Display refugium ideas

[goodtimes]

I have a spare 20g tank and I think I want a display refugium. It would be a stand alone skimmerless, sump less tank. I was thinking of using a couple small powerheads, a heater and compact fluorescent light. I would like a diverse group ag macro algae and maybe add some pipefish once it gets going. I have some more research to do on stocking. Any body have any suggestions or would like to share a similar tank?

 

[ReefFrenzy]

I did the same set up with a 40B. Lowes makes a steel shelf that was the perfect size and I set it up next to my 90 Display Tank. I drilled it for a corner overflow and used a MJ 1200 in the sump of my stand to pump water UP to the Fuge and then let gravity drain it back into another chamber of my sump. I just used CPVC to make a return "spray bar" with holes drilled in it to provide nice even flow across the fuge. It has worked out perfectly and I also used the fuge to house a dwarf lion, mantis shrimp and other cool critters that I didn't want in my 90 Reef.

I bought a nice brown pleated curtain to use as a skirt around the tank and install it with velcro to dress it up.

I say go for it!

Good luck,

Larry

 

[goodtimes]

In my thinking I would think maintance would be less for this type of tank. Water changes should be minimal since the algae is using the nutrients. Am I on the right track with that thought?

 

[ReefFrenzy]

In my experience I still ran GFO and had to do a WC about once a month. I also am a heavy feeder and put more food in the tank than I probably should, so my nitrates would creep up some weeks and then fall back down. I like the added water volume and the ability to house critters in the Fuge and make it a centerpiece all its own. My Macro was growing like crazy under the LED lights, and I would discard about a third every 6 weeks.

IMHO, I would still perform water changes just to export nutrients and also replace trace elements and minerals.

Good luck and post pics if you do it so we can follow!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Once your sump was full of algae it would help your system to go wtihout maintenance. It would all depend on what size your DT is. If your using a 125g DT and a 20g sump, no, it won't let you go without doing maintenance, its not going to be able to grow a big enough colony of plants and algae to remove it all. Unless your running a very low nutrient tank to begin with, most don't.

 

[goodtimes]

This will be a stand alone tank and not connected to the display.