To fuge, or not to fuge???

[Jnicho]

That is the question...I am upgrading from a 55G with a 55G sump in my basement to a 125RR that will use the same 55G sump.

I currently have a 10G area of the sump set up as a fuge. It has a DSB, a few pieces of extra LR and some Cheato. I like the Cheato for the simple fact that I have a reverse lighting period on the sump and I "think" the Cheato+lighting helps keep my PH up at night. Honestly, the Cheato is growing pretty slowly so I don't really know how much good it's doing. It's been well over a month since I last "pruned" it and it has less than doubled since then.

So anyway...the sump will work as a holding area for much of the rock etc while the new tank is setup. I'm thinking I may want the space where the fuge is currently. I know there are some strong opinions here about fuges (on both sides). Does anyone really think I'll get much benefit from a 10G fuge on a 125+55 sump, or should I just ditch it and be done?

BTW...the display will have a sand bed so the additional sand from the fuge is negligible. I toyed with BB on the display but have opted for a sand bed instead...I know there are opinions on that topic too, but I don't want to debate that part...that decision has already been made for several reasons.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions/opinions.

[trakker]

I too am at this point in my build. Should I or Shouldn't I? Let the debate continue Im gonna tag along for this.

[OneDummHikk]

Ditch it and be done.

[Fly Guy]

whats a refugium??

Oh wait...I googled the definition:



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 in which they can suspend organics for their skimmer to permanently remove incorporate into their systems in an effort to SUPPOSEDLY eat up more of these excess nutrients missed by their skimmer than it releases





Im JUST KIDDING.......kinda. I do crack myself up though sometimes. run on sentence and all

[Debs]

Fly, you crack me up too..........

[Jnicho]

LOL...nice definition...so far I don't see any positive response!

[Jflip2002]

A "clean" fuge with some algae, sand, and rubble rock can help your pod population if you want a mandarin. Thats a positive lol.

[snow_man84088]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

whats a refugium??

Oh wait...I googled the definition:



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 in which they can suspend organics for their skimmer to permanently remove incorporate into their systems in an effort to SUPPOSEDLY eat up more of these excess nutrients missed by their skimmer than it releases

Im JUST KIDDING.......kinda. I do crack myself up though sometimes. run on sentence and all

[chrischris]

id say if you really want one do it
this is one of the topics where theres strong opinions on both sides and theirs no clear winner

[Caball362]

I like the Micro Aglae but then again i am Odd

[Jnicho]

Think I'm gonna try it without for a while and see what happens!

[Mike01z]

I have a fuge but it has no sand and no rocks in it, only chaeto. It seems to work pretty well, I prune it every few weeks or so. And yes I got a big skimmer too a bm200 for a 125gal tank, and I also do 20% a week water changes so how this stuff grows so fast I have no idea but I like it since it can take out nutrients that nuisance algae use.

[Elegance Coral]

Originally Posted by Mike01z

I have a fuge but it has no sand and no rocks in it, only chaeto. It seems to work pretty well, I prune it every few weeks or so. And yes I got a big skimmer too a bm200 for a 125gal tank, and I also do 20% a week water changes so how this stuff grows so fast I have no idea but I like it since it can take out nutrients that nuisance algae use.

Yep. That's how we do it here in Lakeland. We fight algae with algae. Kinda like fighting fire with fire. It works.

[VWD]

I used them for some time and they will work. That is you are using one type of plant life take up excess nutrients before some other algae. I stopped using them, I like the cleaner BB sump.

[Jnicho]

OK...well maybe I'll do just the Cheato without any sand etc...My Cheato hasn't been growing very well lately...I do like having reverse lighting on some Macro for PH.