What is a fuge and how do I make one?

So I feel the need to make a refugium for my 75 gal and exactly what is it? is it some kind of bio-filter? how do I make one? sort of clueless. kind of weird consideruing ive been in the hobby for 5 years but not to suprising cuz im only 12.:-[

 

12!!! that means you started when you were...7!!!! I wish i started when i was 7!!! gosh, where have the years gone!?

Anyways...heres a good article explaining refugiums. Basically a fuge is a separate tank that is connected to your display tank where you grow beneficial algae to take up nutrients and what-not, keeping them away from your display tank. Hope this helps!
keep it the work little bro!!

 

lol well I started doing it myself about 2 years ago, before I had some help from my dad. thanks for the site, though. And a fellow new yorker at that!

 

awesome kiddo, where in ny!?

 

middletown but thats all ill tell ya. you could be stalker *shiver*.

 

To elaborate on ermano's post a refugium can be as simple as another tank or even a HOB system like the ones CPR make. Until I took my 75 down 2 days ago I had a 29 gal tank in the stand under the DT. I had a plenum(void-anoxic water) and a DSB. I also crammed as much grape caulerpa in there as possible, for you advanced guys who are thinking why not chaeto(chaetomorpha) I needed to feed the caulerpa to my ravenous tangs. The DSB, plenum and macroalgae did a great job of using my NH3,NO2,NO3 and PO4. I ran a 2 bulb T12 with a 6700k and an actinic(I had extra actinics...) which was I believe 40 watts total. I ran my lights on a reverse cycle(opposite of DT) to help balance the pH among other reasons. Some people even use the clamp on spot lights or even MH bulbs but whatever you use make sure its strong enough to grow the algae. Another added benefit of a 'fuge is the constant zooplankton that is made in the form of copepods, amphipods, larvae from worms and so on that are a food for fish and coral. I credit my 'fuge for the strombus maculatus explosion that I had. In short I would use the largest size tank you can, get a pump, and an overflow box, some tubing or PVC and have fun.

Good Luck

 

agggh! complex words! please break down those abbreviations!

 

NH3-Ammonia
NO2-Nitrite
NO3-Nitrate
DSB-deep sand bed
PO4-phosphate
DT-Display tank
Hope that helps!