Does anyone have a freshwater refugium?

[Warrensmentor]

I have a 40 gallon breeder that was built into a refugium for a salt water tank. I'm thinking I could use the extra tank volume a sump would add (two stingrays in a 120 wide) but a refugium could be even better since I can put plants in it...does anyone have one or suggestions on what to do with one? Thanks!

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[Elasmofreak]

I haven't done this personaly with a fw tank, however I know people who have done this with great success. Get some freshwater clams for it. Talk about amazing biological filtration!

 

[johno27]

I am experimenting with this. I have Swords, Vals, and java moss going with some ghost shrimp to clean up any detritus. I am running an 18 watt 6700k bulb for around 8-10 hours a day. The java moss seems to be growing very well and the swords and vals are doing ok but not great.

 

[Warrensmentor]

I am experimenting with this. I have Swords, Vals, and java moss going with some ghost shrimp to clean up any detritus. I am running an 18 watt 6700k bulb for around 8-10 hours a day. The java moss seems to be growing very well and the swords and vals are doing ok but not great.

It seems that while you could keep larger plants like swords in a refugium, all of the oxygenation provided isn't that great for growth.

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[MonsterMinis]

Stem plants soak up nitrates... Or what I was thinking of doing on my 120 is grow pothos in the sump, or other submergents. If your looking at low lights crypts are good options. I have some in clay pots in my abas tank that do well and help with the nitrates.

 

[coyote6183]

Im building a 220 with a fw refugium (55 gal with 2 dbl bright leds) what do you mean the oxiginization provided isnt great for growth?

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[wildman6809]

I will have one soon enough. I am going to grow pothos or bamboo or both. It should be up and running in a week or so.

 

[Elasmofreak]

What about using a ball of plants like Hornwort, and or Anacharis? They will suck up the nitrates/phosphate extremely fast, and grow very quickly. Would be the same concept as using chaeto in a sw fuge. Plus you can trade your cuttings in to your lfs for fish food.

 

[Warrensmentor]

Well, you have water being brought in (maybe splashing), then flowing over a wall, then flowing over another wall, I'm thinking that will oxygenate the water, thereby having less co2 which plants need (some more than others). You'll notice in heavily planned tanks that there is little current, and little to no agitation on the surface because they want the co2.

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[hereticlosmorte]

Well, you have water being brought in (maybe splashing), then flowing over a wall, then flowing over another wall, I'm thinking that will oxygenate the water, thereby having less co2 which plants need (some more than others). You'll notice in heavily planned tanks that there is little current, and little to no agitation on the surface because they want the co2.

^
surface agitation causes co2 to be removed from the water column into the air, which the plants need to grow. too much agitation/bubbles (from entering the sump, splashing over the walls, etc) will definitely remove a fair amount of co2. it's possible to do, for sure, but might be trial and error with which plants to go with.