photo period

[geoxman]

Over the past few months I helped a friend set up a VERY large system. Well over 900 total gallons of water. It is all custom and he had a 500 arcylic sump built with about a 300 gallon refugium built as an off shoot.

A lot of local reefers donated quite a bit of macro for this new set up but for the most part it consists of cheato, grape and feather caulerpa. We have roughly 75 gallons, 18 five gl buckets full, of marco in it now and it is lit by (3) 400w Ushio 6500k bulbs that have been running 24/7.

I have never dealt with anything other than cheato and I was wondering on what the photo period for the caulerpa is best? I have read/searched both 24/7 and a time of darkness. Which one is best for it?

It is not an option to remove it as it is all intertwined and would not be worth the time.

He is running a large 55 gallon carbon reactor and if it went asexual I would imagine that and the skimmer would take care of it, but and ideas on the lighting period?
TIA

 

[Triterium]

You’re not going to get any definitive answers here, just a bunch of anecdotes.

I've always done 12hr/day with good results.

 

[oct2274]

i like splitting the day as well and actually just running the fuge opposite the display tank to help keep pH more constant. You may run into problems with the caulerpa going sexual if you don't run 24/7. I had my caulerpa go sexual and it almost destroyed my tank. I personally would just save money on electricity and dump everything but the chaeto and run the lighting opposite the display tank.

 

[Triterium]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11599255#post11599255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oct2274
i like splitting the day as well and actually just running the fuge opposite the display tank to help keep pH more constant. You may run into problems with the caulerpa going sexual if you don't run 24/7. I had my caulerpa go sexual and it almost destroyed my tank. I personally would just save money on electricity and dump everything but the chaeto and run the lighting opposite the display tank.

Very good advice!

Unless you like the caulerpa for more than nutrient export, chuck it. Caulerpa can be very pretty addition to a reef tank/refugium. It can be invasive though

 

[geoxman]

I appreciate the replies. It really was not a $ issue for what was purchased more of a supply issue. There are no LFS in the area that could supply that amount of macro and I do not know of too many on line places that could also supply that amount. It was merely a need and not a dollar amount.

I have no idea what was spent on the total system but I am guessing upwards of 30 grand. It is not mine and I did not get involved in that part-only helping in the set up.

He also has a 300w pool UV off of the return into the main, could this stop a potential spore thingy outbreak?

I did not help in the purchase the equipment or the system-I was just there for the set up. TIA

Triterium, I will advise him on the 12 hour bit.

 

[Triterium]

Sounds like a cool setup. Perfect lighting for that size of fuge, IMO. And, hey, if he thinks the tank can handle some of the caulerpa going sexual, then i'd throw in as many different species as possible. Let them compete and you'll get at least a few that do well.

Any chance of posting pictures? Sounds like an awesome refugium.

 

[geoxman]

I can get pictures next weekend when I am over there. I do not think he is trying to battle the caulerpa as it is the first SW set up.

It is amazing on the equipment side as I have never spent more than $500 on anything?? It is a very nice set up and it should work out fine. I was really interested in the 24/7 photo period vs 12 hour though
TIA