Do I need a refugium for cheato?

PirateLove · 03/23/2018, 05:50 PM

I have never used cheato before. Can I just section off the part of my sump in front of my return pump with some egg crate? I have a powerhead in that section. Would this work?

Pslreefer · 03/23/2018, 05:56 PM

Yes you can, buy it might be a pain as it grows. I have a gravity fed “algae barrel”.

ramseynb · 03/23/2018, 05:56 PM

Should work just fine. You can also look into an algae reactor or turf scrubber if you want something more contained.

Lsufan · 03/23/2018, 10:20 PM

It should work how u describe but u will have to light it & that will grow other algea also. So u may find u need to clean the sump & the return pump often. To me it wouldn’t be worth it & I would do without the cheato. I would make or buy a scrubber if I didn’t have a fuge & wanted to do somthing to try & help with nutrients

nereefpat · 03/24/2018, 08:23 AM

I would bet that a large percentage of reefers that run a fuge just use a section of their sump, rather than a separate tank, if that's what you're asking.

d2mini · 03/24/2018, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lsufan

It should work how u describe but u will have to light it & that will grow other algea also. So u may find u need to clean the sump & the return pump often. To me it wouldn’t be worth it & I would do without the cheato. I would make or buy a scrubber if I didn’t have a fuge & wanted to do somthing to try & help with nutrients

I agree, this is the problem... controlling the light.
OP, you might be better off with a reactor like the Parabellum(sp?), but look at the many DIY tutorials out there. Or just go with the turf scrubber.

Fraq · 03/28/2018, 11:51 AM

You can run it in a section of the sump but the algae will spread if you don't have a good way of containing it. Also the light will bleed to other parts of the sump which can spread algae even further. I run a Algae scrubber which sits on top of my sump and i like that better than a refugium, personally.

03/23/2018, 05:50 PM	#1
PirateLove Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Lexington,KY Posts: 511	Do I need a refugium for cheato? I have never used cheato before. Can I just section off the part of my sump in front of my return pump with some egg crate? I have a powerhead in that section. Would this work? __________________ "Pirate love, is what I'm looking for. Pirate love, is what i'm wanted for." Current tank: Cad Lights 42 versa. Kessil AP700. Some Sps and Lps.

03/24/2018, 08:23 AM	#5
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	I would bet that a large percentage of reefers that run a fuge just use a section of their sump, rather than a separate tank, if that's what you're asking. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

03/23/2018, 05:56 PM	#2
Pslreefer In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 597	Yes you can, buy it might be a pain as it grows. I have a gravity fed “algae barrel”.

03/23/2018, 05:56 PM	#3
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	Should work just fine. You can also look into an algae reactor or turf scrubber if you want something more contained.

03/23/2018, 10:20 PM	#4
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	It should work how u describe but u will have to light it & that will grow other algea also. So u may find u need to clean the sump & the return pump often. To me it wouldn’t be worth it & I would do without the cheato. I would make or buy a scrubber if I didn’t have a fuge & wanted to do somthing to try & help with nutrients

03/28/2018, 11:51 AM	#7
Fraq Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 52	You can run it in a section of the sump but the algae will spread if you don't have a good way of containing it. Also the light will bleed to other parts of the sump which can spread algae even further. I run a Algae scrubber which sits on top of my sump and i like that better than a refugium, personally.