refugium questions.

Scoobaman17 · 02/15/2006, 07:29 PM

I am almost finished with a cuctom built hang on refugium to fit the back of my 24 aquapod.

My questions are as follows:

1. What tpye of algea to put in that grows very well and is pretty hardy?

2. What size lighting should go over this for algea to grow? "The top is 11 inches by 4 inches"

3. What substrate if any to go in the bottom of the refugium?

Thanks!
~Chase

izmullives · 02/15/2006, 07:46 PM

chado is pretty hardy and it won't go sexual and as for the lighting a small power compact would work

Andrew · 02/15/2006, 07:51 PM

Go with a 2-3'' layer sandbed ( some people use livesand ) and then add some rocks and place cheato or anthor algae in it. All I use is pc lights and it grows good but read this:

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

mg426 · 02/15/2006, 07:52 PM

Thats about it, Best of luck

steve the plumb · 02/15/2006, 08:29 PM

I use grape calerpa but it took me a few times trying to get it to stay alive.It is growing like crazy.

Scoobaman17 · 02/15/2006, 09:29 PM

What does it mean when "It wont go sexual"?

bheron · 02/15/2006, 09:32 PM

Calerpa can change sexes, from what Ive heard, and when it does it can really mess up your tank. Chaeto wont do that.

Scoobaman17 · 02/16/2006, 12:23 AM

Thanks!

reefD · 02/16/2006, 12:32 AM

leaving lights on sump 24 hrs will prevent sexual reaction as long as plant is happy. in any case science has achieved a way to keep plants from going sexual with lighting. less lighting triggers fall like atmosphere thus prepare to die. more lighting means summer. science has reached a boundry..leave lights on 24hrs and plant grows vegativly ..cut lights back and plant goes into fruit stage........simple fix! again as long as conditions are proper and plant is happy! so leave lights over macro on all the time...i do!

acroporid23 · 02/16/2006, 12:39 AM

mmmmmmmmmmm sexual plants LOL

143gadgets · 02/16/2006, 12:44 AM

I have to agree, cheato is best.

wetWolger · 02/16/2006, 12:50 AM

well I am going to have to disagree with a few things said (this is what i found with my HOB fuge)...a lot of these will be changed though once my new tank's fuge is not HOB....

First I don't do a 24/7 cycle because the HOB fuge leaks a lot of light into the tank, and it screws up my tank photo period, and for this reason i have to run it on while the tank lights are on too.

Second I do not recomend a sand bed if the tank already has one. In part because of the extra weight. But also because these things are small, i personally want as much space as possible for cheato (and a few peices of LR in my case).

As for what macro, I have tried quite a few things and so far cheato has been the best with the kind of flow and lighting my HOB fuge gets.

Hope this helps, that just been my experince with my HOB....on my new tank with an under the tank fuge i will be chaning the photo period to opposite of the tank....and i plan to see if I can't get some more diverse macro algae selection

reefD · 02/16/2006, 02:05 AM

leaving lights on 24 hours helps prevent ph change too. anyone who hasnt tried it thinks the life will suffer but it doesnt .......it actually thrives.! macro grows faster and doesnt stop (when lights go out it stops growing) and thus stops nutrient removal. think about it. constant nutrient removal is ideal!

reefD · 02/16/2006, 02:08 AM

doesnt mean less light is worst but thik about it. if you dont give it enough light youll be sorry. luckily some people find some algeas do better this way..true...but better off finding fast growing 24 / 7 algea for proper algea scrubbing of water. no breaks...no periods of rest...constant scrubbing of exces nutrients for growth...

Scoobaman17 · 02/16/2006, 02:18 AM

Ok one more thing I thought of mentioned about flow: I will be having the water that goes from my mini-jet 404 "about 106 gph to my chiller/heater and then into the refugium and then overflowing back into the tank. Would that be fine for the cheato?

Scoobaman17 · 02/16/2006, 09:24 PM

Ok the home depot light recomended above has over a 4 inch diameter so it won't fit on my tank. I'm going to try and find a mini fixture that will fit on my fuge. "it'll probably be just pc" Do I need actinic? or just the white pc and whats the recomended wattage?

reefD · 02/16/2006, 09:46 PM

stick with all daylight bulbs..actinics wont help. strenghth of lighting varies with the type of macro. ideally u have something hardy and robust. this way lighting can be strong or moderate. i have minimal lighting...pc's but still only a 19 watt'er on 10 gallon sump/fuge. the macro grows like wild! ohh yeah 10,000k type p.c. bulb will be ok.

Scoobaman17 · 02/16/2006, 11:06 PM

K thanks. I'll set up some pictures once the fuge is complete, I'm just waiting for the acrylic to complete the hardening process.

Jon Evans · 02/17/2006, 06:27 AM

I have a cheap compact flourescent trouble light over my fuge, and I have it sitting on a piece of acrylic that lays overtop the fuge.

02/15/2006, 07:29 PM	#1
Scoobaman17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 1,087	refugium questions. I am almost finished with a cuctom built hang on refugium to fit the back of my 24 aquapod. My questions are as follows: 1. What tpye of algea to put in that grows very well and is pretty hardy? 2. What size lighting should go over this for algea to grow? "The top is 11 inches by 4 inches" 3. What substrate if any to go in the bottom of the refugium? Thanks! ~Chase __________________ "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work" - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 140g reef

02/15/2006, 07:52 PM	#4
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Thats about it, Best of luck __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

02/15/2006, 09:29 PM	#6
Scoobaman17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 1,087	What does it mean when "It wont go sexual"? __________________ "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work" - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 140g reef

02/15/2006, 09:32 PM	#7
bheron Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Valley Forge, PA Posts: 2,655	Calerpa can change sexes, from what Ive heard, and when it does it can really mess up your tank. Chaeto wont do that. __________________ Bryan Current Tank Info: 220 since Nov 2005

02/16/2006, 12:23 AM	#8
Scoobaman17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 1,087	Thanks! __________________ "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work" - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 140g reef

02/15/2006, 07:46 PM	#2
izmullives Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MT. HOLLY NJ Posts: 147	chado is pretty hardy and it won't go sexual and as for the lighting a small power compact would work

02/15/2006, 07:51 PM	#3
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Go with a 2-3'' layer sandbed ( some people use livesand ) and then add some rocks and place cheato or anthor algae in it. All I use is pc lights and it grows good but read this: http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

02/15/2006, 08:29 PM	#5
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	I use grape calerpa but it took me a few times trying to get it to stay alive.It is growing like crazy.

02/16/2006, 12:32 AM	#9
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	leaving lights on sump 24 hrs will prevent sexual reaction as long as plant is happy. in any case science has achieved a way to keep plants from going sexual with lighting. less lighting triggers fall like atmosphere thus prepare to die. more lighting means summer. science has reached a boundry..leave lights on 24hrs and plant grows vegativly ..cut lights back and plant goes into fruit stage........simple fix! again as long as conditions are proper and plant is happy! so leave lights over macro on all the time...i do! __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

02/16/2006, 12:39 AM	#10
acroporid23 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: lafayette Posts: 88	mmmmmmmmmmm sexual plants LOL

02/16/2006, 12:44 AM	#11
143gadgets Moved On Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,151	I have to agree, cheato is best.

02/16/2006, 12:50 AM	#12
wetWolger Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,955	well I am going to have to disagree with a few things said (this is what i found with my HOB fuge)...a lot of these will be changed though once my new tank's fuge is not HOB.... First I don't do a 24/7 cycle because the HOB fuge leaks a lot of light into the tank, and it screws up my tank photo period, and for this reason i have to run it on while the tank lights are on too. Second I do not recomend a sand bed if the tank already has one. In part because of the extra weight. But also because these things are small, i personally want as much space as possible for cheato (and a few peices of LR in my case). As for what macro, I have tried quite a few things and so far cheato has been the best with the kind of flow and lighting my HOB fuge gets. Hope this helps, that just been my experince with my HOB....on my new tank with an under the tank fuge i will be chaning the photo period to opposite of the tank....and i plan to see if I can't get some more diverse macro algae selection __________________ cheers, jent d-_-b Current Tank Info: 66gal = 32x24x20

02/16/2006, 02:05 AM	#13
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	leaving lights on 24 hours helps prevent ph change too. anyone who hasnt tried it thinks the life will suffer but it doesnt .......it actually thrives.! macro grows faster and doesnt stop (when lights go out it stops growing) and thus stops nutrient removal. think about it. constant nutrient removal is ideal! __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

02/16/2006, 02:08 AM	#14
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	doesnt mean less light is worst but thik about it. if you dont give it enough light youll be sorry. luckily some people find some algeas do better this way..true...but better off finding fast growing 24 / 7 algea for proper algea scrubbing of water. no breaks...no periods of rest...constant scrubbing of exces nutrients for growth... __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

02/16/2006, 02:18 AM	#15
Scoobaman17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 1,087	Ok one more thing I thought of mentioned about flow: I will be having the water that goes from my mini-jet 404 "about 106 gph to my chiller/heater and then into the refugium and then overflowing back into the tank. Would that be fine for the cheato? __________________ "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work" - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 140g reef

02/16/2006, 09:24 PM	#16
Scoobaman17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 1,087	Ok the home depot light recomended above has over a 4 inch diameter so it won't fit on my tank. I'm going to try and find a mini fixture that will fit on my fuge. "it'll probably be just pc" Do I need actinic? or just the white pc and whats the recomended wattage? __________________ "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work" - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 140g reef

02/16/2006, 09:46 PM	#17
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	stick with all daylight bulbs..actinics wont help. strenghth of lighting varies with the type of macro. ideally u have something hardy and robust. this way lighting can be strong or moderate. i have minimal lighting...pc's but still only a 19 watt'er on 10 gallon sump/fuge. the macro grows like wild! ohh yeah 10,000k type p.c. bulb will be ok. __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

02/16/2006, 11:06 PM	#18
Scoobaman17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 1,087	K thanks. I'll set up some pictures once the fuge is complete, I'm just waiting for the acrylic to complete the hardening process. __________________ "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work" - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 140g reef

02/17/2006, 06:27 AM	#19
Jon Evans Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Massillon, OH Posts: 297	I have a cheap compact flourescent trouble light over my fuge, and I have it sitting on a piece of acrylic that lays overtop the fuge. __________________ If you are in the stock market, look to diversify your portfolio with global equities. Warren Buffett said so. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon FOWLR tank with 20 gal sump/fuge