upstream refugium recipe questions

Hi there: I have 3 questions.

1. If the primary purpose of an upstream refugium is pods to feed critters in the main tank, then what all should be in the refugium aside from a DSB?

2. When I read about putting fish and other invertebrates in the 'fuge doesn't that defeat the purpose of creating a safe pod environment?

3. Does having macro algae help with nurturing pods? hurt them? compete with them? Is it unrelated but can co-exist peacefully?

thanks very much

 

frogdog...depends on what your refugium is designed to be. most people, space is an issue so you have to multi task. I run cheato &/or gracilaria in refug for PO4 & NO3 removal and they wont hurt pods, they infact create more surface area for certain pods.

so 1. you are half right primary purpose might be natural food source which is a great idea. other purpose would be PO4 & NO3 removal.

2. i wouldnt recommend fish at all, except if you have a decent sized refug, then its a great way to acclimate a new fish to a new environment with out the stress of having to deal with new water, new home, stress from the move and tank mates. you provide exactly that, a refuge for you new fish with a built in supply of natural foods. just dont keep him in there that long., that way you will allow your pod population to bounce back.

3. macro algae will nurture not hurt

... in my opinion.

 

addendum: additionally if you grow gracilaria as well you have another food source for your tangs, that is if you have tangs!

good luck

 

People are just doing the refugiums to death as well working fuge is so nasty looking not much would last long in there but sludge and algae its a swamp and matters not where in the stream it is they always get in and out to the tank.. You will hear and read a lot of dumb A$$ stuff in this hobby some idiot trying to get one up has a dream and then talks about it like it is what he /she is doing .. I simply let my fuge drain over into my sump then anything that goes in the sump at some point will be washed into the pump and up to the tank..

 

Tangster,

Do you have any circulation in your fuge ?? or does it mater at all? I understand the swamp theory and was wondering if any circulation is necessary to sustain anything?

I have a gravity fed inlet from the main HOB line feeding mine and gravity down to the sump from the fuge, its a 1" line feeding the fuge from a tee in the HOB return line , but only about 1/4 full in flow? I installed a Maxjet 1200 with intake ballvalve to restrict circulation in fuge...and not liking it...but thought i needed additional circulation in fuge ?? Sure would like to remove it if no circulation is needed in fuge ?