wet/dry conversion

[tat2tillidie]

i converted my wet/dry filter over to a refugium with 2 types of chaeto and its been 24 hrs. i noticed today that the cyano that i have was not as visable today. i dont know if it works that fast bt my tank seems a lil different already. i just removed the bio balls ad put some chaeto in there with a light. now hould i leave te light on 24/7 or what should i run it at?


it only cost me $35 to do it. i should have did it along time ago.

 

[icy1155]

If its cheato I would run it on an opposite light cycle as the tank, so that it stablalizes your system pH. Caulerapa is the only one I have seen recommended to run 24 hours and that is just to keep it from releasing spores.

 

[tat2tillidie]

well i have green chaeto its real stringy and coarse like a brillo pad and the other is red devils something . so i should just run it after the daylights go off?

 

[kaptken]

the concept of running a fuge on opposite light cycle is to compensate for normal night time PH drop on the reef tank. When the lights go out the phyto cycle flips from producing oxygen by eating CO2, to burning oxygen and producing CO2. that night time, lights out plant process of burning carbs and producing CO2 puts disolved CO2 into the water, making carbonic acid, which nuetralizes alkalinity and lowers your PH.

so a reverse cycle fuge will produce O2 at night while the reef is in the dark, and raise the ORP and help float the PH by removing CO2, until morning when the tank lights come back on.

Some macro algea will go sporadic at times, and common theory is that 24/7 lighting can prevent that. but not always. Chaeto doesnt seem to mind 24/7 light, so why not.

 

[martinfaimly]

how is the conversion working out? may be doing same thing with my setup to see what it does.

 

[tat2tillidie]

it seems to be working good. but i will post back in a few weeks