fuge/cocopod question

[NewbReefer]

most people you see them together though because they can't fit 2 seprate tanks under there stand and don't want that extra bulk out where people can see it.

[fatman]

A fuge is a refuge or refugium, meaning a place of safety. As Biffer pointed outit is a place of safety from fish and organisms that will eat them almost as quickly as they can reproduce. A refugium can have live rock and macro algae and be lit on a reverse cycle from your display tank and therefore contribute to the tank in many ways. The refugium can provide the same functions of a sump plus functions that a sump can not perform. If you have room for only one under your tank then the obvious better choice is to provide a refugium as it is also a sump. But a sump is basically just an empty compartment that people have been also using for skimmers, heaters and such, but a refugium with planning allows for these things also. A refugium can also be a display tank that is fed from the main display tank and has its overflow drain to the main display tank. These can be nice to view when teaming with small critters, live rock and macro algae. This is becoming more popular, but usually does not allow for reverse lighting as well as the under tank refugium. Refugiums can also be turned into pod/zooplankton culture centers with large capacities to produce pods/zooplankton with specific feeding of phytoplankton. To grow specific sizes of pods usually only requires that different sand sizes be used. Large sand for larger pods and small sand for smaller pods. This usually only matters if you have SPS corals as they typically feed on only the smaller pods.

[cumminz]

ok cool thanks. I do like the looks of the HOB Fuges. I will get one for my 75

[fatman]

I would recommend a larger refugium than most hang on refugiums offered. I do not think they have a hang on back refugium that would really provide much in the way of constant pod out put for adding any significant amount of food to the population of a large tank. Seems most of them are so small as to be more of a straight refugium without really providing much in the way of benefits to the display tank. Perhaps with a hang on back refugium it would be best to also have an under tank sump to house a skimmer and your heaters and an ATO system. I am not sure what you are really wanting or expecting from a hang on back refugium. Most hob refugiums so small as to almost fit more into the novelty sector tahn in having any practical purpose.

[cumminz]

Ok, Then i will use my sump as a fuge too hopefully if I have room

[NewbReefer]

a small fuge is better than no fuge, what are the dimensions of your sump?

[cumminz]

uum, i think it might be a 20 gallon. Idk it is in storage at the moment

[NewbReefer]

is it already a sump or do you need to install dividers? Also post some pics of it once your getting ready to work on it and im sure we can give tips and advice. The biggest pain IMO with installing a sump is dealing with making sure that if your using a in-sump skimmer that it's in deep enough water but that you've also got room between the skimmer and the top of the stand to get your skimmer cup off.

[cumminz]

Haha, ya. I also have..... You know what i will post a new thread.