A refugium is a compartment inside or outside an aquarium that provides a safe haven for aquatic life. It can be used to protect injured fish, acclimate prey, and regulate water flow in aquaculture.
A refugium is a compartment isolated from the rest of the aquarium population that can be inside or outside the aquarium. The purpose of the refugium, as the name suggests, is to provide a refuge for fish and other aquatic life. The refugium, however, shares the same water conditions as the rest of the tank, making it an ideal feature if the goal is to eventually release isolated species into the main tank.
A refugium can be useful if a species of aquatic life, such as a fish, is injured and may need special protection from aggressive species in the aquarium. Often, a wounded fish is a prime target for attack. The best way to keep these fish safe while they recover is to keep them isolated. For some aquarium owners, this is very important, as some exotic fish species can be quite expensive.
A refugium can also be used to keep prey items isolated until they are ready to be presented to the fish population for consumption. This allows the prey to acclimate to the water; some fish that skip this acclimatization process are shocked upon entering the water and die prematurely. This may not seem like a problem since the prey will be eaten anyway, but some fish species specifically adapted for predation will not eat already dead prey. Therefore, in some cases, a refugium can be very important to the overall health of the aquarium.
Refugiums are different from most other aquarium dividers and separators. However, in the common vernacular, some use the term to refer to any divider or separator included in an aquarium. However, most refugiums are only considered refugiums if they have a separate compartment located outside the main aquarium.
In addition to aquarium applications, refugiums can also be used in aquaculture. In such situations, all Refugium units will share the same water flow, but each Refugium might do something a little differently with that water. For example, in some cases, some species may need a slower current. Other species may need a faster current. Shelters can help regulate this. It should be noted that refugiums are often used for plant and animal life.
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