Aqua clear fuge

Over christmas break I was planning on getting a aquaclear(dont know what size) and turn it into a mini hang on back refugium. I have a few questions, as the articles i read didnt answer them, and if they did, they used crazy reef specialist words.

What do I need in a Refugium?? I hear a lot of people use sand, but would be worried about the filter shooting the sand into the tank. Do i use live sand? As i see a lot of people use live rock in their fuge.

Also, i have heard about using an algae called Chaeto. I read that its a macro algae that is controllable. It eats the same nutrients as unwanted algae. Where do i get this? I have never heard of it or seen it at my LFS.

Those are the only questions i can think of, fr now.

Here is a link for converting an aqua clear into a mini fuge.

http://www.coralforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24042
and
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hagenrefugart.htm

Thanks for any replies, BK

Good Morning.

Chaeto is great for your fuge..It soaks up Nitrates well..I have used it in every tank..I think most people do aswell..
You can buy a product called Fuge mud at big als, I am not personally familular with it, but I have read good posts about it...worth looking in to I guess..
I usually use live sand/crushed coral..with chaeto, and live rock rubble in mine..you can also add mangrove pods..they do great for a fuge aswell..remember you need a light source on your fuge...

I am sure other members will chime in here with their thoughts on a fuge aswell...I am not the queen of fuges thats for sure..*giggles*

Alright thanks. Im looking into lights for boxing day sales, how powerful should it be?? Wattage.

Well I am not sure what all the experts say, but I was told to use a pc light from home depot..so thats what I use..

BurgerKing wrote:Alright thanks. Im looking into lights for boxing day sales, how powerful should it be?? Wattage.

A standard compact florescent lightbulb will work just fine given the small space (aquaclear) that you are working with. I myself use 2 X 15w florescent tube and have no trouble growing cheato.
With regards to where to get cheato, just ask your lfs for some. If they run a sump its almost guaranteed they have some. Don't need alot as it will grow fairly quick. Make sure to keep it thinned out some. If the ball gets to large and tight it can begin to die off returning nitrates back into your water.

Matt

Ok, thanks for the help. Do i just pull it apart if it begins to tighten?

BurgerKing wrote:Ok, thanks for the help. Do i just pull it apart if it begins to tighten?

Yes. Just loosen up so that the light can get to the majority of it and when you begin to get an over abundance remove about 1/2 of it and sell it, give it away, or drop it into the garbage. I myself give it away to those in need

Ok, Just wanted to clarify.

I got another question... If I have a fuge, do I need any other Biological Filtration?? If not, I'll just convert the HOB i already have.

BurgerKing wrote:Ok, Just wanted to clarify.

I got another question... If I have a fuge, do I need any other Biological Filtration?? If not, I'll just convert the HOB i already have.

I'm not a big fan of filters when it comes to salt water. If one goes with 1.5 to 2lbs of liverock per gallon of water, a very shallow sandbed that is regularly vacuumed, or a very deep sandbed (5" plus) that is never touched, a decent skimmer, and regular water changesyou should be fine once tank parameters become stable. One of my tanks is a stock biocube with about 25lbs of liverock and no skimmer. I just do regular water changes and maintain a nitrate level < 5. No additional filtering.

Keep in mind the mud will have to be replaced after about 2 years or so. I would leave the fuge BB easier to clean out. or LR rubble. I agree the HOB filters are a waste in SW. LR is the way to go. I do not vacuume my sand bed, I have sand sifters.

You have to be very careful when messing with the sand bed it can release toxins into the tank. IMO it is not worth it, so I have sand sifters do it for me. you can go with 1 to 1.25 lbs of LR as well

Remember the Chaeto has to tumble as well, or turn it once a week or it will die.

Sambrinar I do agree that disturbing a deep sand bed is risky for the reason you stated, but for curiousity sake, in your view what would be the difference between a sand sifting fish disturbing a SSB and weekly vacuuming of a SSB.

Matt

the SS only disturb a minute section at a time, where as when we vacuume we are doing larger sections. If you vacuume from the begining and weekly there should be no problem. It just makes me nervous, so I don't do it.

Brenda

I do plan on having live rock and live sand, I like how it looks in an established tank. What would be a good sand sifting fish? I want to keep a pair of clowns(occelaris or percula), and I'd love to have a goby, and then of course a clean up crew. What kind of goby and clean up crew should I go with? I really like most watchmen gobies(there are a couple that will outgrow this tank, so I wouldnt go with them).

BTW, its a 28g

Hmm good sand sifter... There are snails the sift sand, (Nassarius Snail), sand sifting stars... your tank needs to be up and running for a good while so there is plenty to eat. Maybe like 6 months. this is a link to an American Online store, but it will give you some information... All of the stars get big.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+526+1133&pcatid=1133
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+528+572&pcatid=572

I love live aquaria's site, I read up on fish for kicks. I heard that the snails need a really deep bed(like 3"), I wasnt planning on going that deep but will if I dont like the look of the shallow bed. And for stars, I doubt I'd be able to keep them for long, maybe grow them out for a little while then down the road put them in a larger setup. I'm nagging my parents to let me get a 55g, It's not working too well.

BurgerKing wrote:I love live aquaria's site, I read up on fish for kicks. I heard that the snails need a really deep bed(like 3"), I wasnt planning on going that deep but will if I dont like the look of the shallow bed. And for stars, I doubt I'd be able to keep them for long, maybe grow them out for a little while then down the road put them in a larger setup. I'm nagging my parents to let me get a 55g, It's not working too well.

As tempting as it might be, I urge you to rethink the 3" sandbed idea. It can be difficult to maintain. I speak from experience. If you want to go deeper than a shallow sandbed (SSB 1" or less) go full out to a deep sandbed (DSB > 5") that should not need to be touched. There are however some risks associated with a DSB.

Oh sorry, I wasnt planning on haveing a deep sand bed, I tried i with my africans and it sucked. I was planning on around 1" of sand.

Perfect!

the snails do not need a very deep sandbed at all, mine is an 1" to 1.5" (USA remember ) and they do fine

Ok, so I dont think I'm going to mod my filter. It doesnt really seem like its worth it. I'm getting the Prizm protein skimmer that is for tanks up to 90g, it's the smallest one my LFS sells(and gives me the option of getting a larger tank), except for one that's for up to 20g. I'm also getting live sand and rock and in my readings today I've learned that people have been successful keeping fish without filters, just having live sand and rock, then doing regular water changes.

You got it BurgerKing. the filters are just detrius traps and cause the nitrates to spike, causing Phosphates to spike, hence causing algae growth and lots of work.

I had a biowheel in mine when I first started, had massive Hair Algae, couldn't figure out why,,,, removed the biowheel and much much better!!!

Lol, its so odd going from cichlids to SW, filtration is too different for me to keep up. Anyways thanks for your input and time.