cryptic refugium started
- Thread starter smalltime
- Start date
I read about the cryptic fuge years ago and always wanted to set one up. Back in the day of rock walls 10 years ago I had a cryptic fuge behind my rock wall. It was over grown with feather dusters and sponges. Looked awesome. In my sump I have minimal light so only filter feeders can survive. Just like the idea of natural filter to help export nutrients. I never liked refugiums with lights in the sump area. I fell in love with the clean sumps a lot of European tanks showcase. Simple clean design. All my last tanks I set up were a fire hazard with wires and equipment stuffed where it would fit.
This is one of my favorite reefers of all time http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2182329
I would love more pink in the house... Calming right?
This is one of my favorite reefers of all time http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2182329
Wanted a little more pink in the house 
Funny.... Blue has always been calming for me
So cryptic means without light?
So cryptic means without light?
http://www.reef-eden.net/cryptic_zones.htm
Although we use the word CRYPTIC it really doesn't explain what we are trying to do when we use it. Cryptic means HIDDEN so it kinda fits since we are using it to explain a kind of filtration where it won't be viewed as DT and most sumps/refugiums are. It doesn't need to be dark but doesn't hurt to be or low light level and your right smalltime its all about the right kind of flow and micro feeding.....aka plankton and bacteria.
FYI: FILTER FEEDER'S like high flow because they obsorb water in but keep velocity flow off them directly.
FYI: FILTER FEEDER'S like high flow because they obsorb water in but keep velocity flow off them directly.
High flow is really not the right term its more volume exchange since sponge can only pump water in and not out with how they are designed. They pull water in only which pushes old out so they need enough flow to bring food and remove waste. So a systems true needed flow will depend on each set up.
You have them growing in your overflow how many times an hour is your system turning over?
You have them growing in your overflow how many times an hour is your system turning over?
Right on my 150 gallon sump/refugium/cryptic area with running @ 100 gallons will turn over 30 times while DT will turn over 10 times along with 8400gph comming from two close loop pumps.
My cryptic areas will get high diffused movment created by the flow of ten returns while the DT has twelve returns . I will post pictures and make adjustments as needed...should be fun stuff
Smalltime post info. and picks of yours too as we go along it will be good to see different way's! I think it will catch on more and more as hobbest get more information.
my 150 gallon sump/refugium/cryptic area with running @ 100 gallons will turn over 30 times while DT will turn over 10 times along with 8400gph comming from two close loop pumps. My cryptic areas will get high diffused movment created by the flow of ten returns while the DT has twelve returns . I will post pictures and make adjustments as needed...should be fun stuff
Smalltime post info. and picks of yours too as we go along it will be good to see different way's! I think it will catch on more and more as hobbest get more information.
Right on my 150 gallon sump/refugium/cryptic area with running @ 100 gallons will turn over 30 times while DT will turn over 10 times along with 8400gph comming from two close loop pumps.
My cryptic areas will get high diffused movment created by the flow of ten returns while the DT has twelve returns . I will post pictures and make adjustments as needed...should be fun stuff
Smalltime post info. and picks of yours too as we go along it will be good to see different way's! I think it will catch on more and more as hobbest get more information.
my 150 gallon sump/refugium/cryptic area with running @ 100 gallons will turn over 30 times while DT will turn over 10 times along with 8400gph comming from two close loop pumps. My cryptic areas will get high diffused movment created by the flow of ten returns while the DT has twelve returns . I will post pictures and make adjustments as needed...should be fun stuff
Smalltime post info. and picks of yours too as we go along it will be good to see different way's! I think it will catch on more and more as hobbest get more information.
