Fluorecent lamps for Chaetomorpha may not be optimal
- Thread starter Randy Holmes-Farley
- Start date
elisabeth
New member
so i can assume that this is pretty much dead? i just got it
in the mail and i think the heat affected it. it's very brittle
and has all these beige 'spots' on it. Are those calcium?
i apologise for tagging along, but you folks seem to know the
subject matter
With Caulerpa prolifera, i noticed that when i first put it into
the refugium for the first time, it went great guns and then
slowed like soo many others have experienced. i wonder
if the nutrient limitation isn't some trace element? Because
all the usual suspects have to be readily available or
replenishable. And why else would just having a 'different
kind' of Macro seem to immediately take off where the
previous one slowed. I know this doesn't address light
spectrum but this has been something i've wondered
about ever since the first Macro-- C. prolifera slowed
3 years ago.
in the mail and i think the heat affected it. it's very brittle
and has all these beige 'spots' on it. Are those calcium?
i apologise for tagging along, but you folks seem to know the
subject matter
With Caulerpa prolifera, i noticed that when i first put it into
the refugium for the first time, it went great guns and then
slowed like soo many others have experienced. i wonder
if the nutrient limitation isn't some trace element? Because
all the usual suspects have to be readily available or
replenishable. And why else would just having a 'different
kind' of Macro seem to immediately take off where the
previous one slowed. I know this doesn't address light
spectrum but this has been something i've wondered
about ever since the first Macro-- C. prolifera slowed
3 years ago.
TheMandarinFish
In Memoriam
sunlit refugium
sunlit refugium
I'm giving some chaetomorpha direct sunlight in my tank....
I just got it and will let you know how it works.
I think, and hope, my sunlit refugium is a real fortunate item.
I've considered adding light via a small regular flourescent during the dark cycle, too.
sunlit refugium
I'm giving some chaetomorpha direct sunlight in my tank....
I just got it and will let you know how it works.
I think, and hope, my sunlit refugium is a real fortunate item.
I've considered adding light via a small regular flourescent during the dark cycle, too.
TheMandarinFish
In Memoriam
24 / 7
24 / 7
24 / 7 light in a refugium is supposed to help control PH swings, increase macro growth, and reduce the likelihood of caulerpa going sexual, correct?
Are there any downsides?
24 / 7
24 / 7 light in a refugium is supposed to help control PH swings, increase macro growth, and reduce the likelihood of caulerpa going sexual, correct?
Are there any downsides?
CJ
Premium Member
Re: 24 / 7
Re: 24 / 7
What helps control pH swings is when you have the refugium lights on a reverse cycle, that is they are on at night while your tank lights are on during the day. Photosynthesis consists of two different phases which are influenced by both light and temperature, those are actually series of reactions. To keep it simple, plants capture energy from the sun, your light in this case, and use CO2 to "make" their food with or without light. It's all very complicated but if you are on a reverse cycle you are evening out the removal of CO2 and stabilizing your pH to a certain extend.
I don't have any personal experience but I have seen posts that would indicate that 24/7 lighting reduces the likelihood of caulerpa going sexual. However, you say you have Chaetomorpha. Chaetomorpha does not go sexual, that is the beauty of it.
Re: 24 / 7
TheMandarinFish said:
What helps control pH swings is when you have the refugium lights on a reverse cycle, that is they are on at night while your tank lights are on during the day. Photosynthesis consists of two different phases which are influenced by both light and temperature, those are actually series of reactions. To keep it simple, plants capture energy from the sun, your light in this case, and use CO2 to "make" their food with or without light. It's all very complicated but if you are on a reverse cycle you are evening out the removal of CO2 and stabilizing your pH to a certain extend.
I don't have any personal experience but I have seen posts that would indicate that 24/7 lighting reduces the likelihood of caulerpa going sexual. However, you say you have Chaetomorpha. Chaetomorpha does not go sexual, that is the beauty of it.
Eric Boerner
Coral Cutter
I originally posted to this thread 4 months.
I had a problem with my chaetomorpha not growing for the past 6 months prior. In fact, it seemed to be on a decline at that point.
In the past month, my chaetomorpha is now on the upswing, and is growing at rapid rates.
Here is some of the "other" issues I was dealing with at that time as well.
1. I was having a heat problem. My take temp swings were going from 84 in the morning to 87 at night. it spiked to 89 on a couple nights. I normally try to keep my tank at 84.
2. I also had a major cyano/green hair algae outbreak at the time.
3. I was strictly dosing kalkwasser (mrs balls pickling lime).
4. I lost a couple stony corals, and 1 fish during that time.
Since then, I have done to the following that may have effected the returning growth rate of the macro.
1. I have added 2 more fans in my canopy. This has dramatically reduced the heat issue I had. I can now stay in a 1 to 2 degree variance, limited to 83 to 85. My tank temp is more stable.
2. My cyano is practically all gone. I still have patches of hair algae though.
3. I have returned to dosing bionic for my small tank instead of kalkwasser.
I did not change the bulb in my refugium or change my lighting regime, so I don't think that lighting was an issue at all.
I have a distinct feeling that resolving heat issues along with changing back to bionic is what helped increase growth rates.
I had a problem with my chaetomorpha not growing for the past 6 months prior. In fact, it seemed to be on a decline at that point.
In the past month, my chaetomorpha is now on the upswing, and is growing at rapid rates.
Here is some of the "other" issues I was dealing with at that time as well.
1. I was having a heat problem. My take temp swings were going from 84 in the morning to 87 at night. it spiked to 89 on a couple nights. I normally try to keep my tank at 84.
2. I also had a major cyano/green hair algae outbreak at the time.
3. I was strictly dosing kalkwasser (mrs balls pickling lime).
4. I lost a couple stony corals, and 1 fish during that time.
Since then, I have done to the following that may have effected the returning growth rate of the macro.
1. I have added 2 more fans in my canopy. This has dramatically reduced the heat issue I had. I can now stay in a 1 to 2 degree variance, limited to 83 to 85. My tank temp is more stable.
2. My cyano is practically all gone. I still have patches of hair algae though.
3. I have returned to dosing bionic for my small tank instead of kalkwasser.
I did not change the bulb in my refugium or change my lighting regime, so I don't think that lighting was an issue at all.
I have a distinct feeling that resolving heat issues along with changing back to bionic is what helped increase growth rates.
It has continued to grow very well with the track lights.
was assuming the caulerpa (and anti-herbivore chemicals) were killing my chaeto.
That's possible, but I don't know for sure that that happens. I grow both, but I grow my Chaetomorpha in a refugium that is "upsteam" from the one with the Caulerpa racemosa. It is also true that the Chaetomorpha does not grow as well in the Caulerpa refugium, but I do not know if that is because the lighting is different (it has a 175 w mh lamp) or due to the Caulerpa, or something else.
was assuming the caulerpa (and anti-herbivore chemicals) were killing my chaeto.
That's possible, but I don't know for sure that that happens. I grow both, but I grow my Chaetomorpha in a refugium that is "upsteam" from the one with the Caulerpa racemosa. It is also true that the Chaetomorpha does not grow as well in the Caulerpa refugium, but I do not know if that is because the lighting is different (it has a 175 w mh lamp) or due to the Caulerpa, or something else.
Could be. Or maybe you don't have much in the way of dnutrients for it to use?
I also add iron, which may make a difference.
I also add iron, which may make a difference.
I just thougth I'd revise this thread. Why? I cannot get this stuff to grow in my system.
55g with 5.6g refugium, 2" sandbed, and a good population of pods. Chaeto absolutley refuses to grow. I had a small Cyano outbreak, i recently cleaned and took out 2 inches of sand off the top, as it really isn't somthign I wanted in there (4 inch sandbed, not the sand).
I use a regular 18" 15watt striplight from a 2 fixutre 55g hood. The stuff grew for quite a while, and then stopped.
All this is great info, but it seems this stuff is a mystery to everyone. I also put Caluerpa into my fuge now, I need somthing to export nutrients. Still, would like to toss that stuff out the window, and have Chaeto.
55g with 5.6g refugium, 2" sandbed, and a good population of pods. Chaeto absolutley refuses to grow. I had a small Cyano outbreak, i recently cleaned and took out 2 inches of sand off the top, as it really isn't somthign I wanted in there (4 inch sandbed, not the sand).
I use a regular 18" 15watt striplight from a 2 fixutre 55g hood. The stuff grew for quite a while, and then stopped.
All this is great info, but it seems this stuff is a mystery to everyone. I also put Caluerpa into my fuge now, I need somthing to export nutrients. Still, would like to toss that stuff out the window, and have Chaeto.
As I was adding new halogen lamps yesterday, I got to thinking that some of the difference between the halogen lamps and the fluorescent "equivalents" that I did not find as effective might actually be the heat. The Chaetomorpha mat gets warm, and that extra warmth from the halogen lamps might make a growth difference. I'll try measuring the temp inside the mat this weekend.
The top of the mat of Chaetomorpha is at least 2-4 deg F warmer than the surrounding tank water when using halogen lamps. I didn't measure it with the fluorescents, but I expect it is not higher than the tank water, and might even be cooler (more like the air temp).
So temperature might be part of the diffeence that I see between different types of lights.
So temperature might be part of the diffeence that I see between different types of lights.
Chicago
New member
jumping in here,,,....
i am starrting a refugium which is a 300gallon rubermaid attached to a 500 gallon reef. i have been in the hobby for years but nevere real did a true macro fuge. is this macri algea the true choice of those who have been using this stuff and doing macro fuges?
i rember sprung was recomending adifferent algea in his books, doe to issue of sexual reprductins.
please let me know your success stories and why/
thanks again.
i am starrting a refugium which is a 300gallon rubermaid attached to a 500 gallon reef. i have been in the hobby for years but nevere real did a true macro fuge. is this macri algea the true choice of those who have been using this stuff and doing macro fuges?
i rember sprung was recomending adifferent algea in his books, doe to issue of sexual reprductins.
please let me know your success stories and why/
thanks again.
The most obvious advantage to Chaeto is that it doesn't go sexual, releasing toxins into your tank... It's a farily new thing, seeing more and more of it pop up all over reef central. It does remove phosphates and silicates, and I'm still not sold on it's de-nitrifing yet. It doesn control the pest algae in my tank very well.
With that said, as you can see from above it's weird how this stuff chooses to grow in one persons tank, and not others. My chaeto has just recently begun to start growing again. I removed 2 inches of the 4 inches of sand, since there isn't enough footprint in a HOB fuge to denitrify, 2 weeks of Chemipure/Purigen and a new Jalli PC fixture, and it's begun to grow again. Very rapidly. It's not known a great deal about it, therefore, it's hit and miss, but overall, it's pretty sucessful.
With that said, as you can see from above it's weird how this stuff chooses to grow in one persons tank, and not others. My chaeto has just recently begun to start growing again. I removed 2 inches of the 4 inches of sand, since there isn't enough footprint in a HOB fuge to denitrify, 2 weeks of Chemipure/Purigen and a new Jalli PC fixture, and it's begun to grow again. Very rapidly. It's not known a great deal about it, therefore, it's hit and miss, but overall, it's pretty sucessful.
I keep two areas of chata..one lit 24/7 by a 65 watt
65k p/c...and the stuff grows like gang buster!! so much so
that i have two 1 foot square (roughly) pieces that sit in
my baffle that is not lit...the only light it recvs is out of the side of
light about 2 feet away!! the baffle chata hasnt been lit in 2 mnths and is green and very health...just slower growing
..i was a little worried at first b/c it went from 24/7 light
2'' of the water to none....but has done just fine....
i love the algea...do you think it get brittle b/c of not
enough pruning...the strings in my chata are a good
2- 2 1/2 feet long!! but i prune a handful a week...greg
65k p/c...and the stuff grows like gang buster!! so much so
that i have two 1 foot square (roughly) pieces that sit in
my baffle that is not lit...the only light it recvs is out of the side of
light about 2 feet away!! the baffle chata hasnt been lit in 2 mnths and is green and very health...just slower growing
..i was a little worried at first b/c it went from 24/7 light
2'' of the water to none....but has done just fine....
i love the algea...do you think it get brittle b/c of not
enough pruning...the strings in my chata are a good
2- 2 1/2 feet long!! but i prune a handful a week...greg
