RDSB v Chaetomorph

[Aquarist007]

I don't have the chaeto tumbling--and my flow is minimal--but I want the greater variety and numbers of inverts produced for the main tank.
I do rotate the cheato by hand once a week
Every second week I crank up the flow through the fuge and shake the chaeto in the water--this cleans out alot of detrius ect trapped in the chaeto ball.

 

[Aquarist007]

for more information on chaeto and refugiums --hop over to this thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1349443

 

[sjm817]

No tumbling here either. Its hard to make it do that in a large rectangular shape fuge. It seems to grow just fine anyway.

 

[Tswifty]

wow... great thread... extemely informative.

Thank you!

 

[Aquarist007]

we are having a real discussion on the optimum lighting needed for a cheato refugium on this thread. We could use some of your input there:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1349443&perpage=25&pagenumber=18

 

[bunjincoral]

I'm a little embarassed that I didn't think of it. Has anyone quantified bioload? A 5 inch grouper would seem to contribute more to bioload than 5 one-inch damsels, yet all the rules that I've read only mention total inches of fish. How about a total inch/girth ratio?

Hi, I am new to reefing but among freshwater, it is generally recognized that the mass of the fish is more accurate determiner of bioload. You are correct about one 5 inch contributing more bioload than five 1 inchers.

The general rule on mass is that one 5 inch does not equal five 1 inch.

Here is a table from Aquarium Fish International that had an article on it a while back:

Inches in length = this many one-inch fish in mass
1 ==== 1
2 ==== 8
3 ==== 27
4 ==== 64
5 ==== 125
6 ==== 216
7 ==== 343
8 ==== 512
9 ==== 729
10 === 1,000
11 === 1,331
12 === 1,728
24 === 13,824!!

While these are certainly not definitive (body shape and individual species considerations must also be taken into account), it certainly gives a perspective on the "1 inch per gallon" adage.

Although humans are no perfect analogy, a one and a half foot "tall" baby that weighs 10 pounds can weigh 200 pounds at six feet tall.

So with living things mass simply does not increase proportional to length/height.

 

[Aquarist007]

[welcome]

in marine reef tanks it is more a question of the fishes needs, and compatibility with others and the same species.
eg tangs grow quite large and need alot of swimming room
it is sometimes difficult to keep more then one species of dwarf angel in the same tank

 

[Chris2500DK]

You're right that the cube of the length is a better measure than just the lenght, but as capn_hylinur also said a lot of other factors comes into play. That goes for both fresh and salt water really.

And welcome to Reef Central

 

[liveforphysics]

Metabolism rate is a huge factor. I have a 6" rabbit fish with a very relaxed laid back personality. When I watch the feedings, I'm pretty sure I have many single 1.5" anthias that eat more than he does. I also think the anthias likely spend more energy than he does in a day. They are constantly darting around through the rocks and playing in the current while he likes to tuck into his favorite rock and sit still for most of the day.

I think he weighs as much as all 25 anthias in the tank combined, but I know they go through way way more food (and hence bioload) than he does.

 

[jriechel]

So what's the advice? Add a fish and see how it impacts the chemistry? Add a grouper and wait a few months to see if it will unbalance your tank or not?

General question for those of you with experience; how did you determine the number of fish you have in your tank?

 

[Chris2500DK]

Add fish slowly, see how they interact with the rest of the inhabitants, see how the tank responds to the added feeding.

 

[gmatt]

I have been using chaetomorph algae in my sps tank, Quarantine tank, and now my live live rock tank(next tank build). I am very interested in trying your 6 hour night time schedule. My tanks are over skimmed very clean and my chaeto stills grows great.

Recently my protein skimmer broke(still waiting for the manufacturer to send replacement parts,2 weeks so far). Without water changes, no nitrates, no phosphates, and chaeto growing faster. I have to keep throwing it away.

My only concern with switching to your system is lighting chaeto only at night on reverse cycle is will my nuisance algae start growing more durring display light cycle (daytime) without the chaeto for competition?