ecosystem refugiums

i mean to your main tank

 

how long of head do u have from your tank to your refuge. what do u use as a subtrate.

 

[quote author=hottielover14 link=board=Refugium;num=1076193383;start=30#38 date=02/16/04 at 21:03:35]aren't u lacking calcium and other trace elements by not adding supplements. do u have pods in your refuge. [/quote]

I don't consider Calcium and Alk to be supplements.
To me they are the backbone of the reef aquarium those and some magnesium and a tad of strontium.
Baking powder and baking soda only needed when your tank is imbalanced. Ionic balance is what we all strive for.
A water change every couple of weeks 2 to 3 weeks for my schedule. Not meaning to suggest you have to do it this way.

I use a 2 part Cal Alk buffer made by warner marine. Add this every other day once your tank is balanced and no problems.

 

what is your nitrate at. Mine is at 50 pppm on the low scale. Will a refuge take the down to 0 or close.

 

50 ppm in nitrate is rather high. We need to identify the cause. Will you give us a detailed description of your tank set-up, livestock, time the tank has been up and running, feeding schedule, and all of your water parameters.

A refugium will certainly help, but let's get them down before adding a refugium.

 

http://www.garf.org gives some good Calculators to find your water volume.

 

hottielover14, Were do you get your water, is it tap, RO, or RO/DI?

 

My water goes thru DI. My tank has been up for 3 months and I have a shrimp, 5 snails, 3 hermit crabs, 1 bittle star. I also have about 25 lbs. of LR. I feed them flakes about 2 times a week.

 

I have a red sea protein skimmer, a fluval 304 canister filter, a peguin 170 power filter. My ammonia is at 0 and my nitrite is at 2 ppm, just recently but I did a 13 gal. water change today.

 

How big is your tank? Dimensions or gallons are fine.