Want To Get A Refugium For Pods

[DanMan092]

Hi, I am currently in the middle of setting up a 50 gallon SW tank. I am using an old 20 Gallon High for a sump. The only problem is, the protein skimmer and pumps do not leave enough room for an in-sump refugium. I am getting the tank drilled for 3 holes. I am using the two sides for intake and the middle for return. I could always use one for a refugium intake/return, but how would I do that? I was also looking at the CPR AquaFuge Hang-On Refugium, but i would have to put it on the side of the tank, or else i could not access it. Would I have to manually take the pods out of the refugium, or would they just get sucked up. Here is the site

And if anyone has any experience with this or similar models, please feel free to share how yours worked out. Can you put live rock in it? How much until it is in danger of breaking and falling off? Where did you get yours from? Did you order the light especially for it, or did you let it sit under the light of the main tank?

 

[Tiggs]

Hi, I am currently in the middle of setting up a 50 gallon SW tank. I am using an old 20 Gallon High for a sump. The only problem is, the protein skimmer and pumps do not leave enough room for an in-sump refugium. I am getting the tank drilled for 3 holes. I am using the two sides for intake and the middle for return. I could always use one for a refugium intake/return, but how would I do that? I was also looking at the CPR AquaFuge Hang-On Refugium, but i would have to put it on the side of the tank, or else i could not access it. Would I have to manually take the pods out of the refugium, or would they just get sucked up. Here is the site

And if anyone has any experience with this or similar models, please feel free to share how yours worked out. Can you put live rock in it? How much until it is in danger of breaking and falling off? Where did you get yours from? Did you order the light especially for it, or did you let it sit under the light of the main tank?

CPR fuges are very simple- water is pumped in, water overflows back out. pods will find their way through the overflow- they need whatever in them to obtain the growth of what you want- some maybe some LR, some sand, ect. My only issue with them is they are small and ugly.

as an alternative.....i built an over tank fuge - 3ft long 11" deep 6" wide - its on a shelf over the main tank and looks great...just looks like another fish tank. Water is pumped in at 10X the fuge voloume per hr and overflows back to the tank. I have LR, various types of sand and some macro alage- its lit on a reverse cycle to main tank and has the effect of reducing nitrates, providing O2 generation at night and lots of pod life for my mandarin.

CPR is great but DIY can be better!

T

ps- prob with in sump fuge is the pods go via the pum to the tank......debatable as to how good this is for the pods! (overflow allows live and well pods to drop in the tank)

 

[Michael Roth]

For a 50 gallon, just grab an ac500, gut it, throw some aragonite and some macroalgae of some flavour in it, put a clip on flourescent on it, and you are ready to go :> Works great, pods are livin' large.

 

[DanMan092]

Michael Roth, if you could maybe elaborate on your ac500 fuge, i may be interested in that.

Is this the ac500?

 

[Michael Roth]

That is indeed the AC500. Or 110, or whatever they call it this week

The setup is simple. First, throw everything that goes in the media basket in the cupboard, you don't need it. Next, throw a bit of aragonite sand in the media basket, say 2 cups of it. Take care not to get it in the impeller portion on the left side, it is well blocked from the media basket so it should not be hard to do. Fill the media basket with water from your tank, and toss a fist sized chunk of live rock in the media basket. Add the macroalgae of your choice, put a small flourescent light over the media basket, and the pods will flourish.

 

[steelhealr]

Michael's 'DIY' suggestion is excellent and quite popular. My only addition to it is that some people sometimes use part of the basket (with the holes) to create a baffle to the inflow...MR..have you had any problems related to high flow into the AC 'fuge'area'? SH

 

[Michael Roth]

not at all, however, I use caulerpa, and it is notoriously tenacious when it comes to clinging to rocks. the pods get about a quarter inch before they go over the side.

 

[Lynden]

I have a few pieces of caulerpa and this type of refugium sounds great. The problem is that i do not have an AC500, i have an AC300, will mine still work? and I plan to put 15 watts of light on it. Is that too much? I believe its a 18000k bulb, and it causes virtually no algae. Would you mind listing any differences of an AC300 fuge compared to a AC500?

Oh, and P.S., there is two filters rated 70 gallons on my 48'' 55 gallon, ones an AC300, the other is a whisper filter. Is there anything i should do with the whisper?

 

[Michael Roth]

I have a few pieces of caulerpa and this type of refugium sounds great. The problem is that i do not have an AC500, i have an AC300, will mine still work? and I plan to put 15 watts of light on it. Is that too much? I believe its a 18000k bulb, and it causes virtually no algae. Would you mind listing any differences of an AC300 fuge compared to a AC500?

really just the size of the media basket and the impeller size, making it rated less GPH than the 500. It will work fine. I have refugiums from the wee lil ac mini to the 500. As to light, I use 7000k reading lamps that clip right on, but I see no reason why yours won't work providing you don't get it too close to the caulerpa

 

[Lynden]

Coolness B)

Ill do it right now

 

[Lynden]

There, all done. Does it ever look nice

 

[DanMan092]

That was quick! Any chance of some pics?

 

[Riley]

Heres a few pics ive found on the internet of what they look like to help anyone out.

and..

and..

and..

 

[Lynden]

Sorry guys a ) my camera sucks b ) i cant find it and c ) its program is not installed yet.

When those things are corrected, then sure

 

[JJ1234567]

I am looking at setting up my new tank and would like to do it right, right down to the fuge (dream of keeping a mandarin some day). Anyways. I like the sound of this "tank" above the main tank. How does the overflow look? how does it work? how does it fit with your lighting fixture? do you have a picture? PM me or something. Thanks!!@