Planning on adding a fuge...

So I have never kept a fuse long term, I had set up with my 120, didnt keep for long. biggest issue was didnt have the room, the 120 is only 36" x 24" and my sump was about 30" x 12". my fuge was infront of the sump, so when I needed to get to my skimmer I had to remove it (unions), I always had water mess ect...
I have now relocated and have a room for equipment, total system volume is about 400 gallons now.
-is it better to have deep or shallow?
-same flow through whole thing or better to have it divided and have one side slower one faster?
- output side plumed back to sump or directly to tank?
-what kind of lighting, regular bulb, halogen, t5, twist bulb, or led... I have a couple AI sols laying around, as well as halide and t5
- dsb? how deep?
-mud?
-any other plants?
-any live rock?
-clams?
-inverts?
-size suggestion
I used to light oppsite my DT should I stay with this?

thank you
Tim

 

I would have less flow through the fuge and return directly to DT. (pods bypass filters in sump) I would have around 4'' sand bed without the mud. LR and macro of your choice. If you have an AI laying around I would try to sell it, but if you do not want to I would use on to light the fuge.

 

What do you want the fuge to do? Reduce nitrates? Grow Pods? Be a second display? What do you want the sand bed for? I need to know more to answer your questions.

 

I would like to grow pods, add more volume to system for stability, nitrates have been no problem yet but always a concern.

Have also thought about some seahorses maybe portioned of for something. What would purpose of DSB be?

 

If you are going to use the DSB, it should be very fine sand and a low flow over it. If you just want an inch or two for critters, that is a different issue.

 

The theory for the DSB is to reduce nitrates. It would require a sand bed deep enough to have an area of low oxygen, hence the use of fine sand should help toward that end. From what I've read, the DSB only works to a small extent to reduce nitrates. Water changes are still better for that purpose. I've elected to skip using sand in my fuge and just going with rock and rubble and macro to encourage pod population. My goal is to reduce maintenance and provide a source of live good for the tank. I'll just take care of nitrates with water changes.

 

Adding a refugium to my tank was the best thing I've ever done. Ever. In the near future I'll do a write up detailing my set up so people can learn from my experiences. The purpose of my refugium is both as a nutrient export and for pod production. I've been able to zero out my nitrates and phosphates even though I broadcast feed my 55 reef tank once a day.

What I use:
20 gallon long fish tank
2 × (60 watt 6500 k CFL bulb from lowes)
3" of Fiji Mud
3 lbs of Rubble Rock
300 to 400 GPH pump
4 species of caulerpa macro algae
Chaeto macro algae
2 turbo snails
2 emerald crabs
18 hour On/ 6 hour Off Light cycle. (Sometimes 12/12 depending on PH)

It'll take about 2 months for the refugium to mature to the point of being great at nutrient exporting. The pods will be there in number after 3 weeks or so. Their larvae will be swept into your DT. Expect for nuisance algae to bloom in it and live there permanently. Leave the nuisance algae alone in your refuge. For whatever reason nuisance algae only grows in my refuge and stays out of my display tank. The snails are in my refuge are there to eat the nuisance algae further helping to complete the nutrient exporting. The emerald crabs were banished to the refuge after munching on my corals. However they seem to be extremely enthusiastic with the banishment as they fit right in scavenging in the refuge. Once every other week I trim back the macro algae by pulling it out by hand. I then take the macroalgae to my LFS where I get store credit and buy more corals/sea salt/fish...

This is sustainable reefing. I have stable water parameters. Healthy growth. Easy maintenance.

 

Out of curiosity has this information helped anyone? I've done a good bit of studying to back up my refuge methodologies so I'd like to hope my work has helped to improve responsible reef keeping.

 

Out of curiosity has this information helped anyone? I've done a good bit of studying to back up my refuge methodologies so I'd like to hope my work has helped to improve responsible reef keeping.

I'm in the process of cycling a 120 with a 25 gallon fuge. Seeing this post is timely since I still haven't figured out how I'm going to use the fuge. My goals are very similar to what you've accomplished. So yes, this post has helped someone. Thanks.