New Reefer w/ ???

[eric-c]

Hello everyone. I've had fish only tanks for many years, but I'm up for the challenge of having a reef now. Though I find myself with many questions. Like, what is the difference between a sump and a refugium? Is there an advantage w/ a hang off protein skimmer as apposed to a regular one? And are these questions so basic that perhaps I can only have a fish only tank?

I would like to have a reef thats as natural to the fish as possible. I love BRS for making it easier for a "joe" like me to even think I can pull this off, but the more I get into it the more questions I have. Am I over my head on this or did some of you feel the same way at first?

Love to hear anyones thoughts, Eric.

 

[stingythingy45]

First off,Hello and Welcome to BRS.
I'm just goofing around online this morning.
So i'll give it a shot and try to answer your questions.
I'm pretty new at this myself.You're doing the right thing researching first.
I started out by reading books.But many are dated and the online info is up to the latest trends.
A refugium is basically a tank that has macro algae,pods,sand and live rock in any combo that is seperate from your display.This keeps the fish from eating it and also the macro algae will pull nutrients from the water that would be used by nuisance algaes in the display.
A sump is like a refugium except doesn't have much of the live stuff.
It's used more for gaining water volume and maintaining the water (top offs) in the display.It also allows you to hide a lot of your equipment,do water changes without disturbing the display.Lot of advantages here,with a sump.
I have an HOB skimmer now,but will most definitely go with a sump/fefugium in the future.The HOB is easy to install and they not terribly expensive.
The advantages of a sump skimmer is that they are out of site and you can run a much larger unit.Hope I helped a little.Again I'm quite new to this also.
Just keep reading up on stuff and don't worry about that overwhelming feeling.It will disappear,just like your money will.

 

[Kevin McG]

Looks like he pretty much answered you question but I will add also

My definition of a sump is a place to house all the mechanical working of the tank so they are not visible from the common viewer of the main display. equipment such as Heaters, return pumps, skimmers etc... Also, it gives the person working on the tank like doing water changes without bothering the inhabitants of the main display tank.

A refugium is a place to grow algae, pods etc.. to feed the tank.

As for skimmers it is person preference and lots of info here on BRS regarding them so searching has always been my friend

Oh yea welcome to the BRS, you won't find a better more informed bunch anywhere.....

 

[eric-c]

Thank very much for responding to my questions. Here is another one.

So will my sump be a refugium if I add live rock in it? Or do they need to be separate?

 

[smcnally]

A lot of people have a sump with a refugium built in. As you can see in this picture of my sump, the whole front half is being used as a fuge.

 

[eric-c]

Thanks Steve.

I took a look at your tank build. I think this will help me get a feel for what I need in my sump.

I think one of the biggest problems I'm going to face is space. I have a 55G pentagon corner tank. Things are tight in the stand.