DIY Refugium with a hamster ball???

sarahwoods

sarahwoods

New member
Question for fellow reefers, for an easy refugium without having to re-silicone a tank, in theory do you think a XL 12 inch plastic hamster ball (brand new of course, lol) would work for a refugium? I feel like if I got a clear one the light would penetrate fine, but what do you guys think flow wise, ect... do you think this would work? I eventually plan on buying a new sump or re-silicone my sump to have a refugium but am looking for a temporary fix, any ideas on this? Theoretically could it work?

Might be a stupid idea for all I know, but it just came to me in brainstorming for cheap options.

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I was thinking about drilling a small hole and attaching a pump to push water in, then the water would flow out of the slits, not sure if that would work though.... or what size pump would be appropriate for just enough flow but not too much. Hmm...

Lil BamBam said:
No such things as a stupid idea!!!

I like it, but how will it spin and flow get in?
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An easy fix for coralline would be a vinegar rinse every once in a while, just like pumps and whatnot. Throw the chaeto/caulerpa into a bucket for a while, clean the ball, throw it back in. No worse than scrubbing tank walls, lol.
 
sarahwoods said:
If anyone else has another potential idea for a cheap, easy refugium I would LOVE to hear those ideas as well.
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There's a HOB finnex fuge that's about $25 on ebay. Needs a rio 50 and a light and you're set. Pretty easy and cheap too.

Just checked it out and all of a sudden, its listed for $125 instead of $25, so I'd email the seller, but search for "Finnex HOB Refugium" and you'll find it.
 
How bout a hang on box? You can pick up a Marina hob for under $12 on Amazon. Cheap light, and pump, you're good to go. On Amazon the Finnex is $20 without a light, I would suggest using a pump rather than the air pump it comes with. I put a Tetra Bio Flow Mini on mine, and it's perfect.
 
sarahwoods said:
If anyone else has another potential idea for a cheap, easy refugium I would LOVE to hear those ideas as well.
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you could just get a critter keeper and drill a bunch of holes in it then mount it on the side of your glass with magnets so the edge stays just above your water line.
 
I like this idea!

yogoshio said:
An easy fix for coralline would be a vinegar rinse every once in a while, just like pumps and whatnot. Throw the chaeto/caulerpa into a bucket for a while, clean the ball, throw it back in. No worse than scrubbing tank walls, lol.
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Thanks Ben!
I will go do a search on ebay.

yogoshio said:
There's a HOB finnex fuge that's about $25 on ebay. Needs a rio 50 and a light and you're set. Pretty easy and cheap too.

Just checked it out and all of a sudden, its listed for $125 instead of $25, so I'd email the seller, but search for "Finnex HOB Refugium" and you'll find it.
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Super helpful!
Thank you!
I already have a light that used to be on a 5 gallon pico reef tank, so I will prob just use that, so I won't have to buy a light. I have a extra rio 60 pump laying around as well, you think that would work with it? Headed over to Amazon right now to to check it out. Thanks for the info Aaron!

ADOGG80 said:
How bout a hang on box? You can pick up a Marina hob for under $12 on Amazon. Cheap light, and pump, you're good to go. On Amazon the Finnex is $20 without a light, I would suggest using a pump rather than the air pump it comes with. I put a Tetra Bio Flow Mini on mine, and it's perfect.
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sarahwoods said:
Super helpful!
Thank you!
I already have a light that used to be on a 5 gallon pico reef tank, so I will prob just use that, so I won't have to buy a light. I have a extra rio 60 pump laying around as well, you think that would work with it? Headed over to Amazon right now to to check it out. Thanks for the info Aaron!
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Rio 60 should work, but you may need an adaptor. The Tetra Bio Flow was an exact fit on the Finnex fuge, not sure if the Marina is the same size. My Finnex came with an air pump, but was a little noisy. You are welcome to have it if you want.
 
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