How to Set Up a Refugium: Harvesting Macroalgae To Control Nitrate and Phosphate

www.marinedepot.com/filters/r... In biological terms, a refugium is a remote location that protects and supports a wildlife population. A reef refugium is based on this principle and works specifically to benefit your reef tank.
The idea behind a reef refugium is to provide an isolated environment, seperate from the main aquarium for the cultivation of macroalgae, plankton and biological denitrification.
The first step on your road to refugium greatness is decide what type is suitable for your tank. No matter what type of fuge you set up, your reef tank is sure to benefit from less nuisance algae, lower nitrate and phosphate and lots of live foods for your fish and corals.
#refugium #refugiumlight #refugiumsump
-- SHOPPING LINKS --
Refugiums and Refugium Accessories: www.marinedepot.com/filters/r...
-- HELPFUL VIDEOS --
How to Set Up a Refugium Inside Your Sump: • How to Set Up a Refugi...
Q&A Series #4: What are the Benefits of a Refugium? • Q&A Series #4: What ar...
Aquatic Life Reno Refugium Light - What YOU Need to Know: • Aquatic Life Reno Fres...
-- EDUCATIONAL LINKS --
"What is a Sump?" Diagram: blog.marinedepot.com/educatio...
Sump Plumbing Diagrams: www.marinedepot.com/How%20to%...
Turn Your ATO Reservoir Into A Refugium: blog.marinedepot.com/2018/09/...
Refugium FAQs: blog.marinedepot.com/2008/11/...
How to Setup a Refugium: www.marinedepot.com/video/wat...
-- SPECIAL THANKS --
Special thanks and shout-out to Matt Miller of Reef2Reef.

[@dwightdonaldson7613]

One of the best marine videos on KZbin. I was hesitant to start a saltwater tank but now am confident by watching this. Thanks

[@sunnygoold9449]

This is a really great video - sure it will help lots of newbies and others thinking about one ;)

[@MikeLemming]

Great video guys! Awesome info! 👍🏼

[@BlueCarbonReefing]

One of my favorites thing to have on a reef tank. So many benefits. Have a good biodiversity is a very helpful tool to keeping a successful reef tank.

[@marcrmzfromoc]

Thanks! I will now start to build my refugium.

[@patrickcarpenter6258]

Awesome video. Thanks you so much! Great pace and amount of information.

[@BulkReefSupply]

Thanks for watching and I am happy to hear it helped! -Robert @ MD

[@mattbowers5342]

Enjoyed the vid!

[@SuperKathy1983]

Great video! I just purchased a new sump and can’t wait to finally have a fuge!

[@BulkReefSupply]

We are excited with you! Feel free to share photos. -Robert @ MD

[@glgl1472]

Well made video and an excellent presenter great voice

[@drjesseargon7543]

thanks for the video

[@BulkReefSupply]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@HollaAtChaReefBoy]

Great video!

[@BulkReefSupply]

Love the username buddy. -Robert @ MD

[@HollaAtChaReefBoy]

@@BulkReefSupply , thank you, Robert! HOLLA!

[@brandonskelly35]

Thanks!

[@BulkReefSupply]

You very welcome and thanks for following along with us here on KZbin! -Robert @ MD

[@Kawwwman]

great video

[@BulkReefSupply]

Thanks dude, appreciate you supporting Reef Dudes on the live call as well, solid. -Robert @ MD

[@_FERG]

Can you have one on any size tank or does it make keeping parameters of a smaller tank even harder or easier?

[@tylerdelong5508]

Woah this is weird..... didnt know the acquisition included their content but im happy it wasnt lost. Still though funny to see a marine depot shirt on the brs channel

[@LiuKuanLiam]

In the refugium can used UV Light? For the Muss

[@kobitimmons7874]

Hello, what is the best Refugium for a JBJ 65 gallon tank? Thanks

[@pauldeacon8764]

Thank you my friend! I found this video really, really helpful! I absolutely love the marine hobby but I had to stop eventually because I found the electricity bills far too high! I really would like to get back into the hobby because I love it so much, could you help me please by giving me some advice about not using as much electricity? Many thanks! It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much !! 😀👍👍

[@BulkReefSupply]

Hello! Using energy efficient products such as DC pumps, LED Lights, and other low voltage products will help you massively cut down on your electric bill.

[@gravitrax6478]

dang I'm trying to set up a 90 gallon corner tank. Does the refugium really gotta be the same size as the tank itself?

[@marianamator4171]

😀

[@khalidwahab1982]

Great video, thanks. but tell me, can a refugium be set up for a freshwater tank?

[@dontreply8346]

This is a great question, are there microfauna in freshwater tanks besides infusoria? I wonder...

[@bridgetbright6258]

I have a newly set up reef tank with refugium underneath but still got diatom and algea.....I have cheato and the red a nd blue light that runs 24hrs.....so what did I do wrong? I'm also using bio media in the sump

[@emadhassan5298]

احسنت

[@BulkReefSupply]

Thank you!

[@mrkleinreef]

I’ve set up refugiums in multiple tanks, but my most recent fuge cannot sustain chateomorpha. It just dies off in 2-3 weeks. It’s a 29g plumbed into a 65g with a separate sump. The fuge is lit by 2 kessil flora’s set to grow. Any advice?

[@av8en]

Is it possible that the nitrate and phosphate levels in your 65 are so low (a very good thing) that there is little nutrients for your chateo? A few qu questions: 1) your 65 ... is it a bare bottom, Jober, deep sand bed, ?? 2) What is a "delegate sumo?" 3) What lighting is on your fuge?

[@SeaTaj]

Chaeto can be somewhat sensitive to the levels of different trace elements such as Iron, Molybdenum, Nickel, and Manganese. If you don't want to deal with dosing, we recommend you try out Sea Lettuce (I own www.AlgaeBarn.com as a full disclaimer). It grows very fast and is easier to grow than Chaeto!

[@BulkReefSupply]

Typically, it is either nutrients or some missing element causing the growth to be limited. If nitrate and phosphate are not visible with a home water test kit, it is likely going to be lack of nutrients so just feed your tank a little more if you want to increase the nutrients. If nutrient levels are obviously elevated, do some water changes and maybe even send off an ICP test in the mail to figure out exactly what minor or trace element is lacking. Brightwell Aquatics has a great element additive specifically for Chaetomorpha, check it out below. Of course the major elements of calcium, alkalinity and magnesium should always be maintained as well. www.brightwellaquatics.com/products/chaeto-gro.php

[@mrkleinreef]

John Cotter oops. Typed while in a hurry. I meant “separate sump.” It’s 65g 1-2” of reef flakes sand lit by 6x39w T5. The fuge is lit by 2 messily floras. I don’t think the nutrients are undetectable as the micro algaes in the display are growing rather quickly (outpacing the sumps macroalgaes).

[@KlimovArtem1]

MrKleinReef do you have lots of Cyano growth in the display tank (they can over compete macro and green micro algae)? What are current measurable levels of nitrates and phosphates? If they are low and you give too bright light, the algae can die as well.

[@antropatico]

is it possible to just buy a pre-assembled refugium?

[@BulkReefSupply]

Unfortunately, we don't have fully inclusive refugiums available for purchase.

[@Elliandr]

Why are Refugiums typically divided in 3? Couldn't I just use a full aquarium underneath the display to pump water into and out of? And what about using multiples? Can you have too many?

[@BulkReefSupply]

The 3 baffles are usually representative of a sump system. The refugium takes up one of those baffles within the sump. You can use a standard aquarium but, a sump is more helpful for full on filtration.

[@Jagdpantherl]

can these setups be used on freshwater?

[@BulkReefSupply]

Santa Monica Filtration makes algae scrubbers for freshwater to grow micro algae.

[@brianasheffield45]

Is there a refugium for freshwater aquariums?

[@BulkReefSupply]

It is certainly not common but the concept would work. Many freshwater aquarists will simply plant the display with living plants which will have the same effect. Think freshwater planted tanks. If you wish to isolate the plants in a refugium area away from the display, just fill it with suitable substrate and plant it with fast growing freshwater plants to help reduce nutrients.

[@bigbowlowrong4694]

If you put live plants in your tank they will consume phosphate and nitrates produced by your fish. No need for an external refugium in a heavily planted tank.

[@gorjandzundev413]

It would make sense for aquarium with herbivore fish that would destroy the plants in the main display, like some chiclids do

[@LordBonesaw]

Ive had two hang on refugiums for about a year now and have never had any success in keeping macro algae alive!!! It just starts melting and disappears!!! My main tank is thriving with all types of corals but just not that stuff….

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

Many information, good video, but to listen the background music was annoying!!! 😈

[@eegernades]

Honestly. An AI prime fuge light seems like a big waste of money.

[@BulkReefSupply]

I can say that I love the app control and increased growth rate I watched happen before my eyes in the refugium. The light probably increased the growth by about 50% on average. Of course algae is quite hardy though and will certainly grow under more economical lights so I can understand your sentiment. Is it just the cost that gets you questioning it or the science behind it?

[@eegernades]

@@BulkReefSupply cost. A trust the science as it is backed by countless peer reviewed research. But the studies also show that it's possible to get the same par and spectrum without spending $200 and get similar if not identical results for under $100 that will also grow the macro algae in the same abundance in the same timeframe.

[@BulkReefSupply]

Yes indeed, just a bit more effort on your part to get it built, installed and timed correctly. With aquariums, you almost always have a DIY option; you can even build your own tank! -Robert

[@eegernades]

@sberry55 seems like a waste of money. We could get these at whole sale price at my job, and I've used them with macro algae. The control is nice, but not worth the price. Espeailly when a freshwater planted tank light does the same job and cheaper too. Hell, we got rid of these from our display fuge because keeping them was a waste and we ended up selling them and getting cheap freshwater ones and put the rest back into the business. Don't reccomend them at all.

[@nphuskerchic]

Links don’t work?

[@BulkReefSupply]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. All of the links should now be updated.

[@sidioushatesyou5856]

I run my reef with a canister and it’s thriving...

[@BulkReefSupply]

Amazing to hear, feel free to share some pics. We would love to learn more about your methods!

[@sidioushatesyou5856]

Marine Depot Aquarium Supplies will sort some pics out 👍

[@2liter8]

I'd bet you can cook up that excess alga for supper.

[@BulkReefSupply]

Can't say we recommend it 😂

[@arthercurey1726]

Don't you just love when they say it's going to be an informational video but it just turns out to be a giant commercial.. I pay for premium so I don't have to watch ads and then they allow videos that is just one giant ad.. doesn't quite seem right

[@superman200021]

Omg someone can actually pronounce chaeto

[@2liter8]

wasn't that a Charles Bronson movie? He played an Apache by that name.

[@natanyofsho]

please choose someone who annunciates well

[@MondoMiami]

natanyofsho Please choose someone who can spell “enunciates.”

[@gn9285]

English is his second language. Can you speak two languages? Shut your mouth!

[@natanyofsho]

Greg Norman yes I can speak English and Spanish lol but retard is my first language lmaooo

[@b.freddyhu5864]

OMG! Don’t use ur bare hands! 😰😰

[@andibandi1190]

One should keep in mind that red algae do not absorb red light, and that green algae do not absorb green light. A white light lamp will work with most types of algae🤡