Travis L. Stevens
New member
Been there, done that. Some times it takes off on me, and then other times it will just crash. I'm still not sure why this happens with me
Algae scrubber experiment
- Thread starter dugg
- Start date
eddybabyhd
.Registered Member
I agree with paul w, when i had the monster refuge in the pic above. I was dosing 150 ml a day of the Tropic Marin Bio-Magnesium just to keep it from falling below 1200 PPM. I blame the mangroves, i think i had too many for my set up. I think they were actually stripping my water of my trace min
dugg
New member
My opinion on the issue is that you need as many different types of algaes as you can have to to a complete job. Every different type of algae will draw something different out of the water i think. One might like the phosphates, while another feeds on nitrates, while another may need something different. The more nutrients we can take out of the system, the better the corals will do. If my corals need nutrients, i will give it to them, but any extras need to be removed in one way or another to leave an almost sterile system IMO.
Another plus i have just found to this, is temp. I had to turn my heater up today due to the temp dropping after installing the scrubber. I also think it's adding oxygen into the water. I had to slow down my lime drip today also because the PH went from it's normal 8.2 up to 8.4. I know 8.4 isn't bad or anything, but just trying to stay stable and ease into it. I have never had a PH of 8.4 in this tank yet until today. Also not even one micro bubble in my sump. It is all disapating in the ride through the cheato and the pipe.
I plan to try and find some mangroves, or order some if i have to. Anything but caulerpa i think will be helpfull lol.
I also have been testing Paul T's theory on the 24/7 versus 12 on 12 off light for the sump. Right now i am running with the display lights. Paul so far you are correct. My cheato has grown 2 weeks worth of growth in the last week. It absolutley does benefit from a rest period. I plan to reverse light after a month or so to see if it really makes a difference on the PH. So far my PH has been the same in the morning as it was with the lights on at night. Now if only i would wake up and find my tank has grown to 600 gallons over night the world would be a better place lol.
Another plus i have just found to this, is temp. I had to turn my heater up today due to the temp dropping after installing the scrubber. I also think it's adding oxygen into the water. I had to slow down my lime drip today also because the PH went from it's normal 8.2 up to 8.4. I know 8.4 isn't bad or anything, but just trying to stay stable and ease into it. I have never had a PH of 8.4 in this tank yet until today. Also not even one micro bubble in my sump. It is all disapating in the ride through the cheato and the pipe.
I plan to try and find some mangroves, or order some if i have to. Anything but caulerpa i think will be helpfull lol.
I also have been testing Paul T's theory on the 24/7 versus 12 on 12 off light for the sump. Right now i am running with the display lights. Paul so far you are correct. My cheato has grown 2 weeks worth of growth in the last week. It absolutley does benefit from a rest period. I plan to reverse light after a month or so to see if it really makes a difference on the PH. So far my PH has been the same in the morning as it was with the lights on at night. Now if only i would wake up and find my tank has grown to 600 gallons over night the world would be a better place lol.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Actually, my Magnesium levels are fine. I'm beginning to think that they used up all the Iron, actually. I've thought about tossing an old iron nail in there to rust
Just kidding, I've been looking for dosable silicate and iron for a while now.
dugg
New member
Travis, i actually know people that use iron nails and or wire rusting in the sump to maintain iron levels. I am just afraid of what other metals may be in them or i would too. I dose Iron regularly though.
I did learn just last week how to tell without a test kit, when magnesium levels are low. When you start to get the calcium line around the water level mark in the sump the mag levels are low. Proper mag levels keep the calcium suspended and it won't build up like that.
I learned that while searching to find out why my pumps kept building up calcium deposits and freezing up. I tested my mag levels, and brought them up to where they should be, and all of the calcium deposits in my sump dissapeared.
I did learn just last week how to tell without a test kit, when magnesium levels are low. When you start to get the calcium line around the water level mark in the sump the mag levels are low. Proper mag levels keep the calcium suspended and it won't build up like that.
I learned that while searching to find out why my pumps kept building up calcium deposits and freezing up. I tested my mag levels, and brought them up to where they should be, and all of the calcium deposits in my sump dissapeared.
eddybabyhd
.Registered Member
I think dugg might own stock in those ground probe things
There was study a while back that showed mangroves are not as efficient as chaeto at nutrient export.
They also have other inherent issues, such as misting the leaves regularly and ensuring the leaves done fall into the water.
Mangrove propagules are not easy to come by this time of year. Mostly you would get them online from one of the florida aquaculture farms.
They do look nice tho.
Paul.
They also have other inherent issues, such as misting the leaves regularly and ensuring the leaves done fall into the water.
Mangrove propagules are not easy to come by this time of year. Mostly you would get them online from one of the florida aquaculture farms.
They do look nice tho.
Paul.
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