Adding Bio Spira with refugium

lines_michael · 01/31/2007, 10:59 PM

I just added a refugium (25.5 x 4.5x 16) to my 75 Gallon "soon to be" reef tank. Right now it has 9 fish and two corals, hermits crabs, etc.. I am almost done battling red moss like algae that was spreading by doing a ton of water changes this past week to get my nitrates and phosphates down. I have mangroves for the refugium that are acclimating right now to assist with the nitrates and phosphates.

I put live sand into the refugium about 3.5 inches deep and wondered if I should add the pouch of Bio Spira I have in my fridge to help build up the bacteria in the refugium.

Nitrites: 0
Ammonia: almost 0
Nitrates: just under 20 and dropping
Phosphates: just under .25 and dropping
pH: 8.2
temp: 78.5

Questions:

1. Should I add the Bio-Spira to the refugium?

2. Is it ok to put a small live rock in the refugium that has some macroalgae on it. Small little light green hairs, a little left of the red moss algae and some corraline? Or should I scrub off the "bad" algae before putting it in the refugium?

bertoni · 02/01/2007, 01:15 AM

I don't think the BioSpira is going to do anything, but I don't think it's going to hurt anything, either. If you don't want the macroalgae growing anywhere in the system, it's best to remove it now, in my opinion.

TekCat · 02/01/2007, 01:47 AM

Agree on useleness of bio-spira. You already have enough bacteria if ammonia is not showing up.

Mangroves are not the most efficient way to export nitrates/phosphates. As far as other macro algae, I'd get some chaeto, and get rid of unknown algaes on rocks.

01/31/2007, 10:59 PM	#1
lines_michael Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 95	Adding Bio Spira with refugium I just added a refugium (25.5 x 4.5x 16) to my 75 Gallon "soon to be" reef tank. Right now it has 9 fish and two corals, hermits crabs, etc.. I am almost done battling red moss like algae that was spreading by doing a ton of water changes this past week to get my nitrates and phosphates down. I have mangroves for the refugium that are acclimating right now to assist with the nitrates and phosphates. I put live sand into the refugium about 3.5 inches deep and wondered if I should add the pouch of Bio Spira I have in my fridge to help build up the bacteria in the refugium. Nitrites: 0 Ammonia: almost 0 Nitrates: just under 20 and dropping Phosphates: just under .25 and dropping pH: 8.2 temp: 78.5 Questions: 1. Should I add the Bio-Spira to the refugium? 2. Is it ok to put a small live rock in the refugium that has some macroalgae on it. Small little light green hairs, a little left of the red moss algae and some corraline? Or should I scrub off the "bad" algae before putting it in the refugium?

02/01/2007, 01:15 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I don't think the BioSpira is going to do anything, but I don't think it's going to hurt anything, either. If you don't want the macroalgae growing anywhere in the system, it's best to remove it now, in my opinion. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/01/2007, 01:47 AM	#3
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	Agree on useleness of bio-spira. You already have enough bacteria if ammonia is not showing up. Mangroves are not the most efficient way to export nitrates/phosphates. As far as other macro algae, I'd get some chaeto, and get rid of unknown algaes on rocks.