Freshwater Refugium?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
K

Killabeas

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 11, 2009
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Denver, Colorado
Hey everyone I got a new 150 gallon tank with a 70 gallong refugium. It was set up as saltwater and I am going to use it as freshwater. I was wondering if anyone had any experience witha freshwater refugium? What kind of things should I put in the refugium? Also I was wondering if anyone had ever turned a refugium into a wet/dry filter? Any help would be really appreciated, thanks in advance.

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lots of plants and neon tetras should go in the refugium, o yeah and the heater too if you dont want it in the tank.. That looks like a sump though, not a refugium.
 
Why Tetras? Wont there be enough nitrate from the display tank? I'm no expert, so please tell! I want to turn my 20long into a fuge for my 75g next year.
 
looks like a sump to me... ^ iono filter media, heaters, etc.
 
Killabeas;3482259; said:
What would be the difference between the refugium and sump? If it is a sump what should be put in it? can it be used as a filter?
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Yeah it's definetely a sump tank. A sump acts as a giant filter that has alot more area for beneficial bacteria to populate and thrive, this keeps the the ammonia and nitrates down more effeciently which is what you want.

It's a sump because of all those dividers and the inlet holes in the top. Filter floss and biological media like bio balls and scrubbies go in the dividers. The heater and return pump go in the last big chamber in the sump. Judging by the size of the middle chamber you definetely have room for multiple drip plates which is really good. These can be held up by a pvc frame.

Do your homework and read up on sumps in the MFK forums, lots of useful info. Get that bad boy setup and take pics! :)
 
what purpose do drip plates serve?
 
i dont see a drip plate or spray bar(wet dry type setup) i would say its a refugium. put very fast growing plants in it(like anachris) and a suitable light above it. every once in a while when the plants get too big(block out light to other lowing the effectiveness of the fuge.) cut out a few of them and discard.


of course a sump is just a tank under the main one and holds equipment, it can or can not have other filtration in it, so by that definition its a sump too.

edit: plants go in the middle part, main equipment(as well as the return pump) goes in the big left chamber. t the overflow hose so a bit of water goes to the right side, creating a slow flow throw the middle(where plants go).
 
also traditionally in saltwater its not appropiate to have higher animals(such as fish) in the refugium area, as they add to bioload and would eat micro inverts that grow and breed in the fuge. since this is freshwater theres no micro inverts exist(except perhaps ich lol) and its a free country so you can add fish if you like. just becareful they may get chopped up in the pumps if they make into the equipment chamber.
 
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