Refugium

[NormanH]

Hi guys,

Anything that can reduce nitrate interest me. Thinking of redesign my sump as well. Can someone tell me what is the maintanance chores involve in such a refugium system? (whether weekly, monthly or yearly)

[loonz]

Ok, keep us updated.

[nivlac]

Hi guys,

Anything that can reduce nitrate interest me. Thinking of redesign my sump as well. Can someone tell me what is the maintanance chores involve in such a refugium system? (whether weekly, monthly or yearly)

Maintenance free, except for pruning of macroalgae, which I do every 2 weeks.

[NormanH]

Thanks nivlac.

i more or less made up my mind to go for it(refugium w/o plenum). Just 1 last question, will the DSB built up nitrate in, that say 1 or 2 years time.(like a time bomb)

[Tanzy]

DSB is suppose to metabolise the nitrates, it does not act as a store.

[yazid]

Here comes the cut glass and the mess I created. After my wife complain, it is now in order. Got to find time putting the glass together. Hopefully I can do it on Sunday as Saturday I've got a Soccer tournament. Hopefully not to tired.

[yazid]

After marking each piece of the glass (Base, Front, Rear, left, right). Will need to buy whiteboard marker.

Next step is to clean the glass to remove all the grime and dirt.

[yazid]

Here is the glued refugium on the left and sump on the right. Succesfully tested with water and no leaks.

[yazid]

Trying to find the right time to do the cut in on the new refugium and sump. CNY looks good.

I started drilling hole for the refugium to sump transfer.

[yazid]

Close up of the hole

[yazid]

D-a-r-n. The guy who fix my powerhead actually glued the PVC piping all the way to the powerhead. I could either use force to unscrew it. What if it doesn't and it breaks than I'm stuck with it and will not find any replacement PH during CNY. Worse still my tank will not be w/o filter until I get this done.

So I decided to postpone the cut in to a later date and probably buy a new PH (About time to upgrade PH?) Eheim 1262 should be fine to replace the 1060. Also need need to get a piping reducer from 20mm to 16mm so that I can fix a hose to the pump.

[mv3i]

wow ... all DIY ... very nice ..... btw ... how did you glued the 2 tanks .... silicon ??? how to get the glaSS to stay put while the silicon hardened ????

[yazid]

Use masking tape before the glueing.

[yazid]

After glueing.

[mv3i]

the sump is easier i think but the refugium looks tough with the filter column .... good job !!! btw where you get your glasses from and the going rate for them ?? can let all know or not ??

[yazid]

It is 5mm thick and cost ~$3 per square foot. You can get the custom cut glass at any frame/glass shop. I got mine from Changi road in front of the Kassim Mosque. There are a few other glass/frame shop along that stretch. Drilling a hole cost $4 each.

I did ask for the quote from the tank makers but it is too costly. Almost double the cost if I were to DIY myself.

[yazid]

Finally got everything done... back breaking

[yazid]

Fill up with water.... 24" x 24" refugium.... seeded with sand from my main tank.

[yazid]

As suggested by Phang to have a bypass to the sump. Good idea! Also be able to control how much water to flow through the refugium. Too fast also no good.

[KingFish]

Yazid,

Notice that its not the typical sand you're using for your DSB, is it that river sand you're using?

Or could it be the lighting?

[yazid]

Yazid,

Notice that its not the typical sand you're using for your DSB, is it that river sand you're using?

Or could it be the lighting?

no lighting yet

[yazid]

Yazid,

Notice that its not the typical sand you're using for your DSB, is it that river sand you're using?

Or could it be the lighting?

Yes it is river sand... the smallest grain I could fine. This river sand is cleanse with no silicates. Based on Ron Schimek study the smallest grain that you could find the better and no sharp edges. Smallest grain will ease burrowing critters to dig. Based on Garf, mix with different size grain as different organism prefer certain size. I've mix/seed with my main tank sand and some worms (Similar to Garf grunge).

Quote from http://website.lineone.net/~espsrg/dsb_s_&...&_live_rock.htm

"Research has shown, that regardless of the type of media used, be it land or oceanic in origin. "

"The DSB on the other hand utilises a very fine grain size (preferably below 0.2mm but above 0.050mm) to get round these problems. There are various discussions going on as to the ideal grain size, although the main consensus is that a very fine 'silt like'[\B] texture is better for what we, and all those lovely critters are looking for. Some even go as far as a mud like texture (ref the new trend of a material called 'Miracle Mud'). "

Of course Miracle Mud (powdery) too expensive and getting mud from the sea is too risky.

[yazid]

Dumping the algae scrubbers I got from the SRC outing.

[DragonGoby]

nice one, yazid! what's that spikey thing in the foreground?

[yazid]

My wife was laughing when she saw me prone position in front of the refugium tank.

I was amazed to see so many critters that I couldn't ID. Of course the usual copepods and amphipods...

I saw worm in my DSB....