CPR In-Tank Refugium

I have a small in-tank refugium on the side of my 46 gallon bow. I have a sunpod with 2 150 watt MH bulbs. The question is I was having a bryopsis problem recently and it is now gone. At that time I was not able to grow chaeto in the refugium due to the bryopsis. Now the bryopsis is gone and the chaeto I put in to the refugium is still not growing. I do weekly water changesof 10%. 2 Clownfish, 1 wrasse, a mandarin. All water parameters are good. Why would the chaeto still not grow.

 

maybe no organics for it to grow off of

 

if your using the light from the halides for light for the fuge the chaeto might not respond well to the halide lighting, what kelvin bulbs are you using. I read somewhere that 6700k is best for refugium lighting, this could be your problem

 

I am using 14,000K bulbs. When I had a hang on the back refugium is was using a 6700k bulbs and the chaeto died. That is also when I was having a bryopsis problem. I do have nitrates of 5 ppm
Adam

 

Your in tank bryopsis was present before, therefore even with the better 6500k lighting, lack of organics might have been an the issue then. Giving the chaeto the best success may mean back to the old lighting and see what happens now your nitrates may be up.

My chaeto grows well in sump with 0- 15ppm nitrate, 6500k lighting and ample water flow to slowly spin the cheato - not a typical fuge setup - but optimized to grow chaeto (at least thats what I read).

 

Nitrates

I took out the chaeto from my tank as it was dying. I also removed my phosban and I am stopping the kalk as I was not able to drip it. I would put 1/4 gallon water with 1/4 teaspoon kalk morning and night to try to get the ph higher. I added 5 lbs of LR and will add more in a few days. I think more LR should help get the nitrates back down to 0.
Adam


2 Oscellaris Clowns, Orangeback Fairy Wrasse, Green Mandarin, Red Lobophylia, Yellow Fiji Leather,Branching Hammer, Plate Coral, Long Tentacle Plate, Red and Blue Mushrooms, Ricordia & Yuma Mushrooms, Devils Hand Leather, Toadstool, Purple Mintipora, Sun Coral, Orange Gorgonian, Red Gorgonian, LPS Maze Coral, SPS Scroll Coral, SPS Birds Nest, Orange Plate, Maxima Clam, Green Finger leather, Serpent Star, Long Spinned Urchin, Green Emerald, Various Snails and Hermit Crabs