Advice? refugium

I like to get a variety and see which ones respond best. Cheato always works best for me when I get it to slowly tumble. But I am having excellent growth with dragons breath and another red algae I forget name but grows great

 

I love refugiums, and if you do it right, they can be just as interesting as your tank. Refugium means a place of refuge, an area where plants and animals can grow and flourish without fear of predation. Plants can grow and export nutrients. Pods, mysids can grow, eat and break down waste, and feed your tank.

I like to start with a bed of sand, and then have a pile of rubble in the middle.

There is a type of caulerpa (not grape) that looks really cool, and grows well.

Then I have a pile of rubble that I can add some mangroves to.

Good inhabitants for your fuge is pods, mysid shrimp, and peppermint shrimp. Peppermint are prolific egg producers and will continuously feed your tank with nutritious shrimp larvae that is excellent food. Plus they will eat any waste that comes through.

I have even seen a pair of egg laying clownfish put in a fuge.

 

Very informative stuff @xroads. Thanks for the input. I learned too.

 

I have never used it, so I cant say too much about it. It seems unfitting for a reef tank to have something like to me. I have had great luck sticking to the basics.

Do plenty of research and try to find people that have used it for longer then a year.

 

I have done the rubble and light refuge with the cheto, and rubbble

 

One other important aspect of refugiums.

As night falls on the reef tank your ph starts to fall. Photosynthesis raises PH, so as your corals, and the surface rock algae goes to sleep, photosynthesis stops, and ph falls.

Many people run their refugiums at night to help keep their ph stable.

 

Xroads do you suggest high flow or low flow in a fuge? I have heard both sides say each is better.

 

My personal opinion is definitely not high. I like medium flow, enough to keep things moving. Otherwise you end up with dead spots.

Also, wide shallow fuges are best. Lots of surface area, although that can be a challenge under a stand.

 

Many people do with success, but I think most life forms need a daily dark period. Example peppermint shrimp will release its larvae shortly after dark. What if you dont give them that dark time? I run mine 18 hours on, 6 hours off when my aquarium lights are at its peak.


*****Disclaimer****

These are my own opinions, dont take them as the 100% truth or right or wrong. Read others opinions and make an educated decision.

 

I agree I run 4 hour dark period in mine and low to medium flow through fuge to keep everything flowing without dead spots.

 

How about adding some pulsating xenia to refugium? they like nitrates too.. I have done it myself but im considering it. Any suggestions?

Terry