What is a macroalgae refugium?

What is a macroalgae refugium?

Macroalgae is a large type of algae that is mostly beneficial and is used mainly to fight nutrient levels and microalgae growth. It is most commonly found in refugiums in the sump area of a tank. Unlike GFO or protein skimming, using microalgae to combat algae growth and nutrient export is completely natural and cheap.

Is an algae scrubber worth it?

If the goal is just to help reduce nutrients and glass cleaning, then a scrubber should be of help as soon as it gets growing good, which is usually 1 to 3 weeks. As the scrubber develops more, then the nutrients will drop even faster and the glass will need cleaning even less, up to a point.

Does a refugium reduce algae?

By running your refugium at night, the algae inside the refugium will continue to uptake CO2 and help reduce the natural pH swing inside your tank that occurs each night. This will release the pods and other beneficial organisms back into the refugium or directly into your display for your fish to feast upon.

Do I need macroalgae?

Macroalgae is a major food source for a number of both fish and invertebrates in the oceans and many marine aquarists have found that growing their own macroalgae is a great way to feed their tank critters with this inexpensive natural food.

What do algae scrubbers remove?

An algae scrubber allows algae to grow, but the algae grow inside the filter instead of in the aquarium or pond. This removes excess nutrients (scrubs the water), diminishing nuisance algae in the aquarium or pond . It is this same consumption of nutrients that algae perform in an aquarium or pond.

Should refugium be before or after skimmer?

In most common saltwater aquarium setups the protein skimmer will come first before the refugium. In many saltwater aquarium sumps, the largest chamber is the second chamber and a protein skimmers though varied in size will only fit in the second chamber before the refugium.

Can you have too much macroalgae?

No such thing as too much macroalgae, as long as you keep nitrates and, less important IME, phosphates at good levels.

How long do you leave your refugium light on?

Planted refugia seem to “work” just fine as long as they receive at least ten or twelve hours of intense light per day. Still, some aquarists run their lights 24 hours/day without any apparent ill effect.