Sump filtration: a refugium or not?

...not sure what board would be most appropriate for this.

I am working on setting up a 75g SPS reef. I am trying to obtain an ULNS(ultra low nutrient system) for this tank, keeping my nitrates and phosphates as low as possible.

I was thinking about having a 55g sump, so this way I could have a 25g fuge. But I also plan to run ecoBAK bio-pellets in a reactor. A frefugium is good for culturing pods, but has no other real purpose, while running ecobak biopellets. Is this statement correct?

My other idea was to have a 29g sump with a skimmer section and a return section, HOB reactor, with no refugium.

 

"A frefugium is good for culturing pods, but has no other real purpose, while running ecobak biopellets." - by this, I meant that the fuge and biopellets would be competing each other to obtain nutrients. From what I have heard from other reefers, ecobak usually wins.

What are everyone's thoughts on this?

 

You are exactly right. Once the ecobak is fully kicked in,and if you had various macroalgae in a fuge they would probably die out.

I think you should set up your sump without a fuge, but leave it to where if you want you can add it later. If for whatever reason you decide not to run the ecobak. Leave your options open...

 

OK, thanks. So would you suggest running the 55 as my sump or my 29g with a 10g for my return tank, ...I already have all 3 of these tanks in my garage. Whichever is not the sump will become a quarantine tank.

 

Run the 55 for the sump. That added amount of total water volume is going to make the tank just that much more stable. Bigger or More is better!

 

I had a feeling you were going to say that. Lol. Sounds good.

 

And you don't know how your system is going to be. Macro itself does not need volume... so it isn't what needs a huge fuge. I mean neither do the pods really.... it's just extra volume. You do not know how "low nutrient" that system will turn out. I personally belive a system should be as natural as possible alowing mother nature to do the job. And pods feed on the macro. You should macro and then if you find later you need to run pellets, then do so. If you don't then one less pump and equipment.

It isn't standard practice for all those folks out there to ditch their fuge just cause they hook up pellets. Although had I run my pellets long term I was not going to be suprised if my cheato died out. It barely grew as it was.

 

After having GHA algae take over my fuge 3 time, I got rid of the fuge part. My cheato and other macro algaes were growing, but the GHA was growing all over my sump. I also has large amounts of detritus build up on the bottom even though I had a CuC in the fuge as well as a small powerhead for movement. Since I removed the fuge, I added about 20lbs of LR and don't see any real difference between running one and not.

I will be running EcoBak in the near future.

I would use the 55G as well.

 

Do the 55. Like said before move volume=more stable of a setup=happier you and your tank! I've been debating on seting up a fuge myself so I'll see where you take this

 

Thank you, al, fortthe comment and suggestions. I will put in the 55g in for the sump. Glass should be ordered soon and a Mag 9.5 will be used for the return pump. I will set it up with a refugium in mind and get some chaeto. I will see how low I can maintain my NO3 and PO4 with the huge. If they maintain. 0-2ppm, then I will be happy. If not, biopelllets will be tested on my system.