Refugiums - Podcast Episode 54

[Rob]

Dave Perry is joining me this week to talk about refugiums.
In this show we take time to explain exactly what a fuge is, and what they can do.
We then break into more detail like fuge positioning, lighting, contents and reasons as to why you use certain things.
Here is the link to subscribe to the feed. We also get into fuge lighting for lit fuges, and bring up the idea of dark refugiums.

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[V]

*in his best jim carrie voice*

"Lovely Party........Pitty I Wasn't Invited!!!!"

[Reefbaby]

Yeah!!! We've got Dave again!! And, of course, our very own Rob - but that goes without saying.

Can't wait to listen to it guys!! Woo hoo! :D

[JustDavidP]

Very cool subject... recorded very late (after much coordination and disaster) and somewhat "loose" in format. Still, chuck full of good info.. IMHO.

Glad to be back. I'll see you all when I return from GA!

Dave

[Weberian]

I might only have time to listen to this during a 'holdem game tonight.
My refugium is suiting me alright because the nitrates are kept to nill with just one cheato. My gravity-fed float valve works great also. The only complaint I have is the sediment build-up in the skimmer and return areas. Undissolved calcium, carbonates, etc. I've used an air hose for a siphon before to vacuum the bottom, but it's work. Is there an easy way? I don't mean to sound lazy, but I just love efficiency.

[bmwaaron]

Great Episode Dave and Rob ! :)
Rob mentioned Sea Horses as a posibility for the fuge. My question would be to Dave If you had 2 or 3 sea horses in say a 50 gallon Fuge would you lose the benifits of the fuge and would they eat all the pods?

[Reefbaby]

The only complaint I have is the sediment build-up in the skimmer and return areas. Undissolved calcium, carbonates, etc. I've used an air hose for a siphon before to vacuum the bottom, but it's work. Is there an easy way? I don't mean to sound lazy, but I just love efficiency.

I often suck stuff out when I do my water changes. I partially fill up a canister filter with floss and then use that for as long as I need to to get "junk" out of the tank and then whatever's left in the canister filter when I turn it off, becames a portion of my water change.
I tried the siphoning method before when I did my water change, but I found that it didn't leave me with enough time to get all the stuff out that I wanted to...

[Cjvolitan]

Great show guys.
And Dave bring back lots of pics....

[Kevin McG]

Hi Everybody, great job on the podcast Rob & Dave it was very informative as usual. I took a few minutes this morning a shot a short video on my current refugium. Sorry for the noise in the backround seems my camera picks up the backround noise more that I would like :(


Not sure if this is the right forum Rob so if it isn't can you move it to the appropriate one?


If anybody has any question feel free to ask away :agree:

My Refugium (http://www.mcgrade.com/Reef%20tank%20Page/videos/REFUGIUM%20-%206-10-2006.avi)

[Rob]

great Kevin, thanks..
if you dont mind, i can post it as a fuge tour podcast episode.. :)

just let me know and i will see what i can put together with it

[Kevin McG]

great Kevin, thanks..
if you dont mind, i can post it as a fuge tour podcast episode.. :)

just let me know and i will see what i can put together with it


No problem Rob, and if there is anything else you need just ask.

[JustDavidP]

bmwarron, I'd actually NOT put seahorses in a reef tank refugium. I wanted to address that in this related thread and your inquiry has helped me get to that point...

If you keep a reef tank, chances are your water temperatures are in and around 80 degrees F. That is far too warm for seahorses. Not that they are not found in waters that warm, but in captivity, we tend to keep the water coolere, and therefore fend off the various bacterial diseases that can explode in warmer water and wipe out sensitive seahorses. The proper temperatures should be in and around 75F.

Seahorse systems, and related sumps and refugium should really be dedicated to the seahorses themselves.

Weberian.. I use a wet/dry vac to suck the sludge out of my sump and sandless fuges when I do water changes. Just shut off the return pump, let the sump fill to the "high water line" and mark it with a crayon. Suck the various sump chambers clean with a wet dry vac and then refill your water change water to the level marked on the sump. Turn on the pump again and done!

[Weberian]

Since I can't figure out how to quote twice in the same post, I'll just not quote.

Thanks for the ideas about cleaning the sump.

I feel like a cannister is work too. I'm pathetic.

Will a wet-dry vac rust in any place crucial, like will the shaft bind up or something? Maybe it will last long enough to make it worth it? Do you hose out the wet-dry with a garden hose?

[Reefbaby]

Kevin - thanks for sharing the refugium tour. Looks great! Wish I had room for one of that size! Any reason in particular that you house the macroalgae separately?

[Kevin McG]

Kevin - thanks for sharing the refugium tour. Looks great! Wish I had room for one of that size! Any reason in particular that you house the macroalgae separately?

Thanks Christi, I always had 2 or 3 types of macro algaes growing but the grape caulerpa seemed to always overtake all the others. So I decided when setting up this fuge I would separate the different types for a cleaner looking refugium. I am thinking about getting a mantis for the 1st section of the sump :) I always wanted one in my system but obviously can't put one in the main display.

[bmwaaron]

Thanks for the info Dave,, I will just use it as a dedicated fuge then..

[m8298]

Hey Dave and Rob, I liked this episode. I'd like to know more about Dark Refugiums. Can one of you post some photos?

[Rob]

i dont currently run one, but i know that Dave said he would get some photos up when he gets back in town

[bob21115]

Rob,

Great show. Do you have any pictures of your rubbermaid Stock tank you are using as a fug?

[Rob]

yes, here is a link to some of my images.
these were right after i hooked everything together.
it looks a bit different how but you'll get the idea
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/showimage.php?i=238&c=2&userid=3