What would be better? 30G chateo/fuge or dark with LR

[sjm817]

My first venture into the advanced forum, so be gentle!

I'm setting up my 180G with a basement sump room. The display will have a SSB and ~ 180lb or LR. The main sump is a 75G with about 40G used with a Euro-reef RS250 skimmer. I may have some LR in there as well. I also have a 30L (36x12x16) plumbed in. My original plan is to use it as a lighted fuge with LR Rubble and Chaeto. I've seen a couple of things about using LR in a dark sump (not lit). What would be the advantages or disadvantages of each method? Which would be better for filtration. Would Pods live in a dark LR sump?

Thanks

 

[eskymick]

I think you'll be happy with the results of having a macro fuge.

 

[Putawaywet]

Well, since I'm not sure what you have "seen" reference dark sumps filled with LR it's kinda hard to offer more than just some casual opinions.

If by chance you are referring to something along thelines of Steve Tyree's cryptic filtration methodology then there are very special parameters that you will need to follow to maximize performance.

A well managed Chaeto fuge does seem to be about as low tech as they come. You also have the option of using a reverse photo period on the fuge which may offer some additional pH stability.

Each has it's strengths and weaknesses, but I'd have to say, at least in the situation you are describing, that the nod goes to the Cheato fuge.

Either way, pods will populate pretty much anywhere they find to their liking, lighted or otherwise. I have had them crawling around on brightly lit algae screens as well as in the total darkness of my cryptic zone.

Brett

 

[pjf]

DSB > Macro Algae > Live Rock

DSB > Macro Algae > Live Rock

I have a reverse daylight photosynthesis (RDP) refugium. The chaetomorpha in the refugium is lit at night to consume CO2 and to oxygenate. A stable CO2 concentration stabilizes the pH. I believe that macro algae can nurture a pod culture although natural nitrate reduction (NNR) is the prime objective.

A better alternative for NNR may be an unlit DSB in your sump. On a thread titled "DSB in a bucket for nitrate control" in this forum, Anthony Calfo touts the superiority of an unlit DSB. He states: “macroalgae in the sump cannot even begin to compare in potential (its inferior) in this application if typical.” Not requiring a light is an advantage but macro algae will not be available for pod culture here.

I have not found any studies of live rock in an unlit refugium for NNR. You are breaking new ground (rock) here. I would think that a DSB provides greater surface area than live rock for culturing nitrifying bacteria. I’m not sure if lighting will benefit the live rock and I would not add lighting unless you also plan to culture macro algae.

Good luck!

 

[Agu]

What you're describing is indeed a Tyree cryptic zone refugium. The concept is that low light sponges and tunicates will grow in this zone and filter your water. In addition the extra live rock will also perform NNR.

However the flow through a cryptic zone needs to be slow so it usually doesn't work as a main sump.


How mine was set up was with a T and valve from the mail drain line to a rubbermaid tub. I left the lid on the tub and cut a hole small enough to be covered with a bucket lid. The sides of the tub had two 1.5" bulkheads that drained to the main sump. I filled it with live rock and a couple of uncured pieces to seed it, adjusted the flow, and ignored it


I set this up but moved shortly thereafter so I really can't evaluate the results. When I tore that sump down there were a lot of pods though.

If you have the room it's worth trying imo.



BTW, I did that 5 years ago .

 

[pjf]

Cryptic Zone Refugia Links

Cryptic Zone Refugia Links

Here are a couple of interesting links regarding Mr. Tyree and cryptic zone refugia:

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=544

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tyreecmatv1.htm

Here is a link to a cryptic zone "livestock" supplier:

http://www.garf.org/GRUNGEPLUS1/page111.html

 

[sjm817]

Thanks for the replies. The 180G has a 75G sump, and the 30G fuge is separate. The fuge is fed off a T from the return pump. Both the sump and fuge are based on glass aquariums.

The cryptic zone method is interesting reading. I think I'm just going to go with LR rubble in the bottom (have it in there now) and some Chaeto.

 

[gary faulkner]

sjm817

Just a suggestion. Run existing 30G as criptic and add another 30G with Chaeto only.

Best of both worlds.

HTH

 

[Krustylove]

Can refugiums "aggravate" hair algae? I have an old school florescent fixture hanging over mine and am worried that the high red spectrum these bulbs are notorious for may be feeding the hair algae currently smothering my rock and reef? That it is helping the spores in the water column grow and attach in the main tank as it does not grow in the refugium with all the macros?

 

[RobTheReefer]

Re: DSB > Macro Algae > Live Rock

Re: DSB > Macro Algae > Live Rock

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8362057#post8362057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pjf
I have a reverse daylight photosynthesis (RDP) refugium. The chaetomorpha in the refugium is lit at night to consume CO2 and to oxygenate. A stable CO2 concentration stabilizes the pH. I believe that macro algae can nurture a pod culture although natural nitrate reduction (NNR) is the prime objective.

Thank you for the acronyms (TYFTA). :lol:

 

[JoeyK@OCMD]

I have a section of my sump that is kept dark with about 80 lbs of live rock, and a 75 gallon refugium that is fully lit 24 hours a day. This works great for me. I have an over abundunce of pods, but I certainly don't think both are needed.

 

[BeanAnimal]

My 50 gallon sump recieves ambient light... it has about 20 pounds of rock and flows about 1200 GPH It is full of sponges and tunicates. It seems to serve well as a cryptic zone...

 

[gary faulkner]

Bean, I'll bet its full of pods, right?

 

[BeanAnimal]

There are some pods in the sump... I really have not looked in a long time. The fuge is podless, as there is a domino damsel in there and he wipes em out. I have tons of pods in my overflow and between the loose coraline and glass.

 

[gary faulkner]

Bean, I have a 29 gal fuge with sand, live rock and chaeto.
The chaeto hangs up on the rock so I have it separated with a piece of acrylic. Was thinking about removing the chaeto to its on fuge, just chaeto and power head. Adding more live rock to existing fuge. I believe this would give me more pods and better Chaeto growth.

How does that sound?

TIA

 

[BeanAnimal]

It may make maintenance easier. My fuge is above the tank. The sump is high flow and has some rock and a heater... thats it. I made it so large basically so I could get more total system volume and have a palce for extra rock in case I ended up with a high bio load.