Newbe Q- What is a Fuge?

[fatamaran]

I'm a bit embarrased,i've been on these forums for a while now, but i cant work out what a ruge exactly is. Is it just extra water volume or is there live rock in it, please can some one explain it in a litle more detail.

[Crakeur]

madjack answered this best so here is his direct quote from a previous post asking the same question:

 

"a refugium is a body of water separate from the main tank, the refuguim allows pods(small shrimp things) to breed up in number without predation, thier young then enter the main tank and are a great alternative food source. A refugium also adds another element of biological filteration, the algae grown in a refugium uses up nuterients, minimising algal blooms in the main tank"

 

Basically, it is a refuge for more delicate animals, as well as a place to grow macroalgae, which will, hopefully, help to reduce nuisance algal growth in the main tank.