How do I run a succesful refugium

[cdemoss01]

Hello,
I was wondering what type of light I would need and anything else I might need for a refugium I'm starting one in my Tidal filter cheato to be exact. I've got the room for it.

 

[FUNGI]

what size tank?

 

[cdemoss01]

what size tank?

65 gallon Tidal 110

 

[FUNGI]

gonna need a larger area then a Tidal 110 to make any real impact on your nutrient export on your tank.

 

[scotty333]

You only need a 5$ led 21w 6500k for macroalgaes , run about 12-14 hours a day

 

[cdemoss01]

gonna need a larger area then a Tidal 110 to make any real impact on your nutrient export on your tank.

seriously? I've seen people do it plenty of times...

 

[FUNGI]

I didnt say it can be done.....I said that OP needs area for cheato for a 65G.....

 

[kvansloo]

Cheato will grow under regular 60 w led bulb just get cheap metal cone fixture from hardware store.

 

[GARRIGA]

This was on a tidal 75 with an 18w IM ChaetoMax LED on a 20g that was constantly overfed, no skimmer and no mechanical filtration. Nitrates bottomed out and po4 at 1.4 although topped with hard tap water as an experiment to see if macroalgae removed some metals which it apparently did.

Next iteration AquaClear 110 as it's just easier to function as a HOB Fuge. Light can be placed from behind and avoid that glare in my face. Although this looks cooler.

 

[scotty333]

Cheato will grow under regular 60 w led bulb just get cheap metal cone fixture from hardware store.

60w led? That’s like 340w cfl

 

[kvansloo]

60w led? That’s like 340w cfl

It worked for 10 years

 

[PotatoPig]

What are your goals for the refugium?

There’s nutrient export, but also critter habitat, cryptic sponges, etc.

 

[FUNGI]

This was on a tidal 75 with an 18w IM ChaetoMax LED on a 20g that was constantly overfed, no skimmer and no mechanical filtration. Nitrates bottomed out and po4 at 1.4 although topped with hard tap water as an experiment to see if macroalgae removed some metals which it apparently did.

Next iteration AquaClear 110 as it's just easier to function as a HOB Fuge. Light can be placed from behind and avoid that glare in my face. Although this looks cooler.

yes....but there is a huge difference between a 20G and a 65G. Can OP do it...yes. (and I would have advise using Aquaclear 110...but thats a different thread). Will it make any impact on OP's tank.....hardly.

 

[GARRIGA]

yes....but there is a huge difference between a 20G and a 65G. Can OP do it...yes. (and I would have advise using Aquaclear 110...but thats a different thread). Will it make any impact on OP's tank.....hardly.

But that's also why I'm suggesting the 110. It's more than twice the volume. Plus if OP runs it as an ATS then it will filter much bigger tanks. Fact why I'm first running it that way and BTW, tank size is irrelevant. Amount of food added what matters. Filter isn't removing 65 gallons of water. It's removing mass of food added and either left uneaten or processed by the fish. Why I never look at volume of gallons when sizing filters. It's mostly about the feed input and to some degree amount of fish. That's how fish farmers calculate filter need. Water volume dilutes but in the end it all needs to be processed.

Worse case. Run two but highly doubt that will be needed. Notice how small reactor solutions are relative to size of tank being filtered and why Clear Water scrubbers are based off number of mises cubes.

 

[cdemoss01]

What are your goals for the refugium?

There’s nutrient export, but also critter habitat, cryptic sponges, etc.

Well I wanna be able to lower my nitrates to starve GHA and also heal my LPS they are very unhappy with nitrates but I wanna keep nitrates in the 15 range because of softies and 4 nems.

 

[cdemoss01]

What light would you guys reccomend? relatively cheap I was just gonna buy a 8$ 8 watt submersible hygger

 

[GARRIGA]

Here's a side by side on difference between 70 and 110 size. Although this is an AquaClear similar comparisons can be made with Tidal. Plus these sponges can be stacked making it one very large sump for macroalgae.

I'm doubling on the sponges and will first try growing GHA on top otherwise pot scrubbers and then fall back on loading it with either chaeto for max performance or pom pom just because that I can be fed to the fish and due to structure less likely to fall into the tank. It didn't in my Tidal.

 

[GARRIGA]

What light would you guys reccomend? relatively cheap I was just gonna buy a 8$ 8 watt submersible hygger

Tried the Hygger. It's in my drawer that was so pathetic. Not where one wants to go cheap. Wait on a sale and get something better. Amazon has $25 intercultural lights. Google HOB refugiums and see different ideas. Don't need to go expensive either. The light is the heart of the Fuge. Doesn't have to be pink/purple either. Full spectrum works just fine.

 

[cdemoss01]

Tried the Hygger. It's in my drawer that was so pathetic. Not where one wants to go cheap. Wait on a sale and get something better. Amazon has $25 intercultural lights. Google HOB refugiums and see different ideas. Don't need to go expensive either. The light is the heart of the Fuge. Doesn't have to be pink/purple either. Full spectrum works just fine.

Alright then I will look around.

 

[cdemoss01]

What price range should I go for? Should I go for namebrand or chinese version?