CULPRA, ALGAE REFUGIUM and the Fright against Nitrates!!??

[moy]

Ok, from what i read under a previous post about NITRATES, some of you guys stated that to help keep Nitrates down to use:
CULPRA and a ALGAE REFUGIUM.
So, if these 2 items help in the fight the against Nitrate, id like to know:
1. What's a CULPRA???
2. What's a ALGAE REFUGIUM??
How can i take advantage of them???
Someone please give me guidance....!

 

[fender]

Calurpa is a type of MacroAlgae that "eats" nitrates. There are many types of calurpa (sp).
An algae refugium is a place where you can grow various algea types - usually calurpa away from the main tank. This refugium can literally fill with algea that feed off nitrates. You periodically "harvest" the algae, giving some of it away to your fellow tank keepers , throw it away or trade it to your nice LFS where they will give you a store credit.
The reason you do it in a refugium is to keep your cleanup crew from eating it, and you can control the lighting separately (run 24hours, opposite of your tank lighting for PH stability, etc.)
HTH

 

[mr . salty]

The main trick to making an algae refugium work is A SLOW WATER FLOW RATE....Less than 100gph.I doubt if mine even flows at 50gph.
[ August 09, 2001: Message edited by: MR . SALTY ]

 

[moy]

Hey! How do i get CULPRA Algae in my tank???
Is it something i can buy in a bottle from my LPS??
Or is there a solution that will promote the growth of Macro Algae??

 

[fender]

There are a few ways to get it.
1) Hitch hiking on LR.
2) Buying from LFS/Online - SWF can hook you up.
3) Find a friend who is harvesting
Lighting is about all you need. Let your nitrates be your solution for growth.
Calurpa grows pretty quick, don't encourage it with anything other than light. A regular flo will do it altho you can get a full spectrum and it may be a better light for this application assuming you are using a refugium.

 

[moy]

Hey Fender, what did you mean when you said about the CULPRA ALGAE:
"Let your nitrates be the solution for growth".
GOT ME CONFUSED!!!!
SO i can buy it at local pet store.
Does eveyone recommend they should have it or not???

 

[fender]

I meant that your nitrates will feed them and encourage growth. Don't add anything else. Suppliments to spur plant/algae growth will only cause grief. Increased hair algae etc.
There are several types of macroalgea, calurpa being one type. As far as I know, calurpa doesn't need anything other than light and the nitrates. Halimida (sp) is another type, and like corraline algae needs calcium to grow.

 

[johnnysalt]

For those trying to do searches on this macroalgae on the web (or this board) try spelling the word C A U L E R P A!! Spelling the word "calurpa" only brought up 8 listings; "caulerpa" brought up 4780.
Have fun...

 

[fender]

Yeah my speling sux. tHats wyh i em a programer. Evrything is n kode. U dn't hav to spel well just b consistent.

 

[fishfreek]

I keep two very small patches of razor calurpa in my main tank. I think it looks nice in small controled clumps. Is it a bad idea to keep small amounts in the main tank?