need help to build refugium.

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M

Majinn

Candiru
MFK Member
May 30, 2009
570
1
48
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
How do you actually make a refugium?
a tank, some plants, substrate, special lights, a pump. thats all?
Are there any stickys related?
 
refugium? those are for SW tanks... right?
 
Yes, refugiums are for salt tanks. The link from "dawnmarie" is for a reparium.
Refugiums keep nitrates in check using macro algae and work very well.
The effectiveness of a reparium is going to depend on what plants are put in there.
I've been told that Amazon Frogbit and Indian Fern are "Nitrate Sponges"
 
iloveoscars702;4116821;4116821 said:
refugium? those are for SW tanks... right?
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Not neccessarily true. There is no particular reason one cannot have a Riparium or Refugium incorporated in a freshwater setup.
I did much research on both and am currently working on a design to add to my new 100 long setup. Hydrophyte is an excellent resource for this subject.

Wikipedia defines Refugium as
Refugium (fishkeeping), an appendage to a marine, brackish, or freshwater fish tank that shares the same water supply.
Click to expand...


Riparium is a little tougher to define. Here is a qoute from Hydrophyte that does a good job of it.
The terms paludarium and riparium derive, respectively, from the Latin palud, for "swamp", and ripa, for "bank" or "shore". There are a couple of different ways that you could look at the usage. For example, you could consider each to be living displays emulating those two general kinds of habitats. The distinction that I often draw is based on how they are assembled: paludariums use built-up hardscapes to render the design and support the above-water plant growth, while ripariums use hanging and floating plant support devices to hold the plants. In ripariums the above-water area of the planted arrangement is developed primarily with foliage.
Click to expand...

So, I guess until the OP decides what is going into the tank we can't really define it. It could be a Riparium, a Refugium or a Paludarium.

Note to S A :I lifted the following definition from this link http://comp.uark.edu/~mreynold/recint1.htm#R
reparium: a fortified place; a harbour (for deer); repair, i.e. recourse, visit. :)
 
thanks all, especially to dawnmarie.
Ive read stuffs about refugiums, how it helps the filtration system by absorbing nitrates.. what i hope to accomplish is a system that maintains itself where i would still have to pitch in, but not busting my *** on it. i am currently working on a 5.5x2.5x2.5 tank with a standard 3 foot sump. i'll be buying an arowana once i'm done cycling the tank. In the first section of the sump, ive placed japanese matts, second section bio rings, lava rocks and active carbon. im planning to have a refugium in the 3rd section. ive already bought the substrate thats required, well at least thats what my LFS said. i'll need to get lights for the refugium section of the sump i guess.. any comments?
Thanx in advance.
 
Majinn;4124627;4124627 said:
what i hope to accomplish is a system that maintains itself where i would still have to pitch in, but not busting my *** on it.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on that thought.

Careful with the asteriks, The mods are a little touchy about people circumventing their profanity filter. :)

Let us know how it goes as you progress.
 
No,i think he meant a** lol.

Sorry mods.

Interesting thread as id not thought of doing this with my sump.

Steve
 
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