HOB refugium with FW tank

[gar1948]

Will a 2.5 gal HOB refugium on a 29 gal FW lightly planted tank help my nitrate problem?
I have a heavy bio load. 8 platys, 6 small albino cats, 2 zebras, 3 blk mollies, 8 neons.

 

[Crepe]

Not in particular, no. You'd need a lot of plants + high light + co2 in your fuge to make a dent. Even then 2.5gallons is nothing. You might as well plant your whole tank. Fuges are used in sw due to their smaller bio load, less organics, and the fact no one wants a wad of chaeto in their tank to act as a nutrient suck. We freshwater folk can plant inside the tank, have lots of organic waste, and stock heavily.

You're best off just getting rid of some fish.