How big should your refugium be?

The refugium should have STRONG lighting, good flow, and should contain a macro like Cheato which is fast growing. The faster it grows, the more nutrients it will remove from the system. My last system was a 200g display, large sump, a 40b frag tank, a 25 gallon tank with a couple mangroves, and a 45g refugium.

What size refugium do I need for a 30 gallon tank?

Refugium / Sump kit is for a 29/30 gallon Long aquarium (30.25″ x 12.5″X 18.75″). Kit includes: – 3-Baffles (11.00″ – 6.00″ water level) skimmer/refugium, bubble trap, return pump section. This kit is very easy to assemble; all that is needed is aquarium safe silicone* and a 30 gal High aquarium.

How many gallons is a refugium?

A basic rule of thumb is to change the refugium water volume in one hour (i.e. for a 20 gallon refugium, the water flow should be 20 gallons per hour (GPH). You can put your skimmer(s) (if you’re using them) into your refugium if you’re using a sump pump refugium.

What is the difference between a sump and a refugium?

Sump is the tank under your tank with all your stuff in it. When u add a section with some algae and some light and a few rocks it becomes a refugium. The terms are often used interchangeably, since many sumps have sections that serve as refugiums.

Should refugium be before or after skimmer?

A protein skimmer is designed to remove organic waste “before” it has a chance to break down into phosphate and nitrogen compounds. Essentially we want to remove the compounds of fish poop and uneaten decaying foods as small particles or resulting dissolved organic compounds.

Do you need a protein skimmer if you have a refugium?

I recommend a skimmer as well. For a refugium volume plays a role. So if you have a good volume, then its fuge with a very good light.

Should I put live rock in my sump?

It does not need lights but you are better off leaving the rock in the display area. Live rock in your sump had the tendency to collect detritus and may become a nitrate issue down the road if not kept clean.

Can a refugium be placed next to a main tank?

Most agree that placing the refugium as close to the main tank as possible is the way to go. Many aquarists have simply set a 10-gallon aquarium on a table next to its big brother. This works, but requires a water return pump unless draining back into a sump or main tank.

What kind of lighting do you need for a refugium?

It’s better to have a proprietary lighting system designed strictly for the refugium. A 6500K and a mono-phosphor 7100K blue provide nice lighting for a tank this size. One that’s recommended is the Energy Savers Unlimited (ESU) Coralife bulbs or similar OSRAM brand of lighting.

Where does the water come from in a refugium?

Time to make a point: The water entering the refugium should come from below the main tank’s water surface—not from the overflow—if so equipped. Why? Surface water is skimmed from the main tank into the overflow.

What kind of rock do you use for a refugium?

You can use live aragonite sand; however, there are many sources for sand as well as live rock. Place a few pieces of rock rubble from your main tank into the refugium. Once again, if you’re using the main tank’s filtration, biological considerations are not necessary. What About Lighting?

How big should your refugium be? The refugium should have STRONG lighting, good flow, and should contain a macro like Cheato which is fast growing. The faster it grows, the more nutrients it will remove from the system. My last system was a 200g display, large sump, a 40b frag tank, a 25 gallon tank…