refugiums common?

refugiums common??

I have noticed that most reefers have a refugium.....is this a "must"? I've been out of "reef" keeping for a while but when I was keeping a reef - lots of high qualify live rock, live sand (sand beds) and very good skimmers with good lighting and water movement were the main stay. I guess I'm showing my age here but I would like some thoughts on these methods.

 

I would say that you are correct. I used to have a refugium and would have one again if I thought I needed it. Currently im running just live rock, no sand and a skimmer for filtration. Its a giant skimmer compared to the tank.

 

Hey local Cincinnati reefer here! Check out cincyreef.com for the local Cincinnati reef club.

Yes I would say you assumption is true.

 

I'm afraid I'm looking pretty silly on the forum..I posted the same threat twice, couldn't figure out how to ask a question.... I will definitely check out the cincinnati site.

 

Your recipe is just fine. Nothing out dated about it. A refugium is a refuge free from predation for pods to grow. The space has become a catch all to put macro algae for nutrient export and a DSB for denitrification.

I have never heard any sort of number that suggests you should have X number of square inches of DSB for X size thank. So if you have a sand bed in the main tank, I do not know how helpful one is in a refugium. although it does provide habitat for critters. I have seen a DSB of 3" or more be enough. Mine was 3" and it bubbled N2 all the time.

While a refuge is cool for pods, it does seem they grow anywhere, and while we see them easily in the fuge, I have no idea if just as many are in the DT.

That leaves us with nutrient export. Marco algae is pretty darn good at it. The only thing that might be new to you is bio pellets. Same thing as carbon dosing. (sugar/vinegar/vodka) The bacteria take up nitrate and phosphate as they multiply and then are removed by the skimmer for "export". So bio pellets are gaining popularity for ease of use and lack of serious draw backs like vodka dosing, and a fuge gets less needed. In fact if you have very clean water it may be darn near impossible to grow macro, or you may be limited of one or the other N/P.

So a fuge isn't a "new separate thing" that does something different... just a place in the sump to do various things, but they can be done by other things, and it is certainly possible you have no need to do those things. As always in this hobby "it depends".

Don't be afraid to ask questions. This is a great site. You won't loose any fingers.