Reef Tank ( EVERYTHING REFUGIUM ) - In 9 Minutes

[@TOMReefer]

Good one on refugiums guys! Thanks for watching!

[@Jujc]

I have stumbled across your channel. I’m currently saving up for my first reef tank (I’m new to the hobby). I am enjoying your style of videos. Very calm and informative. I’d like to thank you for your dedication and knowledge you pass on with these videos.

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Oriarty, thanks! Most of my early videos are informative for the beginner . I have some DIY set ups that could save you $. Watch the vids. And thanks again 👍🏻😊

[@Jujc]

@@TOMReefer hi Tom, thanks for the tip!

[@Jujc]

@@TOMReefer tomorrow the stuff arrives to set up my 55 gal! I am really excited. I have done my research and I’m ready for the journey!!

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Oriarty, great news! Good luck and enjoy😃👍🏻

[@davestephens9463]

Tom’s videos are great. I’ve learned a lot from him. Another good channel is Reef Builders. You’ll have to go back to some older videos. The guy that started it is Jake Adams. He passed away last fall. He taught me how to quick cycle my nano tank. Tom has a video on just about everything you can think of. Only advice I can give you is make sure you have all of the test kits you need in advance and plan ahead as much as possible. And def get an RODI filter before you setup. It will aave you money and many trips to the fish store. Good luck!

[@richardportelli1983]

Great vid Tom, Mayor of Kingstown is a great show!

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Richard! Haha, thanks! And I really like Mayor of Kingstown! 😃👍🏻

[@jerry3sanchez]

Another great video Tom !🎉

[@TOMReefer]

Thanks Darth! 👍🏻😊

[@g-reef]

Excellent video, wanted to start a refugium ❤

[@TOMReefer]

Hi G-Reef, thanks! You should! You’ll begin to see a noticeable difference in your tank.👍🏻

[@davestephens9463]

So that used tank setup I bought came with a JBJ 20 gal rimless aio. He gave me everything he had which is a ton of stuff all for 250.00. Has 2 ai prime 16 hd LEDs it also came with a figi cube series hang on back refugium. With a dc controller pump. I’m going to use one of the primes for the light. My question is: How do I adjust and fine tune the flow and the lighting not only intensity but duration ??? Whew that wore me out typing I can’t imagine how to run this thing….I believe this piece of equipment is going to be the most challenging of all to get right.

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Dave, I really can’t help here. I have a video that shows how to use the software that comes with the Ai Prime. As far as flow on the dc controller pump. I’m not familiar with it. Do a few searches for that.👍🏻good luck

[@ibewbro5614]

Tanks are looking good dude... you going to the FFM in CT on the 4th? I see u got a lil room for some more frags lol

[@TOMReefer]

Hi IBEW, thanks, maybe I can take a ride up to the FFM? Just for fun. Frags are to costly 🤪👍🏻

[@johnatella8498]

Have you thought of putting a Mandarin Goby in there? I have a pair in a 20 gallon that is full of macroalgae. They are thriving. I never ever feed them.

[@TOMReefer]

@@johnatella8498 if you are feeding yours that’s why they are surviving. I have a Mandarin in my 75gal.

[@johnatella8498]

@@TOMReefer I have never fed them...haven't even added copepods. The plants eat the detritus and the live rock and sponge filter provide my beneficial bacteria what they need to do their job. To be honest, as long as the water is tapped up and the macroalgae is thinned out occasionally, they don't require any care.

[@mcano92]

How is the reverse lighting schedule? I have been contemplating on doing it

[@TOMReefer]

It works very well. Benefits stabilizing ph a bit in the evening hours. And fun to watch when the lights on the display are out. 12-14 hours works well👍🏻

[@jibe4781]

Hi Tom. Your refugium is amazing. My one is not stable. May be not enough nutriment in my tank.

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Jean, that may be possible. Maybe decrease water change schedule and see what happens. 👍🏻😊

[@jibe4781]

@@TOMReefer Hi Tom. I do 1 water chaine each week (10%). I will move to 2 weeks 👍

[@TOMReefer]

Yes, maybe that will help. 👍🏻I know your tank is very clean.

[@TOMReefer]

@@jibe4781 good idea Jean

[@daddyhammons9519]

What lighting are you using on the refugium ...I'm doing a refugium

[@TOMReefer]

It’s an Ai Prime, but you don’t need that. Any 6500k will work fine

[@paularamos5752]

Hey t,Johnny 5 here luv the vids ! More more more Lol . What pump do you use for your 2 part dosing , I need to get one ,and every thing you show and tell seems to be spot on buddy!!!!!! I am starting a new 40 . And gonna use my 30 for a ref. And gonna seed with pods shrimp,and display algea .thx for your Sunday Flix keep ‘em coming.so relaxing!,

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Johnny, I’m using the BRS Brand dosing pumps. They worked well for me.👍🏻thanks as always for your compliments😊

[@NyteFryte]

Been in this hobby for a year and 6 months and never knew about the lights and the alge going sexuak

[@TOMReefer]

Hi NYTE, yes, most types of caulerpa can go sexual. Glad you learned something new👍🏻😊

[@PedroAugusto-dv3qp]

Excelente video ! I’m setup my refugium now

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Pedro, Gracias! Good luck with your refugium 👍🏻

[@brandonmms]

Everytime i add cheato it turns brown and slimy..so i just took it all out. Added a bunch of rock ruble and let the hair algae have at it

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Brandon, chaetomorpha sometimes can be tough to get started. It’s needs flow in the beginning so it can tumble. Any algae in your refugium will do the job 👍🏻

[@TuanTran-ur8nj]

Big fan Tom- noob question if you have the time- getting back into the hobby and just installed a UV sterilizer. Will it kill pods and phytoplankton which I am dosing as part of my start up tank that is now 6 weeks old

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Tuan, UV will kill pods if they pass through the UV. However, keeping a separate refugium where they can grow without passing through the sterilizer will help somewhat. As far as phytoplankton, just turn the UV off for a half hour or so while feeding your phyto. Animals will consume the phyto during this time. On a side note. I have never run UV 24/7 and never had problems. I only use UV when a bacterial bloom occurs. 👍🏻glad you’re back in reef keeping 😊

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

7:20 hey, what it means "algae goes sexual" ?

[@TOMReefer]

It means it will die and release toxins in the water.

[@chrisprice8053]

i am 1 of the lucky reef guys i have not had a outbreak of any kind of bad algae in over 12 years. but i cant control the coraline algae . It grow so fast i can scrap everyday i am at the point where i only scrap the front and the 1 side and let the rest go wild. it look ok to me but the front and side glass is pretty scraped up after years of scraping. all my rock is many shades of purp green and red . i have found that it will overgrow my zoa and mess with my shrums

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Chris, that’s why you don’t have algae issues! Coralline helps big time. You probably run high calc and alk 👍🏻😊

[@chrisprice8053]

@@TOMReefer my calc is a bit high but for some reason i can't get my alk to hold around 8 . it drop to 4 and not sure why. i am trying this product called All-For-Reef. that will help bring it up with dosing . have you heard of or tried this in your tanks? i do do water change 2 time a month and up it to every week to see if helps

[@TOMReefer]

@@chrisprice8053 hmmmm? 4 DKH is really low? Is it a reliable test? I’ve heard of All for Reef, but never used it. I’ve always found consecutive large water changes will balance your Alk and Calc. As long as your salt mix is normal. You might want to try 2 -50% water changes to balance your tank. Measure your fresh salt water mix first. See what alk and Calc are. Then add to your tank, measure tank water 12hrs. Later. If it comes up then do a consecutive water change of 50% 2-3 days later. This will give you a better start if you want to try All For Reef to stabilize from that point.👍🏻

[@chrisprice8053]

love the vids

[@TOMReefer]

Thanks Chris! 😊👍🏻

[@fghfghffgcgfch9938]

Bro I wanna have what you have

[@TOMReefer]

Follow my vids! You can do it!😃👍🏻

[@fghfghffgcgfch9938]

@@TOMReefer ye I’ll try make one

[@smoothsteve8331]

I am trying to do a pulsing Xenia in my gravity fed refugium in a 10 gallon tank that feeds a 40 gallon breeder that all my frags go into and see how phosphates and nitrates go as they swing day to day and we all know Xenia loves dirty water - So far Xenia was about size of baseball few weeks ago and now size of basketball and phosphates have come down and stayed down - Need Xenia keep going 🤣Damn weeds !

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Steve, that’s cool! Maybe yo can email a pic? tomreefer1@gmail. I’d like to see your refugium 👍🏻😃

[@smoothsteve8331]

@@TOMReefer get you a pic in few days had to throw a pin cushion urchin in to clean up some algae can’t look too unprofessional 🤣

[@aussied723]

👍

[@davidvaughan3771]

I was told to have my refugium in motion, flipping....yours isn't... don't need it?

[@TOMReefer]

Hi David, there is different ways to use a refugium. Some, like you mention, a ball of chaetomorpha is tumbling. Maybe the thought was to allow light to hit all parts of the chaeto. Not really sure how this came about? Mine is really a refugium in the truest sense of the word. Just a separate connected tank that houses macro algae that grows and then partially removed to help reduce nutrients from the water. But also allows many other forms of micro fauna and crustations to multiply. It adds a different dynamic to the system. I have a few vids on this 👍🏻😊