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About Refugiums
A refugium is
separate tank, or refuge, attached to the main
aquarium system. The purpose of a refugium is to
serve as a breeding ground for algae and tiny
invertebrates. They are able to grow faster in a
refugium because there are no predators to eat the
algae or inverts. These tiny inverts such as
copepods can eventually make their way into the main
display tank where they will provide food for corals
and fish. Mandarin fish feed almost exclusively on
copepods and will thrive in aquariums with
refugiums.
Why would
you want to grow algae in a refugium? If you
grow algae in a refugium, it uses up the nutrients
it takes for algae to grow in your main display. The
result is less unwanted algae in your display. Also,
algae and other plants feed on the nitrates in your
water. The result is that your tank will require
less water changes to get rid of nitrates. Livestock
can live and thrive in water with nitrates less than
30 ppm, but too much nitrate is harmful. To grow
algae, your refugium will require lighting. Many
hobbyists run a reverse light cycle (opposite of the
lights on the main tank) on their refugium, or even
keep the lights on 24 hours a day.
Also, some
people set up refugiums to keep specimens, such as
mantis shrimp, that they do not want in their
display tank. Refugiums can be a fun way to keep odd
inverts and animals that may create havoc in a reef
tank.
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