Refugium

Hey, I'm thinking about putting a refugium on my 72 gallon bow front salt water aquarium. Now I'm trying to decide if I should go with a pre-made one from AquaLine / Hurricane Aquatics (Aqua Line 90, Storm 90), or if I should make one myself? I was wondering if anyone had some pictures of their own refugiums they made or use or any kind of advice/ information on the topic.
Thanks
Tom

 

i dont have pics right now but making one is easy and cheap. there is some good threads around here that talk about sumps.

 

Hey 72RunningBlue,
I just made a fuge and i would love to share! ;D here is a pic..




This is a 20L It's not very hard to make it's modeled after Melevsreef.com - DIY Glass Sump & Refugium
Most questions you might have are answered at that site GL and if you have any questions you can't find please don't hesitate to ask

 

New Refugium

I had this one built - pic is fair via iPhone - it is a 30g tank with 4 compartments with a AquaRamero C Skimmer hanging on the left side. I just got it set-up on 8/8/10 and know little about what to do next with it in terms of lighting and residents. My hope is that it will assist me with converting my main tank into a reef tank as it was FOWLR before. The 2nd pic is what my main looks like today of course there's nothing in it except one clownfish and a few hermits and snails. Looking forward to some input as to what my next steps should be.

 

Sump and fuge are the easiest things to make. Check craigslist for the biggest tank you can fit underneath your dt. You will need 4 pieces of glass cut to about 75% the height of the tank. Get some aquarium safe silicon and have at it. Everyone has different ideas as to dimensions for the sections. I've built a few and have worked flawlessly. I can post pics if you want. Don't waste your money on A prebuilt sump system.

 

i built my own. it man not be as good as a prefab but its waaaaaay cheaper.
3reef Forums - Bunner in my blog there are some pics of it.

 

Under my stand i had room for a 10g, but my fuge is a clear tupperware box i put on blocks so that it sits high bove my sump. I took a hole saw and a bulkhead to one side, t'ed off from my return (i put in a manifold that also goes to my reactors) and the fuge gravity flows into my sump. Its done wonders for my system!

 

Refugium Beginning

All righty - history set-up/installed 30g fuge on 8/8/10 for a 75g FOWLR tank with the intent to convert to reef. When can I expect to see the benefits of adding the fuge to mix? At 35 days (I know still an infant) all I see happening is the growth of green and red algae developing in the fuge, which has a chaeto in it. Frustrated and somewhat inpatient, please advise of whats to come if anything.

 

I build my own sump/fuge as well. Very pleased with it.

+1 on getting a cheap aquarium off CL....

M

 

check out this thread on design http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/help-fuge-build-93400.html

first pic is my sump the day before I finished the Fuge in the chamber on the right, the chateo was then moved from the return section to the fuge, which also includes a 6" DSB for Nitrate removal.




The second pic is the basic design of the sump/fuge