Refugium with no light?

cincyjim · 02/28/2015, 01:05 PM

Is it possible to have a refugium without using a light? It wouldn't have chaeto or any macro algae in it, just some rock and pods. I was using a hang on the back refugium which had 3" of sand, rock, and chaeto. The chaeto died and I had a big outbreak of bad algae (I'm guessing because of the LED light I had on it). I ended up taking it down and it is soaking in vinegar now. I wanted a refugium for pods so I could get a Mandarin fish. Would the pods survive without a light or would I be wasting time? My DT is 75g and is 3 1/2 years old (Aug 2011).

Sk8r · 02/28/2015, 03:12 PM

Cheato would help the pods, but they will manage with rocks. THey do eat algae, as I understand it.

cincyjim · 02/28/2015, 03:37 PM

Thanks Sk8r. My nitrates are 1.5 and my phosphates are 0 (Red Sea test kits). I can only think that the LED light I used was way too strong for the CPR Aquatic AquaFuge Refugium and fueled the algae. I believe the light fried chaeto that was in it. I'm not a quitter so I would like to try this again. I guess I could buy the light that was recommended for it and see how that goes.
Much appreciated!
Jim

xcdennisx · 02/28/2015, 03:45 PM

I would just go to lowes or home depot buy 5500k basement lights that are 100 watts. The cheato in my tank grows from a little bigger than a softball size to filling a 5 gallon bucket in 2-3 weeks. we have 2 100 watts lights over the refugium.

ca1ore · 02/28/2015, 04:44 PM

I run dual refugia on my tank. The first is a typical high-light macro fuge which acts as an observable consumer of nutrients and a (presumed) producer of pods. The second is a cryptic unlit fuge that acts as a (presumed) consumer of nutrients via DSB and an observable producer of pods. So, yes, you can certainly run a refugium without light depending upon what you want to keep in it.

cincyjim · 02/28/2015, 05:36 PM

Great! Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to try it without the light at first and see how it goes. I just wasn't sure if you could or not.
Thanks!
Jim

Blue spot · 03/01/2015, 04:39 PM

Just a silly question , but what was you're light cycle before the outbreak

cincyjim · 03/01/2015, 05:12 PM

My DT comes on at 10:30am and goes off at 7:00pm. I had the fuge light come on at 9pm and off at 5am. I was using the Marineland Double Bright LED Lighting System, 18-24", 6 white 6000k LED's (450 lumens) and it had moon lights that I never turned on. I converted the lumens to watts that the recommended light fixture used and come to find out I was basically twice the amount. I didn't do this research prior to setting this up the first time. I really never thought LED's were that powerful. Lesson learned the hard way once again!

02/28/2015, 01:05 PM	#1
cincyjim Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,147	Refugium with no light? Is it possible to have a refugium without using a light? It wouldn't have chaeto or any macro algae in it, just some rock and pods. I was using a hang on the back refugium which had 3" of sand, rock, and chaeto. The chaeto died and I had a big outbreak of bad algae (I'm guessing because of the LED light I had on it). I ended up taking it down and it is soaking in vinegar now. I wanted a refugium for pods so I could get a Mandarin fish. Would the pods survive without a light or would I be wasting time? My DT is 75g and is 3 1/2 years old (Aug 2011).

02/28/2015, 03:12 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Cheato would help the pods, but they will manage with rocks. THey do eat algae, as I understand it. __________________ 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%.

02/28/2015, 04:44 PM	#5
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I run dual refugia on my tank. The first is a typical high-light macro fuge which acts as an observable consumer of nutrients and a (presumed) producer of pods. The second is a cryptic unlit fuge that acts as a (presumed) consumer of nutrients via DSB and an observable producer of pods. So, yes, you can certainly run a refugium without light depending upon what you want to keep in it. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

02/28/2015, 03:37 PM	#3
cincyjim Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,147	Thanks Sk8r. My nitrates are 1.5 and my phosphates are 0 (Red Sea test kits). I can only think that the LED light I used was way too strong for the CPR Aquatic AquaFuge Refugium and fueled the algae. I believe the light fried chaeto that was in it. I'm not a quitter so I would like to try this again. I guess I could buy the light that was recommended for it and see how that goes. Much appreciated! Jim

02/28/2015, 03:45 PM	#4
xcdennisx Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 50	I would just go to lowes or home depot buy 5500k basement lights that are 100 watts. The cheato in my tank grows from a little bigger than a softball size to filling a 5 gallon bucket in 2-3 weeks. we have 2 100 watts lights over the refugium.

02/28/2015, 05:36 PM	#6
cincyjim Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,147	Great! Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to try it without the light at first and see how it goes. I just wasn't sure if you could or not. Thanks! Jim

03/01/2015, 04:39 PM	#7
Blue spot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: England Posts: 590	Just a silly question , but what was you're light cycle before the outbreak

03/01/2015, 05:12 PM	#8
cincyjim Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,147	My DT comes on at 10:30am and goes off at 7:00pm. I had the fuge light come on at 9pm and off at 5am. I was using the Marineland Double Bright LED Lighting System, 18-24", 6 white 6000k LED's (450 lumens) and it had moon lights that I never turned on. I converted the lumens to watts that the recommended light fixture used and come to find out I was basically twice the amount. I didn't do this research prior to setting this up the first time. I really never thought LED's were that powerful. Lesson learned the hard way once again!