You can set up the same thing in a freshwater tank using quick growing
plants like hornwort, or anacharis/elodea. Of course in fresh water tanks
you could also grow the plants in your main tank but if you have big fish
that can be hard on plants like my bass or African Cichlids this can give
you an edge.
A real world example is my 220 system I am going to be putting together next
year. The tank is made by Perfecto and is 7 feet by 24inches by 30 inches.
This tank is going to house 1 smallmouth and 1 largemouth bass that I am
hoping will each grow to around 24" or so (right now they are each 2" long),
several yellow bullheads, and perhaps some big bluegill. These are all big
fish that produce a lot of waste. I am going to build my own stand for this
tank to save a major bucks and to hold my refugium. I am going to make it
out of two sheets of 3/4" Exterior OSB and a bunch of 12" concrete blocks.
Each sheet of OSB will be cut to 7'x38". This will allow the main tank to
sit in front and the 55 gallon refugium to sit behind it. One sheet will be
on the floor to protect it. On top of that will go 3 rows of 12" concrete
blocks stacked two high and then on top of them will go the other sheet. My
wife is going to make a nice looking curtain to go around the stand. The
filtration in the main tank will be provided by 2 Emperor 400 powerfilters.
I will not drill a tank this size so I am going to use a hang-on the back
tidepool overflow made by Marineland. This overflow will drain into the 55
gallon tank sitting right behind the main tank. A 55 will work great since
its about a foot shorter than the 220. The 55 is going to have a reverse
flow undergravel filter and be filled up with quick growing floating plants.
I will probably use hornwort but I am thinking about using hydrilla, I am
not sure of the legality of using hydrilla however so thats why I am not
sure. You want to use very fast growing plants here to soak up all the waste
in the water which is why hydrilla would be a super choice. To return the
water back to the main tank I am going to use a Magnum 350 pro filter. This
filter comes with a set of bio-wheels and pumps water over them by way of a
spraybar. You could also just use a small waterpump here but I want the
extra filtration and the bio-wheels. By using a canister filter and a
spraybay above the water line you also do not have to worry about a back
siphon if the power goes out.
The idea here is to have SUPER bio-filtration provided in this case by 6
bio-wheels, and the reverse UGF in the 55. These will quickly turn all the
waste into nitrates which the plants will soak up like a sponge. When I
harvest the plants I am removing the nitrates, these plants will then go
into my compost heap and the nitrates will help my garden grow. Also please
note I am recommending the use of a lot of Marineland products here. I am in
no way affiliated with them I just am very happy with them,
HTH
Wally
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Bock <bockhouse_at_earthlink.net>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 7:38 PM
Subject: Re: NANFA-- algae filter
> Wally, Can you give us some details on the refugium?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wally Billingham" <wally_at_wallybillingham.com>
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 10:38 PM
> Subject: Re: NANFA-- algae filter
>
>
> > Another great idea "borrowed" from the reef side of the hobby is the
idea
> of
> > a "refugium" to control nitrates and algae problems. I have done it
using
> > hornwort and elodea/anacharis. Works great easy to build. Just do a
search
> > on the web for refugium and you will be all set. I plan on setting up a
55
> > gallon refugium on my 220gallon set-up I am planning for next spring. By
> > then my smallmouth will have outgrown their 75 and will be ready to move
> up
> > to the 220 where they can grow full size.
> >
> > Wally
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <Moontanman_at_aol.com>
> > To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 9:06 PM
> > Subject: NANFA-- algae filter
> >
> >
> > > A few days ago there was a post about building an algae filter. I have
> > used
> > > them in salt water with great success and I have also found that fast
> > growing
> > > plants like hornwort will allow you to keep an aquarium with little or
> no
> > > filtration. emergent plants like cattails or water hyacinths will do
an
> > even
> > > better job of maintaining water quality. All it takes is an intense
> light
> > > source and a little time and we could forget about filters and just
run
> > air
> > > pumps. A sedimentation type tank can be used to settle out
particulates.
> > > Using a system with no filtration allows for a more natural plankton
> > > population and freshwater clams will thrive on detritus.
> > >
> > > Moon
> > --
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> > > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
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-- > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes > / Association" > / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association > / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word > / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to > / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to > / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. > / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org /----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org