Refugium help!?!?

PeppersF · 06/07/2007, 06:11 PM

I have had my 24wX14hX10D going with gracilaria going for agout 3 months with a 65w 6700k Odyssea bulb and a power head for tumbling. I was'nt getting much growth so I added some cheato about a month ago and still not much growth. do you think I should improve lighting? My test show nitrates=20 calcium=400 ph=8.0 amonia and nitrites=0. The tank has been running for 1.5 years. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

jasonak · 06/07/2007, 06:33 PM

Hi
theres a really good post on these compact florescent lights that peolple have been using,i think it was in the plant section ill try and find and post it for you.

conefree · 06/07/2007, 06:36 PM

What kind of flow are you running through there? Melev got a great fuge light that produces great growth at Home Depot.

Looking for the link now, can't seem to find it....

jasonak · 06/07/2007, 06:40 PM

heres the orginal post on here and then you can go to the second link (instead of reading through all the diffrent post) and get aupdated to the point version

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...43#post5004143

http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

hope this helps

JPagliai · 06/07/2007, 06:40 PM

I don't know that more light will help solve your nitrate problem. The plants need light to grow, but not too much. I only have a 2 9W PCs over my refugium and I think it's about the same size. I would look for the source of the nitrate problem and do some weekly water changes. What are you feeding your fish? If you are feeding frozen food every day, try feeding frozen 1-2 times a week and feed flakes or pellets the rest of the week.

conefree · 06/07/2007, 06:45 PM

This may or may not help with your growth problems. Either way, good luck!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

JPagliai · 06/07/2007, 06:51 PM

I also use Chaetomorpha algae in my refugium. It's a good nitrate eater and it's easy to harvest. I noticed that the link Jasonak posted (http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html) was using the same stuff. Maybe changing the type of algae will help.

conefree · 06/07/2007, 06:53 PM

I have had really good luck using caulerpa. I have also recently had gracilaria taking off in my fuge seemingly out of nowhere. But the caulerpa can take credit for my undetectable nitrates.

PeppersF · 06/07/2007, 06:57 PM

Thank yoy for the replies. I am running a Jebo/odyssea 130 gph through refugium. I am feeding prime reef flake food once daily and prime reef frozen fish food to corals once a week and some gracilaria clippings to tangs and silversides to anemone 2-3 times weekly. I think my nitrate problem is due low sump flow and the fact that i have about 2-3 inches of crushed coral substrate. any suggestions are very much appreciated.

JPagliai · 06/07/2007, 07:09 PM

The low sump flow could definitely be the problem. I'm using a Rio 2500 pump in the refugium to return the water at 700 gph. Are you using a protein skimmer at all? That could help too.

PeppersF · 06/07/2007, 07:20 PM

I am running a 1800 l/hr return pump on my sump and a aquaeuro 135 classic skimmer. with 2 blue (dory) tangs one 6" and one 4", one blonde naso tang 8", one yellow tang 4" two percula clowns 2" and one manderan goby.

PeppersF · 06/07/2007, 07:53 PM

What do you guys think should I in crease my lighting on my fuge or leave it at 14 hours?

jasonak · 06/07/2007, 08:06 PM

i leave mine on 24/7

ThomasinKind · 06/07/2007, 09:02 PM

Here's a thread where Calfo discusses culturing Gracilaria . Hope this helps. REALLY brief summary: high light, high flow and excellent water quality.

conefree · 06/07/2007, 09:06 PM

My fuge lights are on 24/7. That article probably explains why my gracilaria is seriously competing with my caulerpa now heh. I run a lot of flow through my fuge and it works very well.

06/07/2007, 06:11 PM	#1
PeppersF Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 24	Refugium help!?!? I have had my 24wX14hX10D going with gracilaria going for agout 3 months with a 65w 6700k Odyssea bulb and a power head for tumbling. I was'nt getting much growth so I added some cheato about a month ago and still not much growth. do you think I should improve lighting? My test show nitrates=20 calcium=400 ph=8.0 amonia and nitrites=0. The tank has been running for 1.5 years. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

06/07/2007, 06:36 PM	#3
conefree Gene Pool Lifeguard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 758	What kind of flow are you running through there? Melev got a great fuge light that produces great growth at Home Depot. Looking for the link now, can't seem to find it.... __________________ Chris "A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot" - Unknown Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon, Ecosystem 3612, 6X54 TEK light, Tunze Osmolator, Lifereef dual overflow all down

06/07/2007, 06:40 PM	#4
jasonak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 327	heres the orginal post on here and then you can go to the second link (instead of reading through all the diffrent post) and get aupdated to the point version http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...43#post5004143 http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html hope this helps __________________ I know violence isnt the answer.I got it worng on purpose! Current Tank Info: 300 mixed reef /30 and 120 community fresh

06/07/2007, 06:40 PM	#5
JPagliai Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Round Lake Beach, IL Posts: 673	I don't know that more light will help solve your nitrate problem. The plants need light to grow, but not too much. I only have a 2 9W PCs over my refugium and I think it's about the same size. I would look for the source of the nitrate problem and do some weekly water changes. What are you feeding your fish? If you are feeding frozen food every day, try feeding frozen 1-2 times a week and feed flakes or pellets the rest of the week. __________________ --Jane Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. - Eleanor Roosevelt Current Tank Info: 60 gal cube w/AI LED

06/07/2007, 06:45 PM	#6
conefree Gene Pool Lifeguard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 758	found it This may or may not help with your growth problems. Either way, good luck! http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1 __________________ Chris "A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot" - Unknown Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon, Ecosystem 3612, 6X54 TEK light, Tunze Osmolator, Lifereef dual overflow all down

06/07/2007, 06:33 PM	#2
jasonak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 327	Hi theres a really good post on these compact florescent lights that peolple have been using,i think it was in the plant section ill try and find and post it for you.

06/07/2007, 06:51 PM	#7
JPagliai Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Round Lake Beach, IL Posts: 673	I also use Chaetomorpha algae in my refugium. It's a good nitrate eater and it's easy to harvest. I noticed that the link Jasonak posted (http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html) was using the same stuff. Maybe changing the type of algae will help. __________________ --Jane Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. - Eleanor Roosevelt Current Tank Info: 60 gal cube w/AI LED

06/07/2007, 06:53 PM	#8
conefree Gene Pool Lifeguard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 758	I have had really good luck using caulerpa. I have also recently had gracilaria taking off in my fuge seemingly out of nowhere. But the caulerpa can take credit for my undetectable nitrates. __________________ Chris "A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot" - Unknown Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon, Ecosystem 3612, 6X54 TEK light, Tunze Osmolator, Lifereef dual overflow all down

06/07/2007, 06:57 PM	#9
PeppersF Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 24	Thank yoy for the replies. I am running a Jebo/odyssea 130 gph through refugium. I am feeding prime reef flake food once daily and prime reef frozen fish food to corals once a week and some gracilaria clippings to tangs and silversides to anemone 2-3 times weekly. I think my nitrate problem is due low sump flow and the fact that i have about 2-3 inches of crushed coral substrate. any suggestions are very much appreciated.

06/07/2007, 07:09 PM	#10
JPagliai Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Round Lake Beach, IL Posts: 673	The low sump flow could definitely be the problem. I'm using a Rio 2500 pump in the refugium to return the water at 700 gph. Are you using a protein skimmer at all? That could help too. __________________ --Jane Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. - Eleanor Roosevelt Current Tank Info: 60 gal cube w/AI LED

06/07/2007, 07:20 PM	#11
PeppersF Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 24	I am running a 1800 l/hr return pump on my sump and a aquaeuro 135 classic skimmer. with 2 blue (dory) tangs one 6" and one 4", one blonde naso tang 8", one yellow tang 4" two percula clowns 2" and one manderan goby.

06/07/2007, 07:53 PM	#12
PeppersF Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 24	What do you guys think should I in crease my lighting on my fuge or leave it at 14 hours?

06/07/2007, 08:06 PM	#13
jasonak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 327	i leave mine on 24/7 __________________ I know violence isnt the answer.I got it worng on purpose! Current Tank Info: 300 mixed reef /30 and 120 community fresh

06/07/2007, 09:02 PM	#14
ThomasinKind Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lake Charles, LA Posts: 198	Here's a thread where Calfo discusses culturing Gracilaria . Hope this helps. REALLY brief summary: high light, high flow and excellent water quality.

06/07/2007, 09:06 PM	#15
conefree Gene Pool Lifeguard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 758	My fuge lights are on 24/7. That article probably explains why my gracilaria is seriously competing with my caulerpa now heh. I run a lot of flow through my fuge and it works very well. __________________ Chris "A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot" - Unknown Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon, Ecosystem 3612, 6X54 TEK light, Tunze Osmolator, Lifereef dual overflow all down