Need A Refugium Expert

BiscayneA1A · 12/14/2007, 04:53 PM

I'm starting a new 100 gal. soon, but wanted some advice on the sequence or timing of creating the refugium.

Question #1:

At what point do I start adding live rock and/or chaeto, etc to the refugium?

a. When I start curing the live rock in the display tank?
b. After the live rock is cured in the display tank?
c. After I introduce fish and corals to the display tank?
d. Some other point in time?

Question #2:

Where do you order/buy chaeto? I've never seen it at the LFS.

Many thanks. Any other relevant suggestions appreciated.

Snowboarda42 · 12/14/2007, 05:33 PM

1. a
2. eBay, Local Reefers, this site, Reef Frontiers dot com selling forum, etc.

Cure all your live rock at once. Set the entire tank up, sand and everything, all at once.

Sk8r · 12/14/2007, 05:42 PM

I agree: but wait to add the cheato moss until after the ammonia spike. It will do much better if not exposed to that, and certainly the copepods that live in it will be happier. The moment you have your first hint of hair algae bloom, put the cheato in. It will ameliorate the algae bloom, maybe down to not much at all. Start up your skimmer, add your cleanup crew [to both tanks]. And you should be rolling. Make your light period 24/7 and don't settle for 'nearly as good as cheato.'

MrSquid · 12/14/2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
IThe moment you have your first hint of hair algae bloom, put the cheato in. It will ameliorate the algae bloom, maybe down to not much at all. Start up your skimmer, add your cleanup crew [to both tanks]. And you should be rolling. Make your light period 24/7 and don't settle for 'nearly as good as cheato.'

Wait... the skimmer doesn't run starting day 1 of the cycling period?

BiscayneA1A · 12/15/2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
[and don't settle for 'nearly as good as cheato.' [/B]

Just to clarify the above...are you saying there are lesser grades of cheato or other macro algae to avoid or both?

Thanks again for the input.

reef / aholic · 12/15/2007, 10:40 AM

I would only use Chaetomorpha because it does not go asexual, it can go extended periods of time with out lighting, it grows extremely fast and it does not take over a aquarium if accidentally introduced.

There are other Macro-Algae like; Caulerpa, C. Prolifera, C. Mexicana, and C. Racemosa and Gracilaria.

12/14/2007, 05:42 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I agree: but wait to add the cheato moss until after the ammonia spike. It will do much better if not exposed to that, and certainly the copepods that live in it will be happier. The moment you have your first hint of hair algae bloom, put the cheato in. It will ameliorate the algae bloom, maybe down to not much at all. Start up your skimmer, add your cleanup crew [to both tanks]. And you should be rolling. Make your light period 24/7 and don't settle for 'nearly as good as cheato.' __________________ 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%.

12/14/2007, 04:53 PM	#1
BiscayneA1A Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 39	Need A Refugium Expert I'm starting a new 100 gal. soon, but wanted some advice on the sequence or timing of creating the refugium. Question #1: At what point do I start adding live rock and/or chaeto, etc to the refugium? a. When I start curing the live rock in the display tank? b. After the live rock is cured in the display tank? c. After I introduce fish and corals to the display tank? d. Some other point in time? Question #2: Where do you order/buy chaeto? I've never seen it at the LFS. Many thanks. Any other relevant suggestions appreciated.

12/14/2007, 05:33 PM	#2
Snowboarda42 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Warshington Posts: 1,094	1. a 2. eBay, Local Reefers, this site, Reef Frontiers dot com selling forum, etc. Cure all your live rock at once. Set the entire tank up, sand and everything, all at once. __________________ 40B Mixed Reef 100% Captive Grown Corals See, that's the trouble with the world today. Not enough danger to kill off stupid people before they get old enough to breed. Bring back lawn darts! -PrivateJoker64 Current Tank Info: 40B, 20L Sump/Fuge, Mag 9.5 Return, 2x Hydor Koralia #2's, 150W 14K HQI, 139W T-5, Euro-Reef RS-80P Mesh Modded, 40LB LR, 80LB LS, 54x Turnover, Mostly SPS, Some Softys Too.

12/15/2007, 10:40 AM	#6
reef / aholic Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: houston \| texas Posts: 647	I would only use Chaetomorpha because it does not go asexual, it can go extended periods of time with out lighting, it grows extremely fast and it does not take over a aquarium if accidentally introduced. There are other Macro-Algae like; Caulerpa, C. Prolifera, C. Mexicana, and C. Racemosa and Gracilaria.