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Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 2:27 pm
by scpion
I used to house Birdy, now 8in MBU in a tank I grossly thought wrongly was a 4x2x2.. Fortunately I manage to snatch a deal off ebay for a 5x2x2 tank.. (That was when I found out I have wrongly assumed the old tank size..) I understand the tank size is still no where at a recommended size but I am doing all I can to make him comfortable ..
My question is that I have converted the old tank ( 60g ) into a refugium(or some sort of heavily planted tank), would it still be effective if I have around 30+ neon tetras, a bunch of large apple snail and 3 mollies in the refugium? Or I am just going to blow the bioload all over again.. these extras are from my daughter's "entertainment tank" ...
Resident of the 5ft is just Birdy alone and a cray somewhere i think..
Filtration:- ( All 3 canister are from old tank. )
1 x canister rated at 2000l/hr
2 x canister rated for ard 2ft tanks
1 x internal filter ( built into the 5ft)
All the plants are just in today so they looked kinda small... I am planning to double the quantity of them..
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:49 pm
by bertie 83
Using it to add water volume as a refugium would be highly recommended until an upgrade. But i would not stock it with anything but plants. The extra water will help dilute the bioload of this giant, remember to factor this water volume in with your 50% min weekly water partials though
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:23 pm
by RTR
+1 to bertie 83's comments. That use would make it a veggie filter, which is one of many types of refugia. It both increases the water volume for the system (helps dilute waste) but also the plants will utilize some of the nutrients to help hold down pollutions levels.
The refugium should house nothing but a few small plant tenders such as otocinclus cats and/or ghost shrimp.
My mbu tank had multiple veggie filters.
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:17 pm
by scpion
Yes my good Lords for the advice.. Now, how do i break the news to my daughter that they are all going back into her small tank...
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:16 pm
by Nuclear_Glitter
You could always check craigslist for a different tank for her.
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:44 pm
by scpion
Well.. from where I am, no one really do craigslist...
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:15 pm
by Nuclear_Glitter
Ah, I have the same problem.
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:41 pm
by RTR
So, you get to bribe her with another tank...
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 2:03 pm
by scpion
Ah..bribing could just work. But, what about my wife? She's not exactly a fish fan...
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 2:28 pm
by bertie 83
I am sure she will be fine lol
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 3:19 pm
by jus85411
scpion wrote:Ah..bribing could just work. But, what about my wife? She's not exactly a fish fan...
she will come around
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 3:26 pm
by xrayjeeper83
Kid's happiness > wife's happiness
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 6:22 pm
by sevenyearnight
xrayjeeper83 wrote:Kid's happiness > wife's happiness
+1
Also, how could someone not
Birdy!?
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:50 pm
by scpion
xrayjeeper83 wrote:Kid's happiness > wife's happiness
LOL.. I will show this to her..!
Re: Refugium Effective? ( Or I am doing it wrong.. )
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:48 am
by RTR
Another +1 to xrayjeeper83's comments!