refugium help

bgcook · 05/14/2007, 09:03 AM

i have a diy approx 13 gallon refugium (30 gallon sump) with a 100 watt 6500K light overtop (runs 18 hrs a day, partially reversed). when i first set this refugium up in nov 2006 i placed a small amount chaeto (old refug) with grape caleupra. needless to say the grape c. overtook the chaeto which sat on the bottom since a month ago. do to the risk of the grape caleupra going sexual i am transforming the refugium to primarly chaeto. after removing most of the caleupra the chaeto seems to be growing nicely. i have a few questions/problems i was hoping you guys could help with.

1. water flow - how much flow should be going into my refug. from the main pump i have approx 200 gph feeding the refug. in the fuge there is a maxi 400 for circulation around 106 gph. Is this enough flow to maximize the chaeto??

2. i still have grape caluepra, less than chaeto, but is starting to grow again. Is this a good nitrate/phospate exporter and perhaps I should try to maintain both??

3. I continually get a cyno film on the top of the refug water. aside from blocking some the light, is this a major problem?? i get no cyno in the main display.

4. what is the best algae for the fuge???

i would appreciate any help in trying to maximize my nitrate/phosphate export.

thanks

greg

bgcook · 05/14/2007, 02:23 PM

no opinions????

enemec1 · 05/14/2007, 03:04 PM

what are your nitrates in the main tank?
Is this seperate from your sump where the water gravity feeds back to the sump?
pics would help.
I have a simmilar set up on a 70 gallon stock tank fuge, low flow with a power head in the fuge. I think the trick is to have the surface of the water agitated so ther is no build up of scum on the top of the water.

frederickk · 05/14/2007, 08:01 PM

Here's a pic of my fuge. Note that half of it now is cheato as it is growing pretty fast.

I only have a MJ1200 as for circulation and the flow goes from coast to coast and the water goes back by gravity to my bigger sump.

bgcook · 05/14/2007, 08:13 PM

thanks for the replys.

my refugium is built into the 30 gallon tank, on the right. basically my overflows empty into the left side of the sump, where there is a ev180. through a couple of baffles the water flows into the return area. the return pump, mag 18 splits off immediately to feed the refugium on the right side of the sump. the glass of the refugium comes almost all the way to the top of the aquarium, then overflows back into the return area. i hope this helps give an idea of my set up. i did it this way to maximize the 30 gallon sump and refugium volume. i am a bit pressed for time and i don't know how to place a picture on the thread.

my nitrates have been a bit of a problem for the last few months. i am currently trying to find the source of my nitrates which run just below 20 with a sailfert test kit. my phosphates are up and down (considering using a reactor). i currently add blue life phosphate remover to keep my phosphates down - works pretty well but expensive.

i do need to figure out a way to agitate the surface to stop the cyno build up.

overall, does everyone feel that chaeto is the best over grape caluepra?

NealNano · 05/14/2007, 11:30 PM

Chaeto is the best and causes no problems. You want a low flow rate in fuges so that the macro can eat the nitrates. To get rid of cyano use red slime remover it works greats. Get a 8800k or higher, use florescent or PC for maxium macro growth.

05/14/2007, 09:03 AM	#1
bgcook Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: McAllen, Texas Posts: 215	refugium help i have a diy approx 13 gallon refugium (30 gallon sump) with a 100 watt 6500K light overtop (runs 18 hrs a day, partially reversed). when i first set this refugium up in nov 2006 i placed a small amount chaeto (old refug) with grape caleupra. needless to say the grape c. overtook the chaeto which sat on the bottom since a month ago. do to the risk of the grape caleupra going sexual i am transforming the refugium to primarly chaeto. after removing most of the caleupra the chaeto seems to be growing nicely. i have a few questions/problems i was hoping you guys could help with. 1. water flow - how much flow should be going into my refug. from the main pump i have approx 200 gph feeding the refug. in the fuge there is a maxi 400 for circulation around 106 gph. Is this enough flow to maximize the chaeto?? 2. i still have grape caluepra, less than chaeto, but is starting to grow again. Is this a good nitrate/phospate exporter and perhaps I should try to maintain both?? 3. I continually get a cyno film on the top of the refug water. aside from blocking some the light, is this a major problem?? i get no cyno in the main display. 4. what is the best algae for the fuge??? i would appreciate any help in trying to maximize my nitrate/phosphate export. thanks greg __________________ greg Current Tank Info: 540gal built in reef. 25 gal ecocube.

05/14/2007, 02:23 PM	#2
bgcook Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: McAllen, Texas Posts: 215	no opinions???? __________________ greg Current Tank Info: 540gal built in reef. 25 gal ecocube.

05/14/2007, 03:04 PM	#3
enemec1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rydal PA Posts: 907	what are your nitrates in the main tank? Is this seperate from your sump where the water gravity feeds back to the sump? pics would help. I have a simmilar set up on a 70 gallon stock tank fuge, low flow with a power head in the fuge. I think the trick is to have the surface of the water agitated so ther is no build up of scum on the top of the water. __________________ Help my wife is going to kill me, I'm spending my sons college funds. Current Tank Info: two 30 gallon cubes

05/14/2007, 08:13 PM	#5
bgcook Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: McAllen, Texas Posts: 215	thanks for the replys. my refugium is built into the 30 gallon tank, on the right. basically my overflows empty into the left side of the sump, where there is a ev180. through a couple of baffles the water flows into the return area. the return pump, mag 18 splits off immediately to feed the refugium on the right side of the sump. the glass of the refugium comes almost all the way to the top of the aquarium, then overflows back into the return area. i hope this helps give an idea of my set up. i did it this way to maximize the 30 gallon sump and refugium volume. i am a bit pressed for time and i don't know how to place a picture on the thread. my nitrates have been a bit of a problem for the last few months. i am currently trying to find the source of my nitrates which run just below 20 with a sailfert test kit. my phosphates are up and down (considering using a reactor). i currently add blue life phosphate remover to keep my phosphates down - works pretty well but expensive. i do need to figure out a way to agitate the surface to stop the cyno build up. overall, does everyone feel that chaeto is the best over grape caluepra? __________________ greg Current Tank Info: 540gal built in reef. 25 gal ecocube.

05/14/2007, 08:01 PM	#4
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	Here's a pic of my fuge. Note that half of it now is cheato as it is growing pretty fast. I only have a MJ1200 as for circulation and the flow goes from coast to coast and the water goes back by gravity to my bigger sump.

05/14/2007, 11:30 PM	#6
NealNano Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert, Az Posts: 764	Chaeto is the best and causes no problems. You want a low flow rate in fuges so that the macro can eat the nitrates. To get rid of cyano use red slime remover it works greats. Get a 8800k or higher, use florescent or PC for maxium macro growth.