When it comes to setting up your refugium, there are plenty of considerations to make. You must select macroalgae species, clean-up crew species, a type of substrate (or none?), lighting and so on. Most of this planning is pretty fun. But, with so much to think about, and so many options, it might be easy to overlook one of the most important factors of all: water flow.
Water flow characteristics can significantly impact macroalgal growth rates and, therefore, the refugium’s overall capacity for nutrient export. And controlling dissolved nutrient levels is one of the main reasons for installing a refugium in the first place, right?
Types of Water Flow
The first distinction aquarists typically make when discussing water currents is whether they are chaotic or laminar. Chaotic flows are most like those encountered over shallow reefs that are subjected to strong wave action. As the term suggests, chaotic flows are highly inconsistent with regards to direction and velocity. Laminar flows are more like those in rivers and estuaries, as flow direction and velocity are more or less constant (they may change direction with the tides, but are nevertheless comparatively stable and predictable).
[Refugium]
So what does this look like in a refugium? A chaotic flow pattern might be created with the use of specialized water pumps. Usually controllable to some degree, these pumps can be adjusted for variable output, for movement (of the nozzle or the entire unit), or for both. In creating chaotic water movement, it might help to place the inlet from the main tank in the center of the refugium so that it may progress in all directions.
Laminar flows are a little more straightforward to create. In this case, you’ll want to direct the inlet to the far end of the refugium opposite the outlet. The water will simply flow from one side of the refugium to the other. Generally, for generating laminar flow, supplementary pumps are not necessary.
Which to Use?
Type of flow is usually dictated by the kind of macroalgae to be kept. Velocity can be higher for rigid forms (e.g. Chaetomorpha), but must be subdued for softer, fleshier types (e.g. Ulva). In more special circumstances, this will also be additionally influenced by the type of animals that might be housed there. For example, when using a refugium as a place to keep seahorses, a relatively gentle, laminar flow is ideal.
Most seaweeds will grow either attached or unattached. But, many prefer to grow one way or the other. Laminar movement that flows through the crop are best for attached macroalgae. If the aquarist aims to cultivate types that form canopies (e.g. Ulva) or sheets (e.g. Chaetomorpha), laminar flows are likewise suggested. This is most easily accomplished with a longer refugium.
Chaotic flow can be used to tumble the macros and is highly effective with unattached macroalgae. This is most easily accomplished with a taller refugium. The reason for tumbling is that it is incredibly efficient, since all parts of every plant receive light. These kinds of currents are most appropriate for compact, globular macros that don’t readily form canopies or big, solid masses (e.g. Gracilaria and Halymenia). Lighter, fleshier algae such as ogo require only a moderate flow rate, whereas heavier, denser algae such as leafy sphere appreciate something more vigorous.
How much flow is enough flow? Really, if our primary purpose is to remove nutrients, the higher the turnover of water through the refugium, the better. There are, however, some physiological limitations here. First of all, there will be some maximum efficiency at which the macros are capable of taking up the nutrients. And then there are also physical limitations to how much flow can be applied. This is because the more delicate types like Ulva and ogo can be damaged from shearing or compaction in the face of strong currents.
If one chooses a softer macro (maybe because the intent is to feed harvested material to herbivorous livestock), an “oversized” refugium is a good idea. Why? Because you can pass more water through it even at a reduced velocity!
Settling Things
There is an interesting caveat to the more-is-better rule for velocity. In terms of nutrient sequestration, yes, you want an overall faster flow. Still, it is quite desirable to have small pockets of lesser flow here and there. The reason for this is that it allows suspended particulate matter to settle out onto the bottom of the refugium. This accomplishes two things. For one, it reduces detritus build-up in the display tank (where you really don’t want to see it). Secondly, this deposits it right where your sludge-eating bacteria (e.g. PNS Probio™) and detritivorous harpacticoid copepods will be most abundant.
The macros themselves help with this. Friction slows water currents as they hit the plant surfaces. But one can fiddle around with baffles, the rockwork, pump orientation and so on to maximize settling.
Going With the Flow
No two refugia are exactly the same. A single refugium might even change considerably between growth/harvest cycles, as it biologically develops, etc. Therefore, unfortunately, there is no handy formula for the perfect flow pattern. But with some awareness of how water movement affects macroalgae growth (nutrient sequestration rates!), any aquarist can make adjustments as needed to get the most out of their planted refugium.
[Refugium]
tdlawdo says
I cannot get my chaetomorpha to grow.
Robert Blevins says
I think less flow through the fuge is best for several reasons.
Gary says
Me also
Edwin Boston Jr. says
I have a medium flow and it keep things in really good shape.
billymumford0 says
Always wanted information on this topic.
Julia Burr says
Thank you
Elmer says
Nice info
Tracy Schultz says
Great info here…
Rolando Llamas says
This is information you don’t want to miss out on
seitzjh says
I run a slow flow
Kenta Asazu says
Cool!!
ponygirl112 says
Awesome info thank you
brennanlottes says
I have mocha ogo in my fuge and a spray bar for flow
Rhonda L Swetnam says
Thank you! This article was very helpful!
Manuel A Ferro says
I love my Refugium setup
Charles Wheeler says
Great info!
Chad Sosby says
My mandarin that I got from you guys would eat anything.
Tanya BAZALDUA says
Very good info
Jon Andrianos says
Very helpful!
Leslie Pustilnik says
Low flow in my fuge as well.
Richard Quickley says
I have my top off pumping into the return section
koon_kelly says
Good info!
Rudy Brambier says
With proper use of wave makers or circulation pumps in the display tank you can lower the flow threw your refugium to maximize your filtration.
kevtide says
I’m not sure I’m following. When you say lower the flow through your refugium, does this imply that you ramp down your return pump speed and increase display tank flow through the use of wave makers, etc?
Christopher Burns says
I might buy a HOB fuge
Chris G. says
great info
jordan16leblanc says
Good to know
jamesdylanmccraw says
Now my pods won’t be swept away
jamesdylanmccraw says
Now my pods won’t be swept away
Robert says
got rid of cheato got some sea lettuce love it
Robert says
my fuge suck eshopps cube dont like it
Robert says
nice
Robert says
excellent
Menerd The Menace says
Good read
Ricky J Gronwall says
These are great tips. Haven’t had a fuge in a while but setting up another soon!
Jack Goldstein says
My caulerpa has definitely grown faster since I added a small powerhead.
Jordan Preston says
I would say medium flow is best.
Wesley Paulson says
Very Informative
Ken Ishiki says
a slow tumble works best in for chaeto
Victoria Brewer says
Great info I’ll have to try playing around with the flow to see if it affects growth
Douglas Campbell says
This info is absolutely amazing for the new hobbyist and for the experienced one as well just need to take the time to read and apply the information
Adrien says
This helped me set my refuge up easily
Hardguyy says
cool
Jonathon Berry says
Great info thx
Savoury Kem says
Interesting
Mike !! says
Great info, thanks!!
Diana Aliprandi says
Thanks for the article. There’s so much stuff to learn about the refugium
Compy Ginorio says
Great reading, very helpful.
Carol Mauch says
Liked the information about the MA in regards to the amount of flow different kinds prefer. Fun to learn new things to add to the basics.
Kevin R Gravier says
I appreciate the good info to take into account for the many facets of making a successful refugium.
Dwayne Newell says
Turning up my return pump has force more water to circulate through the refugium allowing the Chaeto to take off
Krish says
I have to add more flow to mine. Great read
Jose Ponciano says
So do I need a wave maker I. The refuge??? But flow is very important..
Robert Vice says
maybe I need more flow I use the eshopps adv series and half the water goes through the fuge unfiltered and the other half goes to the skimmer after passing through the sock just switched to sea lettuce and its growing good
mcc says
Good information. I’m interested in building a display refugium.
Jorge says
I wish there was more advice for HOB refugiums
Nelly Acevedo says
Thanks great information
Alyssa says
I didn’t even take this under consideration. Good read
Andrew B says
Never knew this about my flow!
chris head says
Flow rules!!!!
Danny DJ says
Still battling if an external algae scrubber is better than a refugium. I think I’m going with the scrubber tho. Thanks for the information.
Tricia B says
Great page!
Kris Kasarda says
Great post!
cgault99 says
Thank you
Andrew says
I liked it
Nick says
Thank you
Carrie Harvey says
Good red thanks
Kenneth Showman says
I found a lot of valuable information in these articles to consider when I get my refugium up and running. I know my refugium will be a better success because of the willingness to help educate the reefing community. As always the Algae Barn has the best high quality products with the right knowledge to go with them.
Garrett says
Great information, I have Laminar flow through my sump. Where the water passes through a battle into the refugium is where I placed my Chaeto, so all the water passes straight through the macro. I have seen great growth after moving it into the direct current of flow. It used to sit tucked in the corner opposite the water baffle and wasnt receiving much flow. I wasnt getting much growth either. Now it seems to be loving the new location. I have it placed as some would use filter floss or pads.
William says
Can anyone recommend an ideal water flow rate (gph) for both chaeto and sea lettuce in the same refugium?
Ed says
Very interesting, thanks for this info here. I’ve run a hob fuge with a dsb on a 90 gallon reef years ago & it worked great. I’m getting back into the hobby & going nano with the Fluval Sea Evo 13.5. I have a small CPR refugium going to hang on the back, now I think I’ll try using the tanks built in mini sump for faster flow macros, live rock, etc & the cpr hang on I plan on a very slow flow using a continuous siphon instead of any extra pump for it & that will flow through miracle mud with some mangroves. I also have a mini skimmer but I don’t really think I’ll need to use it with this set up.