How important is a Refugium

[chucky2g]

I'm setting up a 100 Gallon reef with I have a tidepool II for filtration I was wondering how important is it to add a refugium?

thanks
chuck

[Jflip2002]

I think a refugium is a choice rather than an necessity. Some run skimmers, some run fuges, some run both. You will at least need one of the two though.

[Twitterbait]

Go with a big skimmer. it will be much easier and more effecient in the long run.

[kyrie_eleison]

My reef tank uses a skimmer. My fish only tank uses a refugium. You would think I'd have it the other way around but...not really. The only reason I don't run a skimmer in the FOWLR-S tank is because of the noise or lack of. And besides that, I only run the skimmer in my reef tank for 8 hours during the day when I'm not at home.

There are actually fewer fish in my FOWLR tank than there are in my Reef tank. My 2 cents but like someone mentioned earlier...it's all about preference.

[BadOleRoss]

I run both in my 220 but they are both housed in the 70g sump.

[dngspot]

I would not have a display tank with out a refigium.

[JustDavidP]

I have refugia that are NOT EVEN connected to displays.... refugiums rock. I use them to re-seed systems, raise pods and mysid for the seahorse fry. Heck.. I see more "wonders" in my fuge than my displays.

Dave

[NYer]

Refugiums are real cool but not necessary.
If you change the water enough you dont even need a skimmer !
although I recommend one

[Geoff]

i feel refugiums are just a waste of space and effort.

no really i will tell you how i feel about them.

they do not do anything usefull for the system. they actually degrade the water quality by maintaning a high phosphate level. it is better to just use a sump that you can siphon out weekly instead of keeping the area full of somthing that leaks phosphates, uses up large amount of O2, and will need constant watching to keep from crashing the entire system.

i am not interested in keeping fish poo as a pet.

Friends don't let friends run refugiums.

G~

[Hendersonracing]

I have a skimmer and a refugium....I like the idea of a refuge to keep ph stable...use reverse lighting on it also...it also is a great place to host copepods and small critters that get ate in the main display! but like everyone said its a preference ....I also have a 75 that has no refugium and only a skimmer....good luck!

[Hendersonracing]

Originally Posted by Geoff

i feel refugiums are just a waste of space and effort.

no really i will tell you how i feel about them.

they do not do anything usefull for the system. they actually degrade the water quality by maintaning a high phosphate level. it is better to just use a sump that you can siphon out weekly instead of keeping the area full of somthing that leaks phosphates, uses up large amount of O2, and will need constant watching to keep from crashing the entire system.

i am not interested in keeping fish poo as a pet.

Friends don't let friends run refugiums.

G~

lol

[saltysupply]

its really just personal preferance...if you have the time to take care of it and work it into the system then they are good....But I agree with twitter and like the simpler method...live rock and a monster protein skimmer

[tashier]

I don't have one. Too much work IMO.

[seasalt dreams]

I had one, just got rid of it.

[Fly Guy]

re·fu·gi·um /rɪˈfyudʒiəm/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ri-fyoo-jee-uhm]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -gi·a /-dʒiə/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-jee-uh]. a dirty nasty area in which people with too small of skimmers and not enough positive flow to suspend organics for their skimmer to permanently remove incorporate into their systems to SUPPOSEDLY eat up more of these excess nutrients missed by their skimmer than it releases