Creatures & 24 hr lighting

[esotic1]

Does anyone know of any creatures that I can put in my ecosystem sump to keep the algae growth down on my glass, but also be able to withstand 24hr lighting? I have an 8 gallon sump with 24 hr 50/50 PC's on it. Also, would any corals be able to withstand 24 hr lighting down there, it would be great if i could cultivate them in the sump? (this may be a stupid question)

 

[bang guy]

Lettuce Nudis might be what you need.

 

[lesleybird]

Why do you want or need 24 hour lighting????
Lesley

 

[jarvis]

Originally posted by Lesleybird
Why do you want or need 24 hour lighting????
Lesley
Keep macro algea from going sexual.

 

[jarvis]

Wouldn't you want it to be ugly and nasty for a pod breading ground?

 

[esotic1]

Thanks Bang Guy.
Jarvis, well i have heard some mixed opions on 24hr lighting i have had it set up for over 3 years now and it has been fine, it grows and dies back as needed on its own. As far as it being all nasty in the sump i have a small 30 gallon tank and if some of that junk breaks loose from the sump it will end up in my main tank so thats why i want it to be at least a little clean, but thanks for the insight.

 

[lesleybird]

Originally posted by jarvis
Keep macro algea from going sexual.
You mean "going sexual" is something I need to worry about with my macro algea when I set up a refugium? What does it mean, and is it a bad thing????
Lesley

 

[jarvis]

I belive only certin strains of macros go sexual if given a day and night cycle. If it does happen your water turns a green tint and a likely hood that you will now have some macros growing in your display tank.

 

[jonthefb]

not to mention that when the algae goes sexual, the majority of the parent colony dies of and can release nasty toxins into the water...( yes caulerpa can be very toxic if it dies of en mass)
running your lights 24/7 also helps to stabilize pH. while the lights are on the algae is photosynthesizing and constantly producing o2....however at night, if the lights were off, o2 production stops and many times actually reverses to help with respiration (corals using energy to grow) this using of the o2 molecule changes the chemistry of the water, making it more acidic, because there are more free hydrogen molecules running around...and thus lowering the pH.........so if you run your lights 24/7 you eliminate this dark phase and have a constant source of o2 and no ph swings!
good luck
jon

 

[jonthefb]

ps. i have many times put injured corals into my fuge that is lit 24/7 and have had them make a remarkable comeback.....whether its because of pristine water conditions, no predators, constant food supply, or 24/7 lighting, who knows, but it works!
good luck
jon

 

[esotic1]

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[leboeuf]

back to your original question. I put porous peices of live rock in my fuge for a couple of weeks. It helped jump start the pod population and also introduced snails & slugs. Let nature run its course. I had horrible macro growth in the beginning. I didn't have anything to trim for the first 2 months, it never grew. I had real bad red algae outbreak on the mud in the fuge. It eventually will disappear as the macro grows over it. Once the light stops hitting the bottom and the nutrients are being utilized quickely the environment will clean up. I currently have a carpet of macro and no signs of algae on the bottom. I think the key is adding snails and slugs to keep things in check along with a stable envir for pods. good luck.