when to add refugium?

[dzhuo]

Hi,
If I am starting a new reef tank and planning to add an refugium, when should I add it? should I add one after the tank has cycled completely and the live rock and live sand has been settled? or should I added it when the tank is still cycling?

thanks!
david

[BigE]

I would add the refugium when setting up the tank. I'm in the process of setting up a new tank with a refugium from the begining.
I'll be setting up the refuge in the same manner with the tank so I won't have to worry about getting the infuana population up until after the whole tank has cycled.
Also, if you plan the refuge with in the initial setup you won't have to worry about re-planning later which usually ends up costing you more time and money in the long run.

[Irisservice]

I think that you can do it either way. Now or later.

[dzhuo]

I would add the refugium when setting up the tank. I'm in the process of setting up a new tank with a refugium from the begining.


So I suppose that you put the plan and those critters in the refu as well from the beginning right? You buy one of those refu kid?

thanks!
david

[BigE]

Exactly, Once the tank is running with your sandbed in place, some live rock and some lighting in the fuge you can get the sand bed starter kits. Try getting multiple kits from different sources if you can since this can give your sand bed the best possible variety of critters.
Add the kits to both the main tank and the fuge

[Zack]

your in luck, down in the buy section place, there is a fourm about LS and in it is a link to a critter selling store, Good luck! :D

[BigE]

Is this the link???
http://www.coraldynamics.com/Livesand.html

you can also get sand activator kits from...
http://www.ipsf.com
http://www.ffexpress.com
http://www.premiumaquatics.com

anyone else have any good ones???

The theory of getting lots of kits from different places is to get the biggest variety of infauna possible.

[ssgibby]

The above are some good links. If possible, I would add a fuge in the beginning.