New tank and questions about aquaforest and refugiums

[unfeazi]

Since the system will be run at ULNS due to the aquaforest method, is there any need for a refugium? My sump has a separate compartment dedicated to one that I can control flow through which I was hoping to use to grow pods. If its not likely to grow much macro, I will probably just put a bunch of live rock rubble in there to help with the pod population.

 

[plyle02]

I would use the chamber for siporax or matrix as a media to home bacteria, as the system is based on carbon and bacteria dosing, eventually the bacteria will out compete algae for nutrients. Soon AF will release to the US their new Life Bio Fil, similar to siporax or matrix, very efficient from my understanding, and comes pre-seeded with bacteria. It is not completely necessary, but from my info gathered, the media needs to have about 10% changed every 6 weeks or so. Cheers

 

[unfeazi]

Man that would be a lot of media haha. The sump is a trigger systems crystal 30E , but Im sure pods would grow crazy in there with all the media as well.

 

[Yonp11]

I took down my refugium when I started aquaforest, now I have trouble with my pH being too low at night due to CO2 buildup. I run a CO2 scrubber now, but its not as stable as when I was running a fuge. Just something to think about.

 

[unfeazi]

That's a good point as well. What do the people at aquaforest recommend in order to help with pH?

 

[iLLwiLL]

Maybe set your doser to drip the majority of your alk after the lights go out?

 

[plyle02]

In my 12 years of keeping sps, I have never used a PH test, and I have never monitored. Alkalinity in proper relation to a well oxygenated tank will suffice and PH will balance itself. The only reason to be concerned is with increased levels of CO2 emission, for example a home without central air or heat, or many people in the room where the tank is. If you are concerned, maybe bring in fresh air to the intake of your skimmer. I spoke with Sever at the MACNA conference if he tested PH or was ever concerned, he agreed. The water returning from the tank creates bubbling, your skimmer also provides oxygen to the tank. As long as the ph is stable, this is the major thing to be concerned with, which could result from swinging alk. Of course we know that is lowers naturally as photosynthesis is absent, for example when lights out. Hope this helps

 

[Piper27]

I use a big tank filled with live rock and the AF system, do that if you want more life in the tank. I use the rock tank and a lot of carbon source to balance nutrients instead of using any media, much easier to adjust when needed too.

 

[ClearwaterUK]

I use a big tank filled with live rock and the AF system, do that if you want more life in the tank. I use the rock tank and a lot of carbon source to balance nutrients instead of using any media, much easier to adjust when needed too.

The trend is for minimal rock in the display adding media to the sump keeps up the space for the bacteria to function

 

[Piper27]

Yea that is the trend, but he was hoping to increase pod populations so I figured I would say what worked for me.

Although if you don't have a decent area in the tank to fill with live rock it's not going to be much different than some sporax.

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