You can definitely run a successful reef tank without a refuge, but that doesn't really mean much. We have all seen successful tanks run without protein skimmers, carbon/GFO/other media, filter socks etc... there are just so many different combinations that can work.
- My old tank had a refugium run on an opposite lighting schedule to the display tank. It kept the pH extremely constant.
- Depending on the species of algae you grow, I think even small refuges can remove significant amounts of nutrients.
- They consume CO2 and produce oxygen. Elevated CO2 has been known for decades to reduce growth in aquatic animals, but seems to have only recently started to gain traction in the salt water aquarium hobby as being an important water parameter.
- From a husbandry perspective, if you take care of the refuge it can make a decent place to keep aggressive fish, fish that need to be target fed etc.
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