Too much macro in refugium?

[MarkD40]

I set up a 20 gallon refugium 2 months ago with 24/7 lighting and chaeto. The water turns over 20 times per hour. The effect on my display has been amazing. I have almost no algal growth and the small amount of cyano I had in low flow areas has disappeared.

I used to clean my glass every day, now it is every 3-4 days. My refugium however is getting choked with algae, mostly hair algae. There is a mat of algae floating on the surface that will completely cover the surface before much longer. Should I let it do so or remove it?

Should I add some big turbo snails to keep up with the growth? Advice please.

 

[rustybucket145]

Chaeto doesn't need 24/7 lighting to grow. In fact by giving your refugium 24 hrs of light you are giving the HA a leg up and actually hindering the chaeto's growth. I would suggest removing as much hair algae as possible by hand, reducing the photo period to 14-16 hrs per day (or night) this should give the chaeto a chance to do what it is best at and overtake the hair algae in the nutrient consumption battle.

 

[rustybucket145]

And yes you should remove handfulls of chaeto (nutrient export) on almost a weekly basis to give it new room to grow and export nutrients (by removing handfulls).

 

[Randall_James]

I run my refugium lighting 24/7
I also trim the macro algae every 2 weeks, if you do not trim the algae back it reaches a point were it quits growing. Keep in mind the idea is "Nutrient Export" not just "Uptake"

I can remove about half the mass and it comes back very quickly. Otherwise, it just sits there and fails to flourish. I do shake out the trimmed wads of algae as it is full of pods, snails and stomatella.

 

[rustybucket145]

Randall, do you have chaetomorphia in your refugium?

 

[Randall_James]

Yes Chaetomorpha. I might add that it also just before it needs cut back, it starts to grow bacterial slime on the top. I have tried to kill of this bloom but not much success. Perhaps if I cut the lighting it would do the trick. I am just a coward at changing stuff when it is working and I know it is time to cut when this slime shows up

 

[rustybucket145]

very true: if it ain't broke...... My chaeto also accumulates a little of the slime in the middle of the 'wad'. I would be interested in hearing how much chaeto growth you get with 24/7 lighting. My chaeto pretty much doubles in size every week. From basketball size to... well..... double basketball size.

On a side note my LFS lets me bring in the chaeto I prune every week for store credit. Usually used kinda like a trade for corals and the like.

 

[Randall_James]

I trim about 2 gallons in volume every 2 weeks (is pretty tightly packed together) It reaches a point where the volume seems to quit increasing, I see some pale coloration in spots and the slime starts.

The Walmart CF Floodlight works wonders btw, I tried several lights with no success at all until the floodlight, so lighting could also be a factor here. I tried MH, CF and a growlight and all failed miserably.

 

[rustybucket145]

I also use a power compact flood light. Unbelievable growth. But my refugium also gets a good deal of natural sunlight. (it is in a sunroom)

 

[MarkD40]

Thanks for the info. I was told repeatedly when I was setting up my refugium that the lights should stay on all of the time, the idea being that there would always be competition between the display and the fuge for available nutrients in the water column.

If this is not so, should the fuge lights be on at the same time as the display lights so that the macro in the fuge is actively removing nutrients in competition with the macro in the display?

It seems to me that since nitrate and other macro loving nutrients are produced 24 hours per day then your fuge lights should be on all day and night.

 

[Randall_James]

Toss up on lighting, if you do go with 12/12 however you will want the fuge lit at night when the tank lights are out. This is done to help control PH levels. I run my 24/7 and I am sure there are as many that run the 12/12 setup as the always on group

 

[irisheyes]

Randall_James, what is a Walmart CF Floodlight ? I am trying a Plant Growlight from Walmart. I haven't had it set up for a week yet, so don't know whether it is going o work or not.
Thanks!

 

[jknecht]

I too am interested in what Walmart CF Floodlight your using. I've been using a Coralife 50/50 over my fuge and the chaeto hasn't really grown. I also run mine 24/7. What wattage are you using?

 

[Randall_James]

GE 26W
FLE26/2/PAR38/XL
This bulb was sold as a replacement for I think a 95W outdoor floodlight. It is a self contained cf light that fits a standard floodlight mogul. Cost was around $8 or so and had a 3-5 warranty. It is outdoor weather proof so pretty safe over the sump I guess