sumps & refugiums

[redline]

Hello everyone... I currently have a 20H freshwater tank and am interested in transforming it into a nanoreef. I am in the "gathering information" stage and just wondering if any one has any good links concerning sumps and refugiums. I don't even know the difference between them ??? any information would be greatly appreciated. -redline

[Satchmo]

Sumps and refugiums are similar. A sump is basically another tank plumbed into your main system. Water is pumped from the display tank into the sump, and back again. The are several benefits to having one. It provides increased water volume for more system stablility. It's also a place to put heaters, skimmers, thermometers, and other unsightly things so they're not cluttering your reef.

 

A refugium is set up similarly, only it's stocked with sand, liverock, and macroalgae. The flow rate through a refugium is much slower and more gentile than a sump. A refugium serves two main purposes. One is nutrient export. The macroalgea in the 'fuge will consume nitrates, the end product of the nitrogen cycle. By periodically harvesting some of this algae, you are effectively removing this nitrate from your system. The other purpose served, is a refugium acts as a refuge for critters to reproduce. All sorts of pods, worms, and countless other critters will thrive in this environment, as they're not subject to the predation they would be in the main tank. These little critters are an invaluable resource in a reef tank, as they help keep the tank clean by consuming little bits of detritus, and at the same time, provide a natural and self-sustaining food source for your tank's inhabitants.

 

Good job doing your research before jumping in. You'll save yourself lots of headaches and cash in the long run. A good investment for you would be Robert Fenner's book, "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist". It's a great intro to the hobby, and will help you sort through the maze of equiptment and methodology that exists. For what it's worth, you don't need either a sump or a refugium to have a successful reef tank. You can always start without one, and add it later as the addiction becomes more intense. Have fun, and feel free to ask any questions you may have

[redline]

Thank you very much for the reply. I ordered that book online today from chapter.ca ..... it was even on sale.

[Satchmo]

Great man, enjoy the book. It's almost a tease, as you'll be craving more info as soon as you're done with it, but it does a wonderful job as an introduction to marine tanks. Just ignore the part where he discourages small reef tanks ???