Refugium help

H

hermitage

New member
Hey all

I have a 210 with 55 gal DIY sump/Refugium. The refugium portion is 20 gal, with a few pounds of LR, 100 watt PC lighting.

I've got chunk of Chaetomorpha that just doesn't seem to grow. I've had this same piece in a 40 gal refugium and it didn't seem to grow there either. I've always had slight nusence (sp) algae growth in my display.

No matter what lighting, flow, tumbling or not tumbling. I can't seem to get it to grow.

I don't want to use Caulerpa, as I've read it can take over your tank.

Any suggestions on how to accelerate growth of the Chaeto? Anyone else ever have this problem?

My LFS suggested dosing Iron in the tank. I'm reluctant to do so.

TIA for the help!

119204refugium_55_gal.JPG
 
Not all water does. 2" inlet drains from the overflows into a 10 gal chamber that has a Mag 18 feeding the skimmer. The skimmer has a 1.5" drain that drains into the refugium portion.

In the old refugium, the skimmer was pulling from and feeding into the return portion of the refugium. So this setup is actually an improvement.

I'm stunted.
 
My overflow drain is split and one line feeds 25% to the refugium directly..."you should have 15x20 per hour turnover or 300g, plus or minus a few gallons."
Caulerpa will take over your tank, but that's ok in the fuge or at least it's better than nuisance algae in the main display.
That's the only way you're gonna get rid of phosphates short of constant phosphate pads or a reactor.

Check this out, you might find this interesting and helpful...
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html
 
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Do you think buying an extra Phosban Reactor and using Phosban will help reduce the nuicsance algae? I have a reactor now, but am using it for strictly carbon.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9243822#post9243822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hermitage
Do you think buying an extra Phosban Reactor and using Phosban will help reduce the nuicsance algae? I have a reactor now, but am using it for strictly carbon.
Click to expand...

I couldn't tell you as I never owned, used or am familiar with reactors, I personally think it's the spectrum of your lighting, but not certain.
Do you have both actinic and daylights in that fixture?...
 
Are you running your fuge light 24/7? Chaeto needs a dark period of 6-8 hours. After I found that out and started a reverse photo period mine started growing.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9244169#post9244169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by THB
Are you running your fuge light 24/7? Chaeto needs a dark period of 6-8 hours. After I found that out and started a reverse photo period mine started growing.
Click to expand...

Good point!...:thumbsup:
 
The lighting looks dim to me. I run 6500k spiral (30 watts) and it is really bright. Could just be the picture making it look dim.

Also is the water flowing through the cheato? In my display the water is forced through almost like it was a filter sponge and that seems to help a great deal. My QT looks similar to how your fuge is setup and the cheato doesn't grow at all and it is (currently) an extremely dirty tank.
 
Thanks all...lots of great info here. I currently have my lights on 20 hrs a day. I'll try cutting that down to 12 and run on a reverese cycle. I'll start there.

I've got a 60 watt pc, and a 14 watt flourecent. Not sure about the kelvin rating. If the reverse lighting doesn't work, I'll try new bulbs.

bhdmc...you don't get algae growth in your display when adding iron? That's my biggest fear.

I also just bought an extra Phosban Reactor (more money spent!!!!!) I'm goign to run it with Phosban and see what happens.

Thanks for everyones help.
 
As suggested above, IMO I would use a reverse light cycle in stabilization of PH. I currently have 3 types of macro-algaes. Caulerpa, Chaeto, and Prolifera. All are thriving, and do think the off lighting period does help to stimulate the growth. All my macros have to be trimmed monthly. I use 130 watts pc's over a 20 gallon long refugium. I am pumping over 500gph in my fuge. No detectible nitrates and phosphates are real low...Good luck...
 
Hi Hermitage

I would think it can happen, but I do not have this problem. "The Reef Aquarium Volume 3" also suggest dosing iron in the refugium. Good Luck!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9251286#post9251286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hermitage
Thanks all...lots of great info here. I currently have my lights on 20 hrs a day. I'll try cutting that down to 12 and run on a reverese cycle. I'll start there.

I've got a 60 watt pc, and a 14 watt flourecent. Not sure about the kelvin rating. If the reverse lighting doesn't work, I'll try new bulbs.

bhdmc...you don't get algae growth in your display when adding iron? That's my biggest fear.

I also just bought an extra Phosban Reactor (more money spent!!!!!) I'm goign to run it with Phosban and see what happens.

Thanks for everyones help.
Click to expand...
 
1) is the chaeto alive? sounds stupid, but the first batch i ever had was actually dead, althought it still looked green.
2) 16-18 light, 8-6 hours dark.
3) daylight spectrum bulbs (i.e. 5500 to 6500 K).
4) dose iron.
5) consider dosing iodine.
 
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You guys/gals are awesome! Thanks for the great feedback. I think I'll do a little of all. One thing at a time of course.

The links on Iron is really interesting! Still a little concernd...what if I have macro growing in my display? Than that will grow as well...no?

Thanks again all
 
Also I use a 6500k (spiral, 30 watts) as others have mentioned. Melev had a big post around here somewhere about a bulb he had good luck with. I think that one was in the 5500k range.

The topic got me poking around... If these plants are using chloraphyll A then they are going to be the most absorbant at ~ 420nm and 680 or so. That being the case then a ~5000k bulb would be the best bet (much as Melev found).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chlorophyll_ab_spectra.png
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-03/atj/index.php

I wonder what a 10000k bulb + 4000k bulb would do. I suspect the gain (if any) over the 5000k bulb would be negligible.

Anyone know the natural habitat of Cheato? Looks like it is a shallow bay type plant but for some reason I couldn't find any decent info.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9260994#post9260994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hermitage
You guys/gals are awesome! Thanks for the great feedback. I think I'll do a little of all. One thing at a time of course.

The links on Iron is really interesting! Still a little concernd...what if I have macro growing in my display? Than that will grow as well...no?

Thanks again all
Click to expand...

The whole point is to get the fuge corrected so the micro and/or macro in your main display don't have a chance to compete for nutrients including iron. Once you get that corrected you'll be on easy street...:D
 
I concur (love that word) Plants need "growth lights". Doesn't need to be super bright. You can go to your local hardware store even and get green house type lighting. Anything between 5400-6700k. Remember that most Macro algae grows on the surface in the ocean so the light it receives is mostly yellow. The reverse light cycle will help keep your ph up through the night. Hope this helps.

FYI- I have a small 5w t5 6500k over mine and it grows great in my 20's sump.
 
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