Does anyone have a freshwater refugium?

[Warrensmentor]

1. Filter sock
2. Bio mech
3. Coarse sponge
4. Basic fine gravel
5. Assorted stem plants and maybe some crypts
6. Coarse sponge

For a basic idea.. When amm is converted to nitrates it utilizes oxygen.. So the water will be co2 dense again when pushed into the refugium. Then pushed back into the main tank surface agitation should facilitate o2 absorption again. Like a sponge the molecules can only hold so much total but will constantly flux with the torbidity... But shouldn't ever be over oxygenated or over carbonated.

As for what pump ect I would use... No clue .. New to actually picking a pump ect myself.

You'll be pulling your nutrients from the water mainly not from debris... Not 100 percent utilization but it should make a large difference in nitrates.

Great input, thank you. So I took a picture of the tank filled like it might be, and it's not much water, and it's just not very good for the purpose I'm doing this. Now I'm thinking, why do I care if water is flowing over a wall? I'll just fill the whole tank up! The center area will still be slowed flow because the baffles so I think I could still have substrate and plants, more water volume, and I can still even put coarse sponges between the baffles...ooo, what about a bag of ceramic media between two sponges....
Any problems with this new plan? So to recap, its a sump, with baffles like a refugium, that will allow a slow flow center section for plants. Feedback? All feedback is humbly welcome.

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[Warrensmentor]

"But you'll still want the water changes to keep your tds low."

What are tds?


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[fook]

Great thread. I might be missing something but wouldn't an algae scrubber do all of these things with less variables to worry about? I'me thinking of going that route but I want to weigh all of my options first.

 

[peterp63]

Great input, thank you. So I took a picture of the tank filled like it might be, and it's not much water, and it's just not very good for the purpose I'm doing this. Now I'm thinking, why do I care if water is flowing over a wall? I'll just fill the whole tank up! The center area will still be slowed flow because the baffles so I think I could still have substrate and plants, more water volume, and I can still even put coarse sponges between the baffles...ooo, what about a bag of ceramic media between two sponges....
Any problems with this new plan? So to recap, its a sump, with baffles like a refugium, that will allow a slow flow center section for plants. Feedback? All feedback is humbly welcome.

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Be careful. Remember, you'll need room in the sump to collect water from the main tank that back flows until the right levels are reached when the pump is shut off.

 

[scott s]

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!

Is the fw clams (mussels) thing true?? If so, has anyone tried it?

 

[MonsterMinis]

"But you'll still want the water changes to keep your tds low."

What are tds?


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Total dissolved solids... IMO the true reason you drip acclimate fish, my fish have proven me time and again that ph impacts their breeding (mainly egg developmental functions) and that's about it. ATM I keep a lot of low ph loving species in 8 + w/ gh/kh off the charts and not only are they surviving but thriving and growing faster then what seem average... I am a huge stickler for more the merrier on water changes.

And an algae scrubber would probably be ideal if you wanted minimal hassle but for me at least the fw refugium is an oppotrtunity to cultivate some of my own foods and worst case be utilized as a tank within a tank, or holding tank. IMO if you really wanted to you could probably rig a large enough sump to work as a pup tank as a few guys have done by connecting tanks... Just by intigrateing the plants in baskets ect... This is my plan in the future, still in the drawing board but I think it would be doable and make a nice dual usage of space.

 

[MonsterMinis]

Is the fw clams (mussels) thing true?? If so, has anyone tried it?

There was a gentleman on the puffer subforum. That did this to cultivate his own food and noticed his water was much clearer after introduceing the clams and shrimp to his sump. The only downside I can think of is they would need a fairly decent depth in sand, so you're likely want to stir it up on occasion for peace of mind you don't get any detritus trapped and cause a nitrate ticking bomb in a dead spot. And I would have a small concern about what they might do to my return pumps impeller if they got into it.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

You must have a very mature set up for clams. And you have to have the right balance of clams as well. If you put too many clams there won't be enough food available for them. They are filter feeders so a super clean tank would be bad for them. In most set ups there is not enough food for them.

 

[Just Toby]

Pothos growing out the top of the tank is the most simple route, they do not need co2 as they live in the air with just roots in the water, they are proven to dramatically reduce nitrates and grow like mad. I grow them in my tank above and below the water.

I have a drip system too so my nitrates hover around 10 ppm.

I have grown freshwater cress in a refugium before and it grew very well but i think you need a lot of it.