refugium benefits?

Hi, I am new to SW aquariums. I would like to know the benifits of a refugium.

Thanks

 

To help reduce nitrates and phos in your system by adding different kind of macros like cheato, more water volume, with a sump a place to put equipment so it isn't in the DT.

 

a refugium is basically a small tank to SLOWLY pass your display tank water through, usually with some cheato, etc to consume nitrates in your water.

 

Thanks, I have a sump now that isnt big enough for a refugium. Can a new sump be incorporated to house one? I see you said SLOWLY and now I return around 400 GPH or would I need to figure out how to incorporate it seperatly?

 

well you would add a line with a ball valve so you could control the flow to the refuge.
Some run it slow others run it fast both have been done with great success. but I think the basic rule is to run 1/10th the water volume of your tank thru it an hour.I run mine a little faster.
If you look in the pics section you will find allot of sump refuguim designs that incorporate both ways, adding it to your existing sump or making a separate refuge.
a good place to start also is here:
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sumps, Part I by Greg Taylor - Reefkeeping.com
they show some sump refuguim designs as well.

 

Thanks for the info and the link. I have been looking at it and it has given me some ideas that I could possibly do.

 

Here is how I added one to my existing sump
http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/step-step-pics-my-diy-fuge-57933.html

 

This should be the link to a picture of my tank. If not I'll try again. It is still a work in progress. But I am trying




http://www.3reef.com/forums/members/yamaharider73-albums-my-tank-picture1791-100-1758.jpg