How much Chaetomorpha is needed

Thunder3 · 12/27/2012, 07:22 PM

I have an eshopps advanced sump which is 29 gallons and it has a compartment for a refugium which is 17.5 x 10 x 4 =3 gallons. I have it about half full of chaetomorpha. I have a 26 watt cfl plant bulb 6500k on it and the algae grows pretty fast. I took a little out the other day. How much of the algae should I be keeping in the refugium? Is half full adequate for nitrate removal? I have a little koralia 1 pump inside but that does not push much water at all. Do I need higher flow in the refugium?

walkerbrody · 12/27/2012, 07:33 PM

I start with about half full. Let it fill up then take out about half and give it away. The growing algae uses up the nutrents, taking the algae out removes it from the system. When the growth gets too dense it slows down growing which slows down nutrent export.

Thunder3 · 12/27/2012, 08:34 PM

How much flow should I have inside. The Koralia 1 I have inside is very weak. Will it grow faster with more flow?

12/27/2012, 07:22 PM	#1
Thunder3 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 218	How much Chaetomorpha is needed I have an eshopps advanced sump which is 29 gallons and it has a compartment for a refugium which is 17.5 x 10 x 4 =3 gallons. I have it about half full of chaetomorpha. I have a 26 watt cfl plant bulb 6500k on it and the algae grows pretty fast. I took a little out the other day. How much of the algae should I be keeping in the refugium? Is half full adequate for nitrate removal? I have a little koralia 1 pump inside but that does not push much water at all. Do I need higher flow in the refugium?

12/27/2012, 07:33 PM	#2
walkerbrody lost ball in high weeds Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gadsden, Al Posts: 504	I start with about half full. Let it fill up then take out about half and give it away. The growing algae uses up the nutrents, taking the algae out removes it from the system. When the growth gets too dense it slows down growing which slows down nutrent export. __________________ "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." — Henry Ford Current Tank Info: 265 mixed reef, 110 fowlr, 40g fuge, 75g sump.

12/27/2012, 08:34 PM	#3
Thunder3 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 218	How much flow should I have inside. The Koralia 1 I have inside is very weak. Will it grow faster with more flow?