Is a refugium worth adding to my sump?

[fox3]

Yeah you will get some "stuff" that will want to migrate into the pump chamber.

I cut a piece of the plastic that comes with a versa top into a comb and put that over the glass divider but still needed to add foam to that to keep the shrimp out.

 

[CA-Delta]

More. You would not believe how much time you will spend pruning and keeping floaters outta the pump chamber. The better the plants are at removing nitrAtes the more work is involved keeping that fuge clean.

I've switched from coon tail and duck weed to wysteria and low lights and though it is not as effecient as before I can go a few weeks w/ out having to do maintenance down there.

You still need to do waterchanges with a fuge, there is no avoiding that.

I don't want to be a killjoy, but, if this is all true then what is the point ?
I thought the idea of a planted sump, fuge, whatever was to reduce or eliminate the need for water changes thereby saving time. If all you are doing is exchanging one form of maintenance for another then what have you gained ? My question is genuine as I am currently redesigning my 240 plumbing and am/was seriously considering incorporating a planted sump, riparium, refugium.

 

[crimsontsavo]

The good thing about using plants to filter your tank is that--they actually grow with the bioload.

For the most part, I have only ever used plants to filter tanks and ponds. Ponds that contain large bioloads (lots of BIG goldfish). Seriously.

As far as my fuge--it is nearly no care. Yeah, I trim and remove some plants--but only when I absolutely have to. My established tanks have always had perfect readings with plant filters. The plants remove a lot from the water. Nature is truly awesome.
Due to space and stuff, right now I am down to one small aquarium and a turtle habitat in the house. I rarely do water-changes on my established five gallon. It is heavily planted, moderately stocked and always has perfect readings.
I guess there are differing factors that give each person varying results. So I say, yes, it is worth it. If you’re not using medications and other dangerous chemicals, you can use edible plants to filter your tank. I have several herbs on my newest setup. They’re growing great. Yummy.

 

[fox3]

I am not certain plants will take out all the pollutants that need to be removed from the water collumn. I know they keep the trAtes below 20ppm. The thing with certain plants is the better they get at removing nitrAtes, such as duck weed, the faster they grow and sooner or later you need to prune.

Even slower growing plants such as wysteria will over grow a twenty gallon area in a month or so. Then if you use raw water to feed the fuge you need to "stir" things up every so often and flourite is cranky not wanting to be bothered.

One thing for certain is you get better water quality for longer periods of time with a planted section in a sump.