Refugiums
A refugium or ecosystem filter is a smaller tank of water that is hung behind
or placed beneath marine and reef aquariums and can contain all the extra equipment
for the main aquarium such as heaters, top off units, a protein skimmer and
any other accessories you may decide to add.
The refugium also adds extra water volume to the system and makes it easier
to maintain stability. The refugium runs with it's own set of lighting, has
a separate substrate and relies heavily on the use of macro algae. This type
of filtration removes the nitrates and phosphates from the aquarium's water
through the use of macro algae such as Caulerpa. The substrate is usually made
of a mineral mud type mix that contains necessary trace elements and nitrifying
bacteria. The refugium light is run on a reverse schedule from the main aquarium
light to reduce the natural daytime/nighttime pH swing in the aquarium. A refugium
can also serve as a food supply source for your aquarium providing copepods
and other micro foods.
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