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Live Rock in Fuge?

Sunny

Sunny

NJRC Member
Article Contributor
Hey folks.

I have a sump/refugium combo for my 150 gallon. The size is 42X16X16. The sump area is 16X15X16. I want to go the Berlin filter route.
That said, after keeping the skimmer and pump in the sump area, I do not have room for rock (would like to keep 40lb). However, the fuge is big enough. I have miracle mud in there with a light that is on 12 hrs a day.

Main tank has 120 lb live rock right now.

So the question is, can I keep some live rock in the sump and some in the fuge? Will it work? Specially since the fuge has light? I would think light will actually help live rock? I could be totally wrong though :-X
 
C

chuck116

I have not seen live rock and mud together, I dont think you need it , but dont see why it would hurt. Keep in mind I dont have much experience, Im sure someone else will chime in and lend a hand.
 
B

Brian

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
While I'm not using any mud, I do have sand in my fuge and my sump. When I redo my system I'm thinking about taking all the rock out of the sump. The reason I'm removing it is because it builds up too much detritus. I think I would rather just keep a nice clean sump that's easier to clean at this point.
 
Sunny

Sunny

NJRC Member
Article Contributor
Brian

So are you suggesting NOT to keep any live rock in the sump and let the LR in main tank handle all the filtration?
 
mikem

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I agree with Brian. I removed my LR from my sump. Less detritus.
 
onefish2fish

onefish2fish

IMO your better off putting the rock in the main tank and one piece in the refugium ( for pods )

a pile of rock in a slow flowing area acts like bioballs/filter pads or anything that can build up debris and causing nutrient spikes.
 
mfisher2112

mfisher2112

I've always kept live rock rubble in my sump. Always read it was a good way to keep the pod population thriving without having an unsightly rubble pile in the display. I usually keep it right past the first baffel in the refugium area where it will get the most water flow as the water runs through though.

I do tend to develop a nitrate issue on occassion on more established tanks, hadn't really considered that could be the cause. Regular water changes usually keeps this at bay, though.
 
B

Brian

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
monroereef said:
Brian

So are you suggesting NOT to keep any live rock in the sump and let the LR in main tank handle all the filtration?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I wouldn't. UNLESS you can have a good maintenance schedule and clean out your sump every other month or so. I already know that I'm too lazy to do that, that's the reason for removing the LR. Also, I have it in my fuge, and the amount of pods in there is remarkable, so I don't think I need additional rock anywhere else.
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

I have layers like an onion. ;D Mud/sand/rubble/cheato. I have filter socks on both my drains and honestly I don't have problems with built up gunk in my fuge. I guess I don't have big rocks but I do have rubble and I have good pod growth.
 
Sunny

Sunny

NJRC Member
Article Contributor
Ok so we are saying have some rocks in fuge with mud and nothing in sump.
I also have filter socks on each drain, so I guess keeping about 20LB in fuge (small peices) would be a good idea?
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

Works for me.
fugefeb09.jpg
 
Sunny

Sunny

NJRC Member
Article Contributor
Perfect !! Thanks guys.

Now other than chaeto what else can be put in the fuge? Any type of fish??
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
You don't need to put any fish back there. We use it as a space to throw hermits that are either hunting snails/other hermits. Our fuge has sand, live rock, and chaeto and that is it. We did buy DTs copepods to help get the pod culture going back there. Our liverock and chaeto were not coming from established systems so we wanted to jumpstart the population. Now we see tons of the little buggers running around back there.
 
Sunny

Sunny

NJRC Member
Article Contributor
I know there is no need for fish in a fuge. The question is, could I keep something there :eek: ...
I know that the Mandarin Goby like to eat only pods :)
 
SirFragalot

SirFragalot

monroereef said:
I know there is no need for fish in a fuge. The question is, could I keep something there :eek: ...
I know that the Mandarin Goby like to eat only pods :)
Click to expand...

I don't have an answer to the 1st part but I do have a question about the mandarin. Why would you if you would never see it?
 
B

Brian

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I wouldn't put any fish in there. Anything you put in there will most like eat copepods or mysis. Leave the fuge as a place for them to flourish. I especially wouldn't put a mandarin in there...that will wipe out your pod population in no time.
 
Sunny

Sunny

NJRC Member
Article Contributor
Very well. I take it back then.

To answer why to keep Mandarin Goby if I will not see it - "I was thinking of controlling the pod growth".
I guess the pods can always be transfered to the main tank for the Goby to eat them :)
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

I have a crab that I banished to the fuge..funny I hear him on occasion but never see him. No fish mainly for the reason that you would never see them.
 
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