Technically speaking, a refugium is a refuge in the sense that while it shares the water of the main tank, it is somehow set off from the tank, to provide the creatures inside refuge from larger fish in the main tank. In more general sense, a refuge is an extra tank or compartment of your tank. It is simply another aquarium located under the display aquarium where the protein skimmer and macroalgae (caulerpa and chaetomorpha for example) are housed.
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Here are the reasons why a connected refugium is more beneficial:
– With additional lighting, can be used to grow algae to harvest. Growing algae in a sump/refugium also helps absorb waste that would otherwise pollute the main tank.
– Protect small organisms so that they can be self-replenishing. This works especially when you want to grow feeder organisms to a certain size so that they can reproduce before the entire population is eaten. Popular feeder organisms include feeder fish, amphipods, and copepods. For example, in a reef tank, a large enough refugium can provide safe haven for copepods (where they do not have to worry about being eaten and can breed). When the refugium is stirred (when you trim the macroalgae in the refugium, copepods will enter the water stream and makes their way back into the main tank, providing a regular source of sustenance for the larger organisms.
– When used as a sump pump, plays a crucial part of water flow for reef tanks.
– Increases overall water volume of aquarium, making it more stable. For example a 60 gallon tank with a 10 gallon refugium is actually a 70 gallon system, the extra volume makes the tank water less susceptible to variances in temperature and other disturbances.
– Separate fish that are delicate or prone to bullying (seahorses) on their own. Some owners even place new fish in a refugium to help them acclimatize in a quieter environment (away from the inhabitants of the main tank). Helps fry develop in a safe habitat as they grow, while keeping them accustomed to the water conditions of the main tank.
Types of Refugium:
With a sump based refugium, the refugium is a second tank which you place below your real tank. This work tank is usually kept under wraps and handles your water pump action for reef tanks as well as manages extra filtration.
– Pros: Can keep your skinners in here; run a reverse photosynthesis set-up for your algae; not worry about how it looks; costs the least out of the different types of refugiums available if you go low-tech.
– Cons: You might forget to check your little fry as often as you should if you are keeping them down here; Costs the most if you go with a high-tech refugium sump pump option.
– Cost: Depends on how you approach the refugium idea. If you go with a low tech approach and use a plain tank, your price depends on your materials and size. However, if you go with high-tech, that incorporates the sump pump and a protein skimmer, the resulting cost can be in the $350-$600 range. The extra cost is for a ready to run tank with all the parts and plumbing ready to go.
In-tank:
The In-tank Refugium is the simplest solution for refugium. You basically place a small container into your tank that lets the water in and out but keeps the critters in and your bigger fish out.
– Pros: Doesn’t take up anymore space than what you already have, you can enjoy seeing the little fry or other little critters growing in here; cheaper than a hang-on type refugiums.
– Cons: Doesn’t add water volume to your tank. Looks unnatural. Can’t run separate lighting schedules for the main tank and the refugium.
– Cost: Price range is $35 to $55 depending on how big of a refugium you buy.
Hang-On:
Hang-on Tanks work just like their name; they are separate containers that hang-on to the back of the regular tank. They use an extra pump to move water in and out of the refugium.
– Pros: With the hang-on refugium, you still share the water between your tank and your refugium. Many tanks and stands aren’t fitted with a sump, so this may be your only available out-of-tank refugium option.
– Cons: Can’t be too big or heavy if they’re going to hand on to your tank; may not work with how you have your tank set-up relative to the wall. Can also be hard to clean water spills behind the tank. More expensive option than an in-tank option.
– Cost: Price range is $75 to $150 depending on how big of an hang-on refugium you pick up.
