache!!!!!! But I am confident in my decision and I know what I need to do to maintain my setup

 

Birdlady i was not trying to put you on the spot. but im sure alot of other people have the same question i do. and i know everyone has there own opinion on keeping a reef. myself, i ask alot of questions and make my own choice on how i want to do something. and i am thankful for your input as well as others that come along!!!! and i have not heard of a dsb becomeing exhausted. i am glad that you let me know that it may happen. honestly i had no idea. thank you for your help. i frequent this site often because of the many honest and helpful people that use it. it's not like a commercial link that only has one opinion. Kudos to 2reef and all it's members!!!!

 

oops i meant 3reef, slip of the hand.

 

Here is a good article I found on DSB's.

http://www.keysmariculture.com/articles/article2.htm