Display->refugium->wet/dry?HELP!!!

[bon_jon11]

I was wondering if I can go from my main tank to a refugium connected to a wet/dry, will it work ok? My local pet store says I should go with wet/dry to refugium but I want to save some space considering that my tank is only 18 gal. Help is needed!!!(I was thinking it doesn;t really matter)

[Ray1214]

Well as far as nutrient export it works fine. However if you want the benefits of providing pods for your critters, well the wet/dry filter and pump will probably shred any of the pods that make it to your tank. So it really depends on what you want to do. I agree with the pet store that the most optimum way is the have a refugium overflow into the display tank with the display tank feeding your sump (I don't use wet/dry, just a sump, with live rock and skimmer) and it pump into your refugium but if you for nutreint exprot it will work just fine.

Ray

[Sprayin70]

i do not know what a refugium is?

[Ray1214]

A refugium is simply a place of refuge where macro algaes and "Pods" (copepods, ampipods, mysis) can grow in relative peace. They are used for both nitrate reduction (the plants grow sucking up extra nutrients in the water) and for food for the corals (the pods feed the corals and fish like natural plankton)

Ray

[Sprayin70]

so is it a seperate tank in relation to the main one?
thanks

[Cookie_Monster]

It can be, or it can be a hang in.

[dwall174]

THIS link should help out. It explains how a typical sump/refugium works!

[ckreef]

I do disagree about the pump shredding pods.

Most pods are way small and wouldn't get shreded by the pump. A few of the really big ones might. The biggest concern would be not having the pods go into a skimmer cause they will definatly get skimmed out.

My big system is plumbed with the refugium going into the sump and then pumped up to the tank. I have enough pods where I never feed my two fish and two shrimp.

[Ray1214]

Originally posted by ckreef
I do disagree about the pump shredding pods.

Actually I used to think the same way but someone had remarked to a thread when I was building my refugium about the centrifigual force in a pump and most pods are not the sturdiest of critters. A rock or sand may stay in one piece but something like a "sandflea" I would give perhaps a 5 percent chance. But that is not to say that shredded pods aren't just as good as the live stuff and you are right there is a finite chance that some will make it. I am just trying to give that fish store that orignally gave the Thread starter some crediability. The best set up for a reef that I have seen and I have personally used was a design that I found on Darren Baucom's Refugium page. Where there was a small pump in the main tank feeding a refugium , that located above the tank and it was gravity fed back into the tank. He grew the red and green chaemotherpa or something like that and could witness the pods dropping into the tank.
But at the same time I have seen refugium setups alike don's and I think he has one of the most expert setups I have ever seen and I know his main tank is fed with pump.
Dang, I almost sound like I have clue. Gonna have to fix that.

Ray

[Ray1214]

Originally posted by Ray1214
Actually I used to think the same way but someone had remarked to a thread when I was building my refugium about the centrifigual force in a pump and most pods are not the sturdiest of critters. A rock or sand may stay in one piece but something like a "sandflea" I would give perhaps a 5 percent chance. But that is not to say that shredded pods aren't just as good as the live stuff and you are right there is a finite chance that some will make it. I am just trying to give that fish store that orignally gave the Thread starter some crediability. The best set up for a reef that I have seen and I have personally used was a design that I found on Darren Baucom's Refugium page. Where there was a small pump in the main tank feeding a refugium , that located above the tank and it was gravity fed back into the tank. He grew the red and green chaemotherpa or something like that and could witness the pods dropping into the tank.
But at the same time I have seen refugium setups alike don's and I think he has one of the most expert setups I have ever seen and I know his main tank is fed with pump.
Dang, I almost sound like I have clue. Gonna have to fix that.

Ray

Dang forgot the part of the skimmer. I agree on that, but I prefer my refugium on a seperate system. I guess since I was worried that turnover in my sump is several times more than I wanted in a nice, lazy refugium.
Ray

[bon_jon11]

Thanks for all the help. If anyone has any other suggestions please post. I tried to set up my tank to wet/dry sump to my refugium. It is not really . . . "secure" The wet/dry's input works by siphon and as well with the output right now. The output siphons to a refugium that pumps back to the main tank. Few problems, pump wasn't that strong to pump fast enough, dont like the siphons causes to many variables, looks sloppy, and tension rising btwn my friend and I while making it. I thought I might go old fashioned and do the wet/dry alone and the refugium alone. If anyone can suggest any ideas on how to do the refugium set up, it would be great. (Should i use a siphon for the water down and a pump up or what?) Thanks everybody!

[Ray1214]

On the refugium go to: www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/ 3389/reeftank/refugium.html

I used his suggestion and built a display refugium above my main tank with a syphon down to the main tank (drilled out) and a pump in my main tank.

RAy

[ckreef]

Ray I do agree about the "sandflea" sized pods --- BUT --- most pods in your system are way smaller than that. Sand grain sized at best and those just go for a ride in an amusement park when traveling from the sump to the tank. --- There are also alot of pods even smaller that would require a Magnifying glass to see.

Basically I have seen setups of all different styles and all the tanks still had a good pod population regardless. (unless of course there was something major eating them)