sump/fuge without macro

deejeff442 · 11/13/2008, 04:03 PM

i have a phos reactor.i would like to make a sump built similar to a refuge but no macro.it would have sand and lr for pods to grow.
since i have the phosphate remover do i need the macro.
the sump would hold alot more water without the macro.
i think i would split it into two sides one for the sand and lr and the other for pumps and skimmer.
would this work?

skaterzero22 · 11/13/2008, 04:58 PM

yes it would work. you don't NEED macro but it is very beneficial IMO. if you want to do it without it, make sure you stay on top of changing the phos removing media, use a lot of sand to have a deep sand bed and a good amount of LR for pods. i still recommend macro, but every tank is different. good luck with yours

deejeff442 · 11/13/2008, 05:18 PM

is there any other benifit the macro has over the reactors?
i have a 150 gallon tank and plan on putting lg. fish angel,tangs,ect. so i figured i would use a sump for the large extra volume of water it can hold.
i have seen a rubbermaid tote used for the macro seperat from the sump .is this a good set up.also can i run the reactor and have macro?

skaterzero22 · 11/13/2008, 06:52 PM

come on people. these are very good questions alot of hobbyists can use. i can't give you exact benefits the macro has over the reactor other than you dont have to change out media once a month. i think you should use macro with a tank that size anyways just to give extra help removing phos. tangs and angel are known for being waste machines. i personally have a rubbermain fuge hooks up to my tank. i think some macro will die with the reactor because it takes away all its "food" but im not positive on that. I've never seen a problem with cheato and a reactor tho.

deejeff442 · 11/13/2008, 07:38 PM

little slow on the forum tonight.
i was looking at different fuge setups.i have a wet/dry in there now but i hear i causes more problems than its worth.
i was going to gut it out .it pretty long 3 foot.
the tank is running good now but cant seem to get the phosphates under controll.i just ordered yhr reactor .
if i dont use it for remeover i will use it for carbon.

blakeorme · 11/13/2008, 09:25 PM

Not sure if I read that right, but Macro shouldn't take up much, if any, water volume. In my opinion, the benefits from having macro far outweigh any costs. Also, its fairly interesting to see the growth from the Macro.

GatorWPB · 11/14/2008, 10:42 AM

i thought the primary nutrient removed by the macro is nitrate with some phosphate removal. phosban wont remove any nitrates.

WrinkleFreeZone · 11/14/2008, 12:31 PM

There are benefits to having macro algae. Let me count the ways: It adds diversity to your tank. It provides a larger area for pods and other critters to successfully shelter and reproduce within. You can grow a ton from a little piece that won't cost you hardly anything from a supplier or may be free from a local reefer. You can trade this or give it away to another reefer who you can learn from and who can learn from you. It can add an another aesthetic dimension to your tank as some of them are really beautiful. They are fun to grow. They are interesting to learn about. When you harvest it, you get some satisfaction of knowing that you just exported a bunch of nutrients from your tank which will make your system "healthier." The list goes on...
Depending on the bioload of your tank and the needs of your macros it is possible and at times necessary to run a reactor in addition to cultivating algae.
-B

deejeff442 · 11/14/2008, 01:36 PM

so i am ok to run the phosphate reactor with the macro?
i am going to start the fuge build next week.
i would love to post pics once i figure out how to.
pain in the a** computers.

skaterzero22 · 11/14/2008, 02:15 PM

yes it is fine to run macro and the reactor. an easy site for uplaoding pictures is http://imageshack.us/ there is no sign up or anythign. just upload your pictures to the computer and then upload them on the site. the rest pretty easy.

11/13/2008, 04:03 PM	#1
deejeff442 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: fort worth Posts: 106	sump/fuge without macro i have a phos reactor.i would like to make a sump built similar to a refuge but no macro.it would have sand and lr for pods to grow. since i have the phosphate remover do i need the macro. the sump would hold alot more water without the macro. i think i would split it into two sides one for the sand and lr and the other for pumps and skimmer. would this work?

11/13/2008, 04:58 PM	#2
skaterzero22 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 492	yes it would work. you don't NEED macro but it is very beneficial IMO. if you want to do it without it, make sure you stay on top of changing the phos removing media, use a lot of sand to have a deep sand bed and a good amount of LR for pods. i still recommend macro, but every tank is different. good luck with yours __________________ --Bryan Current Tank Info: Empty 125 sitting in my garage. Biocube 14

11/13/2008, 06:52 PM	#4
skaterzero22 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 492	come on people. these are very good questions alot of hobbyists can use. i can't give you exact benefits the macro has over the reactor other than you dont have to change out media once a month. i think you should use macro with a tank that size anyways just to give extra help removing phos. tangs and angel are known for being waste machines. i personally have a rubbermain fuge hooks up to my tank. i think some macro will die with the reactor because it takes away all its "food" but im not positive on that. I've never seen a problem with cheato and a reactor tho. __________________ --Bryan Current Tank Info: Empty 125 sitting in my garage. Biocube 14

11/14/2008, 12:31 PM	#8
WrinkleFreeZone Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 168	There are benefits to having macro algae. Let me count the ways: It adds diversity to your tank. It provides a larger area for pods and other critters to successfully shelter and reproduce within. You can grow a ton from a little piece that won't cost you hardly anything from a supplier or may be free from a local reefer. You can trade this or give it away to another reefer who you can learn from and who can learn from you. It can add an another aesthetic dimension to your tank as some of them are really beautiful. They are fun to grow. They are interesting to learn about. When you harvest it, you get some satisfaction of knowing that you just exported a bunch of nutrients from your tank which will make your system "healthier." The list goes on... Depending on the bioload of your tank and the needs of your macros it is possible and at times necessary to run a reactor in addition to cultivating algae. -B __________________ "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert..." Charles Darwin Current Tank Info: 220 g display, 60 g planted display refugium, 50 more behind the scenes, and now a 60 gallon H. magnifica recovery tank

11/14/2008, 02:15 PM	#10
skaterzero22 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 492	yes it is fine to run macro and the reactor. an easy site for uplaoding pictures is http://imageshack.us/ there is no sign up or anythign. just upload your pictures to the computer and then upload them on the site. the rest pretty easy. __________________ --Bryan Current Tank Info: Empty 125 sitting in my garage. Biocube 14

11/13/2008, 05:18 PM	#3
deejeff442 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: fort worth Posts: 106	is there any other benifit the macro has over the reactors? i have a 150 gallon tank and plan on putting lg. fish angel,tangs,ect. so i figured i would use a sump for the large extra volume of water it can hold. i have seen a rubbermaid tote used for the macro seperat from the sump .is this a good set up.also can i run the reactor and have macro?

11/13/2008, 07:38 PM	#5
deejeff442 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: fort worth Posts: 106	little slow on the forum tonight. i was looking at different fuge setups.i have a wet/dry in there now but i hear i causes more problems than its worth. i was going to gut it out .it pretty long 3 foot. the tank is running good now but cant seem to get the phosphates under controll.i just ordered yhr reactor . if i dont use it for remeover i will use it for carbon.

11/13/2008, 09:25 PM	#6
blakeorme Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 350	Not sure if I read that right, but Macro shouldn't take up much, if any, water volume. In my opinion, the benefits from having macro far outweigh any costs. Also, its fairly interesting to see the growth from the Macro.

11/14/2008, 10:42 AM	#7
GatorWPB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Palm Beach Posts: 567	i thought the primary nutrient removed by the macro is nitrate with some phosphate removal. phosban wont remove any nitrates.

11/14/2008, 01:36 PM	#9
deejeff442 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: fort worth Posts: 106	so i am ok to run the phosphate reactor with the macro? i am going to start the fuge build next week. i would love to post pics once i figure out how to. pain in the a** computers.