How often do you harvest your macro algae?

PaulieReef · 03/17/2013, 07:49 AM

So i have a 75g tank, and a 40g sump with the center as my refugium, my question was how often do you harvest the macro algae, and how much do you leave?

I don't want to remove too much where I lose the effect, but I also was told leaving to much can be a bad thing..

So how often do you harvest your macro algae and how much do you leave?

Secondary question, anyone know why randomly my macro algae grows insanily quickly and other times feels like it takes years to grow?

Thanks! Happy St. Patties day!

Dozer1one · 03/17/2013, 08:02 AM

Im no pro but i also have a simalar set up to yours, the macro algae lives off of excess nutrients in your system which is how it aids in reducing nitrates sounds like it doing its job if its growing , when its not growing its because theres not any excess nutrients for it which is fine but i think at that point is when you trim it so that you dont have die off from it , hope that helps

Dozer1one · 03/17/2013, 08:12 AM

also how long is your lighting over your fuge on for?

Denbf58 · 03/17/2013, 09:07 AM

i run lighting on reverse of dt also help with ph swings

Dozer1one · 03/17/2013, 09:18 AM

agreed, i run my lights about 10 hrs a day

Sk8r · 03/17/2013, 09:37 AM

I run mine 24/7. I'd say leave something just a little smaller than a soccer ball.

worm5406 · 03/17/2013, 09:42 AM

I have 4 baseball size clumps. They move all over in the sump.

They have not grown since I got them.

I am working on removing HA so I hope their bio-load increases slowly and start taking up the nutrient load so the HA does not have as much to grow with.

PaulieReef · 03/17/2013, 10:18 AM

I run my lights opposite of my display tank. I can post a picture later, but I have a size of how much I should do.

Currently I have some rocks about 4" of sand and a bunch of cheato. Think I might trim it back to about 3 baseball size balls. I am currently having an algae problem as well,started running GFO but I know what the reason has been. The lack of water changes over the past months.

Water pressure is horrible where I live and it takes about 8 hours to make 5gallons of water

So I usually end up seeing it up at night so i can do a water change in the morning.

Started 5g weekly water changes, not nearly enough and working on getting a better ro/di unit (using a mighty mite currently) to hopefully help process water faster and allow for more water changes!

DT lights 1pm-9pm, sump 9pm-1pm. 6x54 t5s DT, CF for sump.

Palting · 03/17/2013, 01:17 PM

I have a 20 gallon remote refugium full of caulerpa. I harvest maybe once every 6 weeks or so. I let the tank get almost full, then cut it down to half.

Iron supplementation (Ferrous) is a must, if you want your macroalgae to prosper. I've had consistent growth since I started adding Iron.

If your pressure is too low, you are wasting a lot of water. Very little water is making it through the membrane, most of it goes to waste if your pressure is too low. You need to add a pump for your RODI setup. Here's one pump option: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/1-4-aq...ster-pump.html

PaulieReef · 03/17/2013, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

I have a 20 gallon remote refugium full of caulerpa. I harvest maybe once every 6 weeks or so. I let the tank get almost full, then cut it down to half.

Iron supplementation (Ferrous) is a must, if you want your macroalgae to prosper. I've had consistent growth since I started adding Iron.

If your pressure is too low, you are wasting a lot of water. Very little water is making it through the membrane, most of it goes to waste if your pressure is too low. You need to add a pump for your RODI setup. Here's one pump option: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/1-4-aq...ster-pump.html

I never knew such a thing existed..I actually have another thread up about what I should buy next. Maybe I should upgrade my ro/di unit and buy a booster along with it.

I wonder how it goes about adding pressure. Research time!

PaulieReef · 03/17/2013, 02:29 PM

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/1-4-aq...-pump-kit.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-5-...tem-75gpd.html

Ordering these... opinions?

Palting · 03/17/2013, 03:32 PM

Yup, that's the exact RODI unit that I have. If I needed a booster pump, that's the one I would get, too

.

PaulieReef · 03/17/2013, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

Yup, that's the exact RODI unit that I have. If I needed a booster pump, that's the one I would get, too

.

Oh good! Finally doing something right in this hobby! Finally got a big boy job so no more skimping out on stuff! So excited, ordered it today. Can't wait to find out when it comes. Big ol' water change happening when it comes, super excited!

worm5406 · 03/17/2013, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulieReef

Oh good! Finally doing something right in this hobby! Finally got a big boy job so no more skimping out on stuff! So excited, ordered it today. Can't wait to find out when it comes. Big ol' water change happening when it comes, super excited!

+1... How low is the pressure?

City water?

Sure it is not the sediment or something else?

Check the street valve (if on city water) Maybe they have you cut back by accident. I can't tell you how to check it... but it is easy.

Coddigtion · 03/18/2013, 07:09 AM

When I had about the same size I harvested every two weeks or so, but I had good lighting on my fuge and did reverse lighting.

PaulieReef · 03/20/2013, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coddigtion

When I had about the same size I harvested every two weeks or so, but I had good lighting on my fuge and did reverse lighting.

I need to get a timer to get perfect reverse lighting, and have a pretty good light, at least better then I had! going to start harvesting it more!

03/17/2013, 07:49 AM	#1
PaulieReef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 291	How often do you harvest your macro algae? So i have a 75g tank, and a 40g sump with the center as my refugium, my question was how often do you harvest the macro algae, and how much do you leave? I don't want to remove too much where I lose the effect, but I also was told leaving to much can be a bad thing.. So how often do you harvest your macro algae and how much do you leave? Secondary question, anyone know why randomly my macro algae grows insanily quickly and other times feels like it takes years to grow? Thanks! Happy St. Patties day!

03/17/2013, 09:07 AM	#4
Denbf58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: selden N.Y. Posts: 885	i run lighting on reverse of dt also help with ph swings __________________ Life is good Current Tank Info: 75gal reef ready koralia 3, 30g sump, 4b 48" t5s lighting, 29g reef with breeding pair clowns 55g reef 55g freshwater

03/17/2013, 09:37 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I run mine 24/7. I'd say leave something just a little smaller than a soccer ball. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/17/2013, 09:42 AM	#7
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	I have 4 baseball size clumps. They move all over in the sump. They have not grown since I got them. I am working on removing HA so I hope their bio-load increases slowly and start taking up the nutrient load so the HA does not have as much to grow with. __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

03/17/2013, 01:17 PM	#9
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I have a 20 gallon remote refugium full of caulerpa. I harvest maybe once every 6 weeks or so. I let the tank get almost full, then cut it down to half. Iron supplementation (Ferrous) is a must, if you want your macroalgae to prosper. I've had consistent growth since I started adding Iron. If your pressure is too low, you are wasting a lot of water. Very little water is making it through the membrane, most of it goes to waste if your pressure is too low. You need to add a pump for your RODI setup. Here's one pump option: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/1-4-aq...ster-pump.html __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

03/17/2013, 08:02 AM	#2
Dozer1one Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: levittown, PA Posts: 349	Im no pro but i also have a simalar set up to yours, the macro algae lives off of excess nutrients in your system which is how it aids in reducing nitrates sounds like it doing its job if its growing , when its not growing its because theres not any excess nutrients for it which is fine but i think at that point is when you trim it so that you dont have die off from it , hope that helps

03/17/2013, 08:12 AM	#3
Dozer1one Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: levittown, PA Posts: 349	also how long is your lighting over your fuge on for?

03/17/2013, 09:18 AM	#5
Dozer1one Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: levittown, PA Posts: 349	agreed, i run my lights about 10 hrs a day

03/17/2013, 10:18 AM	#8
PaulieReef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 291	I run my lights opposite of my display tank. I can post a picture later, but I have a size of how much I should do. Currently I have some rocks about 4" of sand and a bunch of cheato. Think I might trim it back to about 3 baseball size balls. I am currently having an algae problem as well,started running GFO but I know what the reason has been. The lack of water changes over the past months. Water pressure is horrible where I live and it takes about 8 hours to make 5gallons of water So I usually end up seeing it up at night so i can do a water change in the morning. Started 5g weekly water changes, not nearly enough and working on getting a better ro/di unit (using a mighty mite currently) to hopefully help process water faster and allow for more water changes! DT lights 1pm-9pm, sump 9pm-1pm. 6x54 t5s DT, CF for sump.

03/17/2013, 02:29 PM	#11
PaulieReef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 291	http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/1-4-aq...-pump-kit.html http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-5-...tem-75gpd.html Ordering these... opinions?

03/17/2013, 03:32 PM	#12
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Yup, that's the exact RODI unit that I have. If I needed a booster pump, that's the one I would get, too . __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

03/18/2013, 07:09 AM	#15
Coddigtion Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sin City Posts: 55	When I had about the same size I harvested every two weeks or so, but I had good lighting on my fuge and did reverse lighting. __________________ -- Run what you brung. Current Tank Info: Building a 180 Gallon