Refugium contents and lighting

tur4k

tur4k

Member
I am going to be adding a fuge to my set up and have a couple of questions. I've done some reading, but I'm not sure about a couple of things.
First, what type of macro algae should I use? I've seen mention of some "going sexual". What is the down side of this?
Second, what is up with "reverse photosynthesis"? Why would I want to have the fuge lights on when my DT lights turn off? Why not just have the fuge lights on 24/7?
Third, What type of substrata should I use for the fuge? Should I just throw in 6 inches of live sand? Should I include a little live rock? I'm not going to have a lot of room. It's only going to be 16wx10dx22h (15 gallon).
My main goals are Nitrate/Phosphate removal and pod reproduction. Most articles I come across talk about how to build a fuge. Not what to put in it.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
for macro, i use cheato for my reef. some people use caulerpa. not all caulerpa go asexual. i hv some in my fowlr and it has never gone asexual.
reverse photo is opposite ur display tank, so ph doesnt fluctuate.
u can use sand or fuge mud or go bare. using lr in the fuge is good to grow pods. i use fuge mud, lr and cheato in my fuge.
every 2-3 weeks depending on how fast the macro grows, u need to harvest it to export the nutrients.
 
tur4k

tur4k

Member
Also, Do I need to feed the fuge for the pods or do they munch on the macro algae and what ever makes it down from the DT?
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Halimeda is one you don’t want to go asexual on you. If a large clump does I believe it can deplete the tank of oxygen.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
Originally Posted by GeoJ
http:///forum/post/3241225
Halimeda is one you don’t want to go asexual on you. If a large clump does I believe it can deplete the tank of oxygen.
halimeder is safe. in fact, it intakes calcium and its not a good macroalgae, since it competes with hard corals. pods can live off algae or food in feed ur tank.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
I have had Halimeda go asexual in my tank after I did a large amount relocating and pruning of it. Halimeda cell walls will brake and then produce little black dots that after some time will float off to grow in a new spot. If this happens in a large amount it will stress or kill the fish as I had happen in my tank.
 
shyshko08

shyshko08

Member
Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3241202
for macro, i use cheato for my reef.
every 2-3 weeks depending on how fast the macro grows, u need to harvest it to export the nutrients.
What do you exactly mean by this. And how would you go about doing this. I just recently switch to sump/refuge
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
Your cheato will grow under the light. You will need to cut it back or take dead spots that may occur in it to "export" nitrates. Its pretty straight forward trimming to keep it from overtaking the fuge.
 
shyshko08

shyshko08

Member
Originally Posted by Gill again68
http:///forum/post/3241629
Your cheato will grow under the light. You will need to cut it back or take dead spots that may occur in it to "export" nitrates. Its pretty straight forward trimming to keep it from overtaking the fuge.
What do I do with the trimmings? Throw them out?
 
shyshko08

shyshko08

Member
Originally Posted by Ryancw01
http:///forum/post/3241643
Yes...just put them in a bag and throw them away.
Now is it bad to have the cheato take up most of the refugium, I would think that would be more efficient in absorbing the extra nutrients from the water.
 
fishonly350g

fishonly350g

New Member
Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3241414
halimeder is safe. in fact, it intakes calcium and its not a good macroalgae, since it competes with hard corals. pods can live off algae or food in feed ur tank.

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3241202
for macro, i use cheato for my reef. some people use caulerpa. not all caulerpa go asexual. i hv some in my fowlr and it has never gone asexual.
reverse photo is opposite ur display tank, so ph doesnt fluctuate.
u can use sand or fuge mud or go bare. using lr in the fuge is good to grow pods. i use fuge mud, lr and cheato in my fuge.
every 2-3 weeks depending on how fast the macro grows, u need to harvest it to export the nutrients.
I need help too.... I just went out and got a 30 gallon tub, bought some chaeto and put a double 36" t5 on it.... I got a refugium now right? LOL..... Seriously though this is over my head. I have a 350g tank and the two things i want to add to my system is another 100 gallon sump with just live rock and a refugium. the live rock setup is a piece of cake, but what are the key components of a refugium to work effectively on a tank that is my size. I have not plumbed it to my sump yet, i've just tanken 30 gallons out my sump by bucket into the tub and i have a spout on the tub that i let the water out every two days after sittin in the chaeto and put back in my sump. I also added an airstone since there's no pump in it.... you all seem to have a good grasp on the refugium please advise what you think would be best; i have a fish only tank.
 
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