Is this normal?
- Thread starter salt nate
- Start date
fallensynner
Member
yes that is normal but u need some more algae eaters. do u have any tangs? wat size tank do u have? more gobies??? more emerald crabs??
salt nate
Member
I have a wet dry with a sump, but not a fuge...should I get one? what do I need to start one?
The one thing that boggles my mind about fuges(and it might be really stupid)...Does the pump in the fuge that pumps water to the sump have to be the exact same power and pump the exact same amount of water into the sump or the tank so that it does not get emptier or overflow??
The one thing that boggles my mind about fuges(and it might be really stupid)...Does the pump in the fuge that pumps water to the sump have to be the exact same power and pump the exact same amount of water into the sump or the tank so that it does not get emptier or overflow??
mr_x
Active Member
a refugium is never a bad idea, and any tank would benefit from one. it might not solve your algae issue, but it could.
meanwhile, you could never synchronize 2 pumps. there are too many variables involved.
you could add a refugium a number of ways:
use a HOB refugium, which i believe, brings it's own pump.
you could convert your wet/dry into a sump with refugium, by removing the bio balls and replacing them with macroalgae and live rock rubble. i think you'd probably want to get rid of the drip tray too.
you could split your drain line to your wet/dry to a separate tank which would hold your refugium, and put it's own return pump in it.
you could completely remove the wet/dry and build a sump with refugium out of a standard glass tank.
meanwhile, you could never synchronize 2 pumps. there are too many variables involved.
you could add a refugium a number of ways:
use a HOB refugium, which i believe, brings it's own pump.
you could convert your wet/dry into a sump with refugium, by removing the bio balls and replacing them with macroalgae and live rock rubble. i think you'd probably want to get rid of the drip tray too.
you could split your drain line to your wet/dry to a separate tank which would hold your refugium, and put it's own return pump in it.
you could completely remove the wet/dry and build a sump with refugium out of a standard glass tank.
mr_x
Active Member
sure you could. i've done it before. all you have to make sure of is that the return pump is separated by baffles from the macroalgae. you don't want macros getting sucked into the return, and you don't want microbubbles getting put into the display either. also take into consideration the height of the baffles inside the wet/dry. they will determine the height of the water. without seeign the wet/dry, i don't know if they are at an ideal height. i suppose you would be a better judge of that than i.
ultimately, it's better to start fresh with a nice sized glass tank and partition it just the way you want it. you'll have alot more space if you plan it right.
ultimately, it's better to start fresh with a nice sized glass tank and partition it just the way you want it. you'll have alot more space if you plan it right.
salt nate
Member
why would the fuge cause micros bubs? also, can the macro algae sit under the trickling water or does it have to be totally submerged? What kinda light do I need under there?
If I do a seperate fuge as your suggesting, does the fuge pump into the sump or back into the main tank or what? ive seen some diy's but I dont seem to get it.
If I do a seperate fuge as your suggesting, does the fuge pump into the sump or back into the main tank or what? ive seen some diy's but I dont seem to get it.
mr_x
Active Member
no. you don't want the macros only partially submerged. that's why i said to remove the drip tray. the light can be a basic clip on fixture that sells for 6 or 7 dollars from home depot and the bulb can be an energy saver type bulbs. just try to get one with a kelvin temperature of 6500k or so.
it should be written right on the ballast of the bulb. like this-
which separate fuge are you speaking of? do you mean splitting the drain line into it? then it could drain into the sump if it sat a little above it, or back to the main tank, if it was at the same height as the sump.
it should be written right on the ballast of the bulb. like this-
which separate fuge are you speaking of? do you mean splitting the drain line into it? then it could drain into the sump if it sat a little above it, or back to the main tank, if it was at the same height as the sump.
salt nate
Member
uhhhhhhh, which one's easier? thats sweet that the light I need is so inexpensive. Should I take the bioballs out all at once, or a little at a time? can I use some of the lr in my tank? should I just use live sand in there? my lfs said something about some sort of reef sludge or something????
also, I posted pics of my tank in a new thread at the top
also, I posted pics of my tank in a new thread at the top
socal57che
Active Member
I just built a mini fuge out of one of these. $34. Incredbly easy/simple. I can PM you a link detailing the process if you like.
aztec reef
Active Member
First you should find the culprid. An algea bloom doesnt happene for no reason.
The tank is letting u know that something is up..something has changed!!
It goes without saying that a fuge/sump is a great idea, same goes with choosing a bigger tank.
But regardless of how big the tank is or how many sumps/fuges u have, that's not the solution to excess nutrients/or lame water chemistry...it is a good aproch, but that doesn't mean its the solution, it just means your tank would handle a little more silicates without giving u a bigger diatom bloom. .(The more water volume the bigger the margin for errors).
That said: why are people so inclined on recomending a fuge/sump to the New hobbiests??
Kudos to that, however most new hobiests can't tell the difference between a fuge/sump/macroalgea...or wheter it is needed..
Seems that there's a lot of confusion amongs hobiests..(No pun intended).
The less equipment the less chances of something going wrong. Keep it simple!
The tank is letting u know that something is up..something has changed!!
It goes without saying that a fuge/sump is a great idea, same goes with choosing a bigger tank.
But regardless of how big the tank is or how many sumps/fuges u have, that's not the solution to excess nutrients/or lame water chemistry...it is a good aproch, but that doesn't mean its the solution, it just means your tank would handle a little more silicates without giving u a bigger diatom bloom. .(The more water volume the bigger the margin for errors).
That said: why are people so inclined on recomending a fuge/sump to the New hobbiests??
Kudos to that, however most new hobiests can't tell the difference between a fuge/sump/macroalgea...or wheter it is needed..
Seems that there's a lot of confusion amongs hobiests..(No pun intended).
The less equipment the less chances of something going wrong. Keep it simple!
socal57che
Active Member
Originally Posted by salt nate
http:///forum/post/2780802
id love the info socal!
and poster above...I might be a new hobbyist but a refugium is a good thing to do for anyone and any level of experience, Ive never seen anything bad about them
. also my parameters are perfect.
oh, and its spelled c u l p r i t, duh
Aztec has a lot to offer. Sometimes he comes across a little abrasive, but he is very helpful. He is saying that your fuge will consume the the things that you want it to, but will hide the issue that caused it at the same time. Phosphates for instance. Your macroalgae will use them up and leave you with a false sense of security rather than getting a high phos reading and correcting the cause.
Ooh, I see that I have a PM...be back soon.
Nate, you have PM.
http:///forum/post/2780802
id love the info socal!
and poster above...I might be a new hobbyist but a refugium is a good thing to do for anyone and any level of experience, Ive never seen anything bad about them
oh, and its spelled c u l p r i t, duh
Aztec has a lot to offer. Sometimes he comes across a little abrasive, but he is very helpful. He is saying that your fuge will consume the the things that you want it to, but will hide the issue that caused it at the same time. Phosphates for instance. Your macroalgae will use them up and leave you with a false sense of security rather than getting a high phos reading and correcting the cause.
Ooh, I see that I have a PM...be back soon.
Nate, you have PM.
rotarymagic
Active Member
phosphate sponge it!!!
socal57che
Active Member
Originally Posted by salt nate
http:///forum/post/2782023
so if I have diatoms, does that mean I have phosphates???? Because I am getting a 0 reading?
http://books.google.com/books?id=hax...sult#PPA281,M1
Your reading could be skewed by the organisms that are using up phosphates.
http:///forum/post/2782023
so if I have diatoms, does that mean I have phosphates???? Because I am getting a 0 reading?
http://books.google.com/books?id=hax...sult#PPA281,M1
Your reading could be skewed by the organisms that are using up phosphates.