Managing a Cryptic Fuge

[reefgeezer]

Crap! I can't get the picture to work. Stupid computer.

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by reefgeezer

Crap! I can't get the picture to work. Stupid computer.

You have one of those too??

[Joel_155]

Question for you on the setup. Did you notice any type of mini cycle when you added dry rock rubble to your setup? I'm debating on adding more rock to my tank to increase filtration and I'm wondering of I have to cycle it first or can I just slowly add it to my tank. Thanks for the help.

[reefgeezer]

Originally Posted by Joel_155

Question for you on the setup. Did you notice any type of mini cycle when you added dry rock rubble to your setup? I'm debating on adding more rock to my tank to increase filtration and I'm wondering of I have to cycle it first or can I just slowly add it to my tank. Thanks for the help.

I don't think I got a cycle but I didn't do any tests. I didn't see any changes in the tank that would indicate an elevated ammonium level though. I used what was previously live rock that was made very dead... bleached, acid bathed, & placed in the Kansas sun for a couple of weeks. I didn't expect it to cause a cycle.

[reefgeezer]

I peeked into the cryptic fuge last night. It has changed a little. There is some bright red stuff that I'm assuming is sponge starting to grow where I can see it. I can see a few little Green and Yellow Ball Sponges in the crevices between a few of the rocks. There are now some tube worm tubes stuck to the sides of the fuge. I'm assuming they are alive and retreated into their tubes when I shined the flashlight at them. I'm hoping that more of the good stuff in under the rocks where I can't see it.

The other observation is that the tube worms and sponges that are in my overflow have really exploded.

I'm ready to populate the system with Pods. Does anyone have a suggestion where to order them?

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by reefgeezer

I peeked into the cryptic fuge last night. It has changed a little. There is some bright red stuff that I'm assuming is sponge starting to grow where I can see it. I can see a few little Green and Yellow Ball Sponges in the crevices between a few of the rocks. There are now some tube worm tubes stuck to the sides of the fuge. I'm assuming they are alive and retreated into their tubes when I shined the flashlight at them. I'm hoping that more of the good stuff in under the rocks where I can't see it.

The other observation is that the tube worms and sponges that are in my overflow have really exploded.

I'm ready to populate the system with Pods. Does anyone have a suggestion where to order them?

You should have pods .just throw in some phytoplankton to feed them. I like the DT phyto

[reefgeezer]

Capn was right. Got Pods... little white critters! They just showed up on the film that builds up on the glass. Guess it's time for some Phyto. I've been really tempted to start dosing it, but was a little hesitant as I worried it would cause nutrients to spike. I guess I gotta feed the critters though.

The Aiptasia have started to spread into the DT also. I've been zapping some of them to keep them in control. Time to get the Copper Band in QT. By the time he's ready, there should be a good supply of pods & Aiptasia for him to snack on.

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by reefgeezer

Capn was right. Got Pods... little white critters! They just showed up on the film that builds up on the glass. Guess it's time for some Phyto. I've been really tempted to start dosing it, but was a little hesitant as I worried it would cause nutrients to spike. I guess I gotta feed the critters though.

The Aiptasia have started to spread into the DT also. I've been zapping some of them to keep them in control. Time to get the Copper Band in QT. By the time he's ready, there should be a good supply of pods & Aiptasia for him to snack on.

Glad to hear I was right for a change
I' m dosing phyto heavily now and see no problems. Tank is still crystal clear and pods are great in the refuge
Reef geezer I have a fuge full of aptasia.. Good filter feeders but none in the dt
What is your flow rate through your refugium?

[overskim]

How much phytoplankton are you dosing? I currently put in about 3 tbsp of Phyto Feast into a 100L system every 24 hours.

How are you keeping the Aiptasia out of your DT? You don't ever see any?

[reefgeezer]

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

Glad to hear I was right for a change
I' m dosing phyto heavily now and see no problems. Tank is still crystal clear and pods are great in the refuge
Reef geezer I have a fuge full of aptasia.. Good filter feeders but none in the dt
What is your flow rate through your refugium?

I'm guessing that I've got a little more than 100 GPH going through the 15 gallon fuge right now.

I know where the Aipistia in the DT came from. I have a rescue Digita coral that came on a rock covered in them, (and HA, some weird macroalgae, and bubble algae ). Those buggers have spread a little. I also had some in the overflow left over from the time before I acid bathed all the rock. Like I said, future Copperband food so I'm not too worried. I love Copperbands. One of the main goals in the revamp of the system was to make it capable of keeping one happy & healthy. When I start restocking the tank, a Copperband will be the first fish back into the tank. The QT is ready and I'm shopping for a healthy one now. I'm to the point that of ordering from Liveaquaria because I can't find one that doesn't look like it is starving around here.

I've also managed to reduce the HA and bubble algae on the rock quite a bit. The macro algae continues to grow some but I just trim it when it threatens to spread... good export if not in the best location. I've been tempted to frag the Digita and remove the rock, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Do you use cultured live phyto or commercial preparations?

[overskim]

Originally Posted by overskim

How much phytoplankton are you dosing? I currently put in about 3 tbsp of Phyto Feast into a 100L system every 24 hours.

How are you keeping the Aiptasia out of your DT? You don't ever see any?

Whoops I meant 300L system.

I have to say, if I see a bunch of weeds starting I am probably going to devise a new strategy.

How big is your display reefgeezer?

[reefgeezer]

Originally Posted by overskim

Whoops I meant 300L system.

I have to say, if I see a bunch of weeds starting I am probably going to devise a new strategy.

How big is your display reefgeezer?

Display tank is only 75 Gallons... sump holds about 20, fuge about 15.

[Aquarist007]

My refugium is 60 gals with about 200 lbs reef rock. No sand base. The flow through it is about 100 gal per hour.
I use DT phyto... 4 capfuls every other day.

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by reefgeezer

I'm guessing that I've got a little more than 100 GPH going through the 15 gallon fuge right now.

I know where the Aipistia in the DT came from. I have a rescue Digita coral that came on a rock covered in them, (and HA, some weird macroalgae, and bubble algae ). Those buggers have spread a little. I also had some in the overflow left over from the time before I acid bathed all the rock. Like I said, future Copperband food so I'm not too worried. I love Copperbands. One of the main goals in the revamp of the system was to make it capable of keeping one happy & healthy. When I start restocking the tank, a Copperband will be the first fish back into the tank. The QT is ready and I'm shopping for a healthy one now. I'm to the point that of ordering from Liveaquaria because I can't find one that doesn't look like it is starving around here.

I've also managed to reduce the HA and bubble algae on the rock quite a bit. The macro algae continues to grow some but I just trim it when it threatens to spread... good export if not in the best location. I've been tempted to frag the Digita and remove the rock, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Do you use cultured live phyto or commercial preparations?

Did you buy used reef rock from someone else's tank? I gave up on that... On a new install 70 per cent is Key Largo base rock
I'd be tempted to take a piece of your rock out at a time and replace it

[reefgeezer]

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

Did you buy used reef rock from someone else's tank? I gave up on that... On a new install 70 per cent is Key Largo base rock
I'd be tempted to take a piece of your rock out at a time and replace it

The rock in the DT & fuge is bleached and acid bathed old live rock out of my original system. I wanted to start over. It's good Fiji Rock. There is a total of about 70 lbs of very porous rock ... ~30 in the DT and 40 in the fuge. The DT has been fallow save for a few corals and some crabs & snails since 7-27 in preparation for all new fish.

The rock that brought in the Aipasta (and the other bad stuff) was added later because it had a coral on it I wanted to save. That's not a problem. The algae is fading away and the soon to be added Copperband will love the Aiptasia.

[Aquarist007]

Sorry John it was a post by over skim that I was commenting on when he used "weeds"

[overskim]

Originally Posted by reefgeezer

Display tank is only 75 Gallons... sump holds about 20, fuge about 15.

That is what I am going to go with. At least there will be a parallel in the experiment. I priced a 90 today and couldn't believe what the guy said.

The plan right now is a 75 DT, 20L sump, and a phytoplankton/oyster feast injector into a 30 gal cryptic zone. I'll finally be running pipes the next few days.

[reefgeezer]

Originally Posted by overskim

That is what I am going to go with. At least there will be a parallel in the experiment. I priced a 90 today and couldn't believe what the guy said.

The plan right now is a 75 DT, 20L sump, and a phytoplankton/oyster feast injector into a 35 gal cryptic zone. I'll finally be running pipes the next few days.

Cool. What is a phytoplankton injector? That might be a good upgrade for my system as well. I hate manual dosing... lazy maybe.

The last planned upgrade to my system (that's what I told my wife anyway) will be to plumb a 30 gallon grass flat biotope to use cryptic fuge as a sump.

The tank I'm going to use is serving as my QT tank right now. I'll need a while for the QT process for the fish I have planned so that will occur late in the spring.

[overskim]

Mine is a refrigerator, venturi, dosing pump, and magnetic stirrer. Definitely the most expensive luxury thing I have built.

Your plan sounds interesting. Can't wait to see it in action.

Of all the little set backs, my ocellaris clownfish I have in the current 55 decided to lay eggs today for the first time ever. I am probably going to wait until the male goes through at least one cycle. I think I can get most of it done though.

[reefgeezer]

Originally Posted by overskim

Mine is a refrigerator, venturi, dosing pump, and magnetic stirrer. Definitely the most expensive luxury thing I have built.

Hmmmmm... I have a magnetic stirrer and a dosing pump laying around. Maybe another upgrade in the future, Don't tell my wife!