My New Refugium

[hubbard_shark]

So ive been planning on buying a refugium, and finally got one last week. ive got it all hooked up now and its flowing great. i was told to come back in 3 weeks from where i bought it to get the algae then, so im just waiting for that, but ive got a mag drive 700 gph pump, pumping it, which is much better than my old cannister filter which was only 260 gph. So i got the pump, the glass sump, miracle mud, algae, overflow, bioballs, lighting, and piping for $400. i found it to be a good deal but yea, heres pics, as well as my new sixline wrasse, finally found one of them as well, and hes takin a liking to my tank.

Under tank refugium

The work in progress

the tank mates

and my new sixline wrasse

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Looks sweet mate

 

[Mr Miagi]

Nice! Id say remove the bioballs though, dont need em if you get more LR in there and possbly macro etc.

 

[ostrow]

Miagi is right. How long has the main been running? Only fish are the clowns and the wrasse? I presume this is going to be a reef. I'd wait to add the chaeto (avoid caulerpa) until your bioload is up. And only add a little to start. How are you lighting the fuge?

 

[Adrinal]

Miagi is right. How long has the main been running? Only fish are the clowns and the wrasse? I presume this is going to be a reef. I'd wait to add the chaeto (avoid caulerpa) until your bioload is up. And only add a little to start. How are you lighting the fuge?

I'm interested in your thinking on the chaeto and waiting. Expound, if you will

 

[hubbard_shark]

same here, i would like to know the difference between diff algaes so when i get mine i get something good for my tank, and will work well. like what's good and not?

 

[SkiFletch]

Chaetomorpha and Culerpa are the most common types of macro. Both have similar requirements: Decent quality lighting along with nutrients, some flow, and stable standard seawater. They will both help remove nitrates and phosphates if properly cared for and are great for nurient export. However they differ in their means of reproduction which is of utmost concern to reefers. Chaetomorpha does not undergo large-scale sexual reproduction. It just grows and divides off new "branches". Culerpa can undergo a large-scale sexual reproduction in which it releases a high volume of spores into the aquarium. Often these spawning events are incurred in response to conditions that are either too good, or too bad. When culerpa is dying, it is prone to spore release (in a last ditch effort to save itself it tries to spread). Also, when it has lots of nutrients and grows very fast it may be prone to spawning to use that extra energy that it is absorbing. These spores quickly decompose and provide a rapid infuse of nutrients into the tank, usually resulting in spikes ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, or a combination of any of the 3. Then corals, inverts and fish can stress, and the tank may be pushed to the point of crashing. Not good...

Some people claim that keeping lighting on for 24/7 will prevent a spawning event, but some claim to still have culerpa "go sexual" on them even with such a lighting regimen. Still others keep culerpa in their tanks for years and years and never have a sexual spawning event. However, no one has a spawning event with Chaetomorpha. Hence the reccomendation to use Chaeto for all new hobbyists so that they dont shoot themselves in the foot before they start.

 

[hubbard_shark]

ok sounds good, is keeping my refugium light 24/7 essential now, especially with no aglae in it?

 

[SkiFletch]

If its got no algae in it, 10 hours is fine. Usually those who run an algae refugium under their tank (myself included) alter their light cycles to oppose thier display tanks. The alternating cycle smooths out the uptake of CO2 by the system and prevents pH swings from night to day. Very beneficial for longterm tank health

 

[hubbard_shark]

got my algae today, nice bag of chaeto, the LFS recommended it just like u guyz, thx for the help again

 

[boshank23]

any chance of another pic? i may ditch the canister in favour of a refugium

 

[hubbard_shark]

heres the pics of the finished refugium.

the side view

the top view

and a pic of one of my travelers, some sort of sea star

hope u like

 

[SkiFletch]

Lookin great. Gonna be interesting to see it in a couple months when everything matures