The Puffer Forum

I have a 90g mixed reef, 40g sump and two different tanks I could use for a fuge, 29g or 60g. I am also considering a RDSB 5g bucket.

So what would be the most effective at nutrient removal?

DSB and chaeto in the 29g or 60g? No DSB just chaeto?

I used to have a 55g fuge with a DSB and chaeto, but the DSB would constantly get covered in cyano, so I am considering other options.

Are you going to cennect the fuge to the sump or have its own overflow form the show tank? Would you not have enough room in the 40 or 60 to use bafles and make it both a fuge and sump with baffles?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBHDVwL4 ... re=related

meaning something like this. I have subscribed to his videos and find them very informative.

The fuge will be Y-ed off the return, with overflow. My concern with having a in sump fuge is that I will have have problems with cyano and other algea growing all over my sump. After the remodel, I am going to have my reef plumbed into a fish room, so I have all the room I could need for extra tanks plumbed into my sump. I have a extra 29g and 60g and 55g (30", 36" and 48") reef ready (overflowed) tanks, so my options are open. The issue is that I have tried a 55g fuge, and despite the added nutrient removal benefits, I have not been all that impressed with the ease of maintenance. I have seen a number of options from a 5g bucket remote deep sand bed to huge refugiums. So I was wondering if anyone had a opinion or fact on what would be most beneficial to my tank when I set it up again.

I have also considered just using the 29g overflowed tank as a coral grow out tank. In addition to all the extra tanks, I have two lighting to make options available. I have a 4x65watt PC lighting kit and 2x110 VHO lighting kit that I can use for any configuration, so there are many options.

Any idea what would work best? I want to minimize maintenance, work is getting ever more involved, so maintenance time is getting decreased.

Ok i understand now. I am not in the position to make a suggestion, more so just wanted to know why you have opted out of doing that kind of fuge/sump for my own learning benefits lol. It makes sence if you have the room to connect 2-3 tanks from the overflow.

Do you not have a DSB in your main tank?

DSBs in a display are not really a good idea. They work great for a while, but can crash a tank. Waste builds up, rots, and creates hydrogen sulfide pockets. When I was breaking down the 55g DSB/chaeto fuge and digging out the sand, there were a few deep areas I dug up that stank to high hell. There were no fish in the fuge, just a conch, but still it had some really rank areas.

I almost am considering bare bottom in my display, but IMO it really doesnt look good without sand. So I go with just enough sand to cover the bottom and vacuum the bottom during water changes.

I just im thinking out loud, but if anyone has questions or suggestions feel free to do.

I really like my sandbed at 2" but if i were to ever do it again, i would probably only do less than 1".

whats the best way to keep from geting cyano bacteria. I been getting some on my sand bed. I really dont want to do reactors or a fuge bc Im limited with space. Shouldnt RO/DI water help with this? Hopefully its just a phase my tanks only 9 months old as SW


Nice vid of the fuge. Nicest one Ive ever seen. Nice enough to be a small display tank.

Best sump/fuge site: http://www.melevsreef.com