Nano Refugium - Yes or No

Web2000 · 07-05-2007, 02:08 PM

I'll try not to go on for too long here. I've been away from the hobby for about a year. I had a really incredible 120g reef with 60g refugium, and 2-250w hallides and 2-96w PC's. I live in the Santa Clarita Valley in California and my electrical bills were skyrocketing during the summer. My chiller was running pretty much all day. Even in the winter my electric bills were $150 more than the norm. My wife and I figured that such a large system was costing me upwards of $350 a month including the cleaning service that was costing me $130 per month. So I had to actually pay someone to come in and remove it. The pump and Chiller were drilled through the wall of my house so they could sit outside to decrease noise.

Now after a year, my wife has agreed to allow me to get back in slowly by purchasing a nano that I can completely take care of myself, and not have electrical costs sky rocket. Here's my plan. I'm not sure of the system yet, but it's between Bio-Cube 29, The new JBJ-28 or the Red Sea Max-34. Bio-Cube or JBJ I'll probably go with the Sapphire Skimmer. I know it's made for the Bio-Cube, but I think it fits in the JBJ as well. I'm going to run a 1/15 hp chiller with a heater source as well. I'm upgrading the lighting through Nanotuners.com no matter which system I go with.

Alright so there's the backround, here's my question. Should I run a refugium with whichever system I choose? If so how would you suggest setting it up? My plan is to have a pair of Ocellaris Clowns or Percula's, 1 purple firefish, and 1 Goby of some sort. I may one more fish to that list depending on what I see that catches my eye at my LFS. Of course I'll have many different corals as well. I'll also have a few shrimp, and of course Snails and such for cleaning. I'm going to have about 30 lbs of live rock and sand in the tank.

Sorry for the length, but I appreciate all your help!!
Bill Bowden

lcstorc · 07-07-2007, 09:34 AM

Sounds like you have a great tank in the making.
Personally I love my fuge and would recommend one for everyone. Not sure how you could have one on the cubes though without removing the lid to allow access for pipes and pumps etc. There are some nice HOB fuges but again you run into how do you attach it to the cube.
Sorry I am not more help. Hopefully one of our cube owners will jump in with some real advice.

jamesgang · 07-17-2007, 10:50 AM

I like that your getting back in, but do not, I repeat DO NOT put a sapphire skimmer in the back or your cube. I wouldn't even use a sappire in the refugium. I had one in my wifes 24g JBJ and you have to take the entire thing out once a week to clean the pump that sits all the way in the bottem of the tank. Much more trouble than it's worth. Oh, their neat, how they fit right inside the rear of the tank but they are a PITA. I even have the top of the JBJ removed to run a MH and it's still a PITA job. So I just took it out, put it in the trash and will be getting an Aqua C Remora hang on to replace it. If your going thru the trouble of plumbing a fuge you should get an Aqua C. I've got one on a 27 nano at work and I've not had a problem with it in the 1+ years I have it running.

Reefanatic · 02-22-2008, 01:20 PM

Nice to see you getting back into the hobby. I actually am in a similar situation as you. I had a 90G Reef, 20G Long Fug, etc and moved to a smaller house.

Anyway I decided to purchase a JBJ Nano 28G HQI. I really like the cube, but if I was to do it over I would have gone with something with an open top and something that had more room in the back. Sorry I'm getting a little sidetracked. My original refugium I purchased an Aqua Clear 20 Hang-on filter which I modified to be a refigium. After running it for about 2-3 weeks it was apparent it was way too small, so I am looking at purchasing a larger refugium. I looked everywhere and I think I have it pretty much narrowed down to a CPR Small CPR Refugium Small or medium CPR Refugium Medium or eBay. I'm not really sure the medium will work because it is a little wider than the actual tank. The small seems to be the only option unless you opt for a DIY or looking at eBay. I also contacted JBJ to see what they recommended and never heard back from them. I guess it doesn't say much about their customer service! I am also waiting to here back from the seller on eBay to see if he can make me a custom fug. I sent him my tank demensions and he sent me a diagram. I'll keep you posted with that as well.

Check out the following link to see the small CPR connected to a JBJ Nano HQI Hang-On Back Refugium on JBJ HQI 28 Gallon *PICS* - Nano-Reef.com Forums

07-05-2007, 02:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Web2000 Bryozoan Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Santa Clarita, CA Posts: 45 View Gallery Karma Komment	Nano Refugium - Yes or No I'll try not to go on for too long here. I've been away from the hobby for about a year. I had a really incredible 120g reef with 60g refugium, and 2-250w hallides and 2-96w PC's. I live in the Santa Clarita Valley in California and my electrical bills were skyrocketing during the summer. My chiller was running pretty much all day. Even in the winter my electric bills were $150 more than the norm. My wife and I figured that such a large system was costing me upwards of $350 a month including the cleaning service that was costing me $130 per month. So I had to actually pay someone to come in and remove it. The pump and Chiller were drilled through the wall of my house so they could sit outside to decrease noise. Now after a year, my wife has agreed to allow me to get back in slowly by purchasing a nano that I can completely take care of myself, and not have electrical costs sky rocket. Here's my plan. I'm not sure of the system yet, but it's between Bio-Cube 29, The new JBJ-28 or the Red Sea Max-34. Bio-Cube or JBJ I'll probably go with the Sapphire Skimmer. I know it's made for the Bio-Cube, but I think it fits in the JBJ as well. I'm going to run a 1/15 hp chiller with a heater source as well. I'm upgrading the lighting through Nanotuners.com no matter which system I go with. Alright so there's the backround, here's my question. Should I run a refugium with whichever system I choose? If so how would you suggest setting it up? My plan is to have a pair of Ocellaris Clowns or Percula's, 1 purple firefish, and 1 Goby of some sort. I may one more fish to that list depending on what I see that catches my eye at my LFS. Of course I'll have many different corals as well. I'll also have a few shrimp, and of course Snails and such for cleaning. I'm going to have about 30 lbs of live rock and sand in the tank. Sorry for the length, but I appreciate all your help!! Bill Bowden

07-07-2007, 09:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 21,727 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Nano Refugium - Yes or No Sounds like you have a great tank in the making. Personally I love my fuge and would recommend one for everyone. Not sure how you could have one on the cubes though without removing the lid to allow access for pipes and pumps etc. There are some nice HOB fuges but again you run into how do you attach it to the cube. Sorry I am not more help. Hopefully one of our cube owners will jump in with some real advice. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

07-17-2007, 10:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
jamesgang Tubeworm Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 25 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Nano Refugium - Yes or No I like that your getting back in, but do not, I repeat DO NOT put a sapphire skimmer in the back or your cube. I wouldn't even use a sappire in the refugium. I had one in my wifes 24g JBJ and you have to take the entire thing out once a week to clean the pump that sits all the way in the bottem of the tank. Much more trouble than it's worth. Oh, their neat, how they fit right inside the rear of the tank but they are a PITA. I even have the top of the JBJ removed to run a MH and it's still a PITA job. So I just took it out, put it in the trash and will be getting an Aqua C Remora hang on to replace it. If your going thru the trouble of plumbing a fuge you should get an Aqua C. I've got one on a 27 nano at work and I've not had a problem with it in the 1+ years I have it running. __________________ 27g Nano reef tank 150w 14K MH, 20+ lbs live rock, 2 False Percs, Blue Damsel, Princess Damsel, Toadstool frag, Green Star polyps, Green carpet, Green LT Anemone, many Pink Xenya, 2 Coralbanded Shrimp, 1 Turbos, Nassarius, Crap load of Bristleworms

02-22-2008, 01:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Reefanatic Tunicate Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Nano Refugium - Yes or No Nice to see you getting back into the hobby. I actually am in a similar situation as you. I had a 90G Reef, 20G Long Fug, etc and moved to a smaller house. Anyway I decided to purchase a JBJ Nano 28G HQI. I really like the cube, but if I was to do it over I would have gone with something with an open top and something that had more room in the back. Sorry I'm getting a little sidetracked. My original refugium I purchased an Aqua Clear 20 Hang-on filter which I modified to be a refigium. After running it for about 2-3 weeks it was apparent it was way too small, so I am looking at purchasing a larger refugium. I looked everywhere and I think I have it pretty much narrowed down to a CPR Small CPR Refugium Small or medium CPR Refugium Medium or eBay. I'm not really sure the medium will work because it is a little wider than the actual tank. The small seems to be the only option unless you opt for a DIY or looking at eBay. I also contacted JBJ to see what they recommended and never heard back from them. I guess it doesn't say much about their customer service! I am also waiting to here back from the seller on eBay to see if he can make me a custom fug. I sent him my tank demensions and he sent me a diagram. I'll keep you posted with that as well. Check out the following link to see the small CPR connected to a JBJ Nano HQI Hang-On Back Refugium on JBJ HQI 28 Gallon PICS - Nano-Reef.com Forums

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