Refugium Recommendations

[Jaws]

Anyone else?

[kien]

There's Red Algae:



And Halimede:



I'd stay away from things that can easily go sexual on you though, like Caulerpa.



I also used to house cleaner shrimp in my 'fuge because they spawned like bunnies which is great for feeding the tank.

[Reefgoat]

What are your expectations or goals for the Refugium?

[Jaws]

Thanks Kien.

Reefgoat: I plan on having a fairly high bioload so I wanna hit it from every angle for nutrient export including a large refugium. Secondary would be for pods but that's pretty much a natural biproduct of any refugium.

[tim the toolman]

I love caulerpa personally, you do run the risk of it going sexual but I've never had it happen and have ran it for nearly 2 yrs. just have to prune it back every other month

[FishyFishy!]

Originally Posted by tim the toolman

I love caulerpa personally, you do run the risk of it going sexual but I've never had it happen and have ran it for nearly 2 yrs. just have to prune it back every other month

I've read that if you run the lights 24/7 they actually won't even go sexual, which is a bonus.

I don't like Caulerpa because of the risk. I would personally go half tumbling cheato, and half dsb/mud with mangroves. Maybe some red/purple macro.

Halemida is ok, but it sucks up calcium.

[mikeclarke]

Can I grow pods in my sump? I just have a skimmer in the main section and a uv in the final section where the return pump is. I'd like to eventually get mandarins so that I why I am asking.

[FishyFishy!]

Originally Posted by mikeclarke

Can I grow pods in my sump? I just have a skimmer in the main section and a uv in the final section where the return pump is. I'd like to eventually get mandarins so that I why I am asking.

No, not really. You need a dedicated section for a fuge. Do you have another section in the sump? Can't do one in either a skimmer section or a return section. However, if you have live rock in your sump, that will host some pods and such, but a fuge is best for sure.

The idea is that there will be nothing in there to kill, or eat the pod colonies. No crabs, no fish, minimal pumps etc.. Snails to clean the glass, and something to turn the dsb (if you have one) like a star or a cucumber. And some macro for nutrient export.