Refugia - How and Why

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/13/2014, 10:36 AM

I set up my first refugium (the 20 long) using half Kent Bio-Sediment and half aragonite sand as a substrate. It was snow white and reflected light very well.
I started off with a ball of chaeto that took off and grew like a weed. I would need to prune it weekly and even the it nearly filled the tank when due for a pruning. Then I added the ten gallon tank as a seahorse tank. I went to visit the good folks at http://seahorsesource.com/?page_id=2 and got a pair of H.Reidi. As I was leaving I noticed a pretty aquatic plant in their DT in their living room. I remarked how pretty it was and they bagged a starter up for me at no charge.
I took it home and put it the 20 long with my chaeto. Man this stuff took off like you wouldn't believe. I later looked it up and identified it as the demon CAULERPA Prolifera. Well in no time my ball of chaeto began to wither and die. I tossed it. I have been using Caulerpa Prolifera as my main means of nutrient export ever since.
The seahorses were lost to stray voltage from a light fixture that failed.
I took a small start from the 20 long and put it in the 10, again it took off quick.
Both tanks are lighted using 6500K spiral CFL bulbs (2 on the 20, one on the 10)
Attached are photos showing both refugia before and after a cleaning/harvesting. While cleaning them their drains run into the plastic jar drilled full of holes with a filter sock inside.
After a cleaning they are fed phyto which I am culturing along with rotifers in the hopes of breed true percs. The pump is turned off for 30 - 45 minutes then plugged back in bypassing all filtration and feeding the return for the DT.

http://s33.photobucket.com/user/unclesalty2/slideshow/

Sugar Magnolia · 04/13/2014, 11:19 AM

Your link doesn't seem to be working for me.

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/13/2014, 11:38 AM

That's odd.
I just tried it, and it opened right up.

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/13/2014, 12:48 PM

Can anyone else see the pictures?

Shane C. · 04/13/2014, 01:30 PM

I can see it. 20 pics right?

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/13/2014, 05:35 PM

Yes, some were not intended for this post but most are.
They show my refugia before and after harvesting. Exporting nutrients very well. The paper plate just happened to have a large amphipod as an example of the live foods the refugia provide my fish in the DT.
The green water pics are to show how feeding phyto increase the pod population.
The 10 gallon tank before cleaning has a blanket of red cyano. This tank is the only place in the system where cyano flourishes due to the low turnover in that tank (30-40 gph) while the 20 gets approx. 125-150 gph flow through it.

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/14/2014, 07:37 AM

No questions or comments?

clay12340 · 04/14/2014, 08:45 AM

Do you see a significant change in nutrient levels in the system? Why are you feeding the macro if your goal is to export nutrients with it?

The ground cover look is quite nice. It would make an interesting display in and of itself I think. Do you have any worries of the Caulerpa going sexual and causing issues?

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/14/2014, 08:55 AM

Yes, there is a significant drop in nutrients when growing this much macro and harvesting regularly.
I do not feed the macro, the phyto is food for the amphipods.
Both of my refugiums are on stands where they can be seen, I think it is a shame to hide a refugium under a stand, they are just too cool to look at.
I tried caulerpa taxifolia and it would go sexual every two weeks like clockwork. It would suddenly turn white and have to be yanked.
Since switching Prolifera this has not happened once.

wogga · 02/23/2018, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Salty 05

No questions or comments?

What's your photoperiod? What's the relative timing to the DT photoperiod? What kind of phyto are you feeding?

04/13/2014, 10:36 AM	#1
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Refugia - How and Why I set up my first refugium (the 20 long) using half Kent Bio-Sediment and half aragonite sand as a substrate. It was snow white and reflected light very well. I started off with a ball of chaeto that took off and grew like a weed. I would need to prune it weekly and even the it nearly filled the tank when due for a pruning. Then I added the ten gallon tank as a seahorse tank. I went to visit the good folks at http://seahorsesource.com/?page_id=2 and got a pair of H.Reidi. As I was leaving I noticed a pretty aquatic plant in their DT in their living room. I remarked how pretty it was and they bagged a starter up for me at no charge. I took it home and put it the 20 long with my chaeto. Man this stuff took off like you wouldn't believe. I later looked it up and identified it as the demon CAULERPA Prolifera. Well in no time my ball of chaeto began to wither and die. I tossed it. I have been using Caulerpa Prolifera as my main means of nutrient export ever since. The seahorses were lost to stray voltage from a light fixture that failed. I took a small start from the 20 long and put it in the 10, again it took off quick. Both tanks are lighted using 6500K spiral CFL bulbs (2 on the 20, one on the 10) Attached are photos showing both refugia before and after a cleaning/harvesting. While cleaning them their drains run into the plastic jar drilled full of holes with a filter sock inside. After a cleaning they are fed phyto which I am culturing along with rotifers in the hopes of breed true percs. The pump is turned off for 30 - 45 minutes then plugged back in bypassing all filtration and feeding the return for the DT. http://s33.photobucket.com/user/unclesalty2/slideshow/ __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/13/2014, 11:19 AM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Your link doesn't seem to be working for me. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

04/13/2014, 11:38 AM	#3
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	That's odd. I just tried it, and it opened right up. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/13/2014, 12:48 PM	#4
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Can anyone else see the pictures? __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/13/2014, 05:35 PM	#6
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Yes, some were not intended for this post but most are. They show my refugia before and after harvesting. Exporting nutrients very well. The paper plate just happened to have a large amphipod as an example of the live foods the refugia provide my fish in the DT. The green water pics are to show how feeding phyto increase the pod population. The 10 gallon tank before cleaning has a blanket of red cyano. This tank is the only place in the system where cyano flourishes due to the low turnover in that tank (30-40 gph) while the 20 gets approx. 125-150 gph flow through it. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/13/2014, 01:30 PM	#5
Shane C. Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 97	I can see it. 20 pics right?

04/14/2014, 07:37 AM	#7
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	No questions or comments? __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/14/2014, 08:45 AM	#8
clay12340 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Bloomington, Indiana Posts: 312	Do you see a significant change in nutrient levels in the system? Why are you feeding the macro if your goal is to export nutrients with it? The ground cover look is quite nice. It would make an interesting display in and of itself I think. Do you have any worries of the Caulerpa going sexual and causing issues?

04/14/2014, 08:55 AM	#9
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Yes, there is a significant drop in nutrients when growing this much macro and harvesting regularly. I do not feed the macro, the phyto is food for the amphipods. Both of my refugiums are on stands where they can be seen, I think it is a shame to hide a refugium under a stand, they are just too cool to look at. I tried caulerpa taxifolia and it would go sexual every two weeks like clockwork. It would suddenly turn white and have to be yanked. Since switching Prolifera this has not happened once. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.