I currently do not have a wet/dry filter or a Refugium. How can I still use the Chaetomorpha & Lava Rubble?

Question

I recently bought 60 lbs of live fiji sand and it came with a free Refugium kit that includes, Chaetomorpha and Lava Rubble. The problem is, I do not currently have a Refugium, Is there anyway I can use this stuff without it?!?!?

Answer 1

The lava rock can be used as live rock, so it can be cured and placed directly into your tank. The Chaetomorpha on the other hand as you know is a type of algae that will help in removing nitrates and phosphates from the water, but is not eaten by many fish. It will need to be kept in a high water flow area, you can even get some kind of tumbler for it. But it needs to be kept where there is a strong water current. You can keep both of these without a refugium, but I would not keep the lava rock and see if you can get rid of the algae unless you have a good place for it. Lava rock is not the BEST thing for a SW tank, instead you can use tufa, fiji, or other types of rock as live rock.