Topic of the Week August 14 - Refugiums

[cracker]

I was ran the light 24/7 until The PH in the fuge thread. I think it was prow who made a good point about pods will come out more in dark conditions. I ran the lights 12/12 untill yesterday when the old light died. I couldn't see any change in the chaeto growth either way it grew very well regardless. I did finally start seeing a few pods in the DT after a few days on the 12/12 light schedule but I had made other changes as well.

[framerguy]

Originally Posted by cracker

I was ran the light 24/7 until The PH in the fuge thread. I think it was prow who made a good point about pods will come out more in dark conditions. I ran the lights 12/12 untill yesterday when the old light died. I couldn't see any change in the chaeto growth either way it grew very well regardless. I did finally start seeing a few pods in the DT after a few days on the 12/12 light schedule but I had made other changes as well.

Changes in the fuge or in the tank? I have still yet to see a pod in the DT but the mandarin is as fat as a butterball, so they must be there.

[cracker]

Originally Posted by framerguy

Changes in the fuge or in the tank? I have still yet to see a pod in the DT but the mandarin is as fat as a butterball, so they must be there.

Interesting! I guess I was expecting to see them in a swarm!. I kept changing the flow rate thru the fuge & pulling the chaeto out more often. I see them in the chaeto & real tiny ones also with the mini microscope.
Your manderin? What's his name again "Pretty BOY" ?

[framerguy]

Originally Posted by cracker

Interesting! I guess I was expecting to see them in a swarm!. I kept changing the flow rate thru the fuge & pulling the chaeto out more often. I see them in the chaeto & real tiny ones also with the mini microscope.
Your manderin? What's his name again "Pretty BOY" ?

Naw, his name is Mandy. That's a completely original name and very masculine for a male I know!

[rmlevasseur]

It is interesting to note that everyone that has posted on this thread is pro-refugium, and yet if you look at the same topic on The Reef Tank boards, most are anti-refugium.

[framerguy]

Being anti refugium makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever. The benefits are plain to see and well documented.

[rmlevasseur]

How important is a Refugium - The Reef Tank

I have a fuge, but I can definitely see a downside. Coral-rich waters are nutriet poor waters, meaning that not much has dissolved in the water and affected the chemistry. Refugiums are the perfect place for this to happen. Detritus does get caught in deep sand beds and chaeto and does break down under the low-flow conditions.

[framerguy]

Originally Posted by rmlevasseur

How important is a Refugium - The Reef Tank

I have a fuge, but I can definitely see a downside. Coral-rich waters are nutriet poor waters, meaning that not much has dissolved in the water and affected the chemistry. Refugiums are the perfect place for this to happen. Detritus does get caught in deep sand beds and chaeto and does break down under the low-flow conditions.

It will only happen if you don't Maintain the sand bed regularly. That means stirring the top portion occasionally (weekly) , AND have animals in the sand bed that regularly stir the sand bed in their foraging habits. Sure, anything we do in our aquariums CAN be potentially bad if neglected. You can't set a refugium and forget it.

[rmlevasseur]

Well, this is in the "topic for discussion" section. Feel free to peruse the thread I included for other opinions. I think their points are well taken. Sure I agree that anything can be neglected, but the question is, given that effort, is a refugium worth it?

There are many many beautiful and successful tanks out there that do not run refugiums. I have also seen some struggling tanks running refugiums. I am not convinced that most fuges are successful in more nutrient export than import. I have run tanks with and without, and really I haven't noticed much difference. Its just one more thing. I suppose this would be more noticeable if I didn't have good husbandry in my main tank though. Then perhaps the fuge would pick up some of the slack from fewer water changes and things like that.

I like my fuge. Its nice to have a holding spot if necessary, it adds more volume to the system, and hopefully gives my pods a place to be happy. But really I doubt it does much in any other regard.

[framerguy]

but the question is, given that effort, is a refugium worth it?

Yes. This is very enlightening to me that anyone (and I don't mean you, but the folks on the link) would even question whether or not they are worth the effort. I don't have the time at the moment to go into it but will later tonight. It's like discussing whether or not sunshine is good for your health. You bet it is, but if you abuse it then you've got trouble.

[rmlevasseur]

I think the folks that are anti-fuge are also the guys that are big on bare bottom and rock risers. They hate any place detritus can collect, and you gotta admit, fuges are perfect for that.

[framerguy]

OK, I'm back...

Benefits of refugia in aquaria:

Adds water volume to the system thereby adding stability. A mishap is much more diluted so the system is less likely to suffer serious damage.

Adds a place for beneficial plants to grow that may be undesirable additions to the DT. Algaes aggressively uptake many forms of nutrients, including phosphates which lessens them as food potential in the DT.

Algaes release beneficial dissolved organic compounds such as polysaccharides, nitrogen, vitamins and phenolic compounds. Many soft corals and filter feeders obtain trace elements this way.

Provides a haven for micro organisms (copepods, amphipods, etc.) production which provides live food for the DT inhabitants.

Not to mention they are just cool to watch. There are many organisms I observe in my refugium that would never be seen in the DT because they would be instant food. Algaes, sponges, crustaceans, worms, you name it.

With enough diverse refugia one could theoretically do away with water changes.

I believe with conviction that refugiums are necessary for true success. I wouldn't try to run a tank without one.

...whereby he steps down off of his soapbox to exit stage left...

[BarbMazz]

Just from reading, but with no real experience, I'm all for refugiums. I can understand how someone who is into the bb look might not like them, however, because of the detritus issues.

I don't care for bb because to me it's just not natural. For me, re-creating a piece of the reef includes the substrate, too, so it has to be sand on the bottom for me.

I agree, Greg, that the refuge is gonna be WAY fun to watch. I may even house a very small species of anglerfish in mine! Haven't decided for sure, but I'm considering it. Still reading up on them, but so far it looks as though it may be viable. Well, I agree with all your other points as well! Hopefully, I'll get some work done on mine tomorrow afternoon and evening. I want to get it up and running soonest.

[framerguy]

Barb, a fuge may be the ideal place for an angler. I think their prey is much larger than copepods, and their camoflage would be perfect in that setting.

[BarbMazz]

Yeah, from what I'm reading it's an ideal setting for them. And I'd have a Creepy Little Guy to visit when I have to be in the basement!

I was reading about them on wetwebmedia and there was someone there who had the setup with an angler in their fuge, and the fish did very well. The wetwebmedia people were all for it, too. Those guys generally seem very, very smart about things. Bob Fenner gave it the thumbs up. If it's okay with Bob it's okay with Barb!