Refugiums: Yay or Nay?
 

There seems to be a few differing opinions on refugiums. Some experts say they're awesome to have, but only if they're big enough. Others say there's no point. What are your experiences? I don't seem to have a need for one today. But I like the idea of growing macro alage and critters for a mandarin or other cool fish.

I'm not expert but I think mine helps keep the water clean. I have a pretty big one, I'd say 12x10x10 packed with cheato. I trim half of it out every month or so and it grows back quick. Its teaming with life from pods to little star fish. So I keep the thing going...

Yay. I always have part of my sump converted to being a refugium with some chaeto, other macro & live rock (rubble) for extra biofiltration/nutrient export & pod production to add live food into my display.

I think part of the reason for mixed advice is the term refugium means something different to everyone. Deep sand bed, macro algae, live rocks, mangroves, etc...

I see the benefit to have macros and some extra live rock. IMO, not alot of people grow enough to make a difference though.

If you do Chaeto, make sure to give it enough room to tumble. Youtube it.

In order for me to answer this question it would have to be more specific. "A refugium" could refer to quite a few different methods. What is the main purpose you want a refugium for? Generally though, I'm not a big fan.

As long as you have the right "goals/expectations" for your fuge they are awesome

I you want it for nutrient export having a 10"x10" section in your sump covered will not do it for you
that goes for same if all you want to is have a safe haven for pod growth to feed a mandarin or other finicky fish you won't need a 50g section to achieve that

i have a small 10x8x14 section with some of that miracle mud topped with some sand few pieces of small rubble and cheat growing that i cut every month or so back down to a baseball size, lit by a par38 bulb opposite of the tank

Works wonders for me its also kinda cool to watch the crazy life in there mandarin and the leopard wrasse are happy all day and i never have to worry about stable pod population

IMO, a well thought out reef aquarium should never require the services of a refugium. This off the back of the hundreds of setups I've down over the years.

I don't really have a reason for a refugium. I guess what's driving it more than anything is, "hey, I have a section in my sump for a refugium. maybe I should put something in there."

I like the sounds of "nutrient export" but I'm not sure if the section is big enough to have much of an impact. It's a 12.5"x14.5" section on a 150g display. Moreover that's probably not big enough to grow a sufficient amount of critters to feed a feed a mandarin.

I think I'm answering my own question as to whether or not I should get one going.

I'm in the same boat, I have a section of my sump that's been empty since the start of the tank. I can't decide what I want to do with it. I don't have a light either so if I want to grow cheato I'd have to get that as well.

Question : for feeding a mandarin do you guys take the pods out of the fuge or just let the return pump shoot them up should they fall in the return section?

Regarding the pods, my understanding is that only the larva will go through the return pump and into the display. However fish eat the adults - and they're too big to go through the return pump, so they need to be fished out manually.

The larva will grow in the display tank and eventually become tasty morsels if they have the required nutrients in a safe place inside display tank.

The more I went down the pod/refugium wormhole yesterday the more I realized that the easiest way to get enough stock is to have a tank dedicated for them. I don't think I want to do that right now.