Macroalgae sexual die off

Discussion in 'Refugium' started by keats, Mar 4, 2008.

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  1. keats

    keats Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2007
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    Australia
    Just wondering am i on track
    the info below may be incorrect so don't take it as fact
    do like me and read the replies. Thanks

    When lighting a refugium is it best to leave the light running 24 hrs as this will stop the algae going sexual and sending out spores which could go to the main display tank and create problems.
    I read alot of people are setting up the refugium above the display tank to alow any pods and such to be graverty fed into it, in this case was wondering if macroalgae goes sexual how any spores would be held back.

    And if the refugium is kept below the the display tank will the return pump destroy kill any algae spores ?

    Also if kept lit 24 hrs will this stop the mass die off that i have read can happen. if not what causes the mass die off and how can it be prevented.
    Thanks
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2008
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  3. KOgle

    KOgle Zoanthid

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    Most people run their fuge on the opposite schedule from their lights. This should keep the algae from going assexual and dieing off.

    If you leave your fuge lights on all the time then the algae doesn't have a chance to rest and eventually will die. Plants need sleep too...


    Hope this helps.
     
  4. Tangster

    Tangster 3reef Sponsor

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    LOL I have been running algae scrubber and algae refugiums for over 20 yrs and to this day I have ever yet had a single experience of the algae going asexual.

    When this stupid A$$ idea started to pop up about the mid to late 90's of running your refugium 24/7 I told all who would listen that if they kept pushing the algae 24/7 this would happen. Idiots will do anything trying to get their name added to a method or idea that has gone long before..

    But if anyone applied a 1/2 grain of common sense they would have seen the problems with this Dumb idea .. When I came along through elementary it was about the 4th grade we learned in the science class how a simple plant or tree worked and how they lived.. By day the uptake Carbon dioxide and by night they release their waste products we call them Oxygen..

    Mother Nature said we need a dark time and a light time .. Now using common sense as inexpensive as that is compared to the college educated guys who thought this up A algae needs day and night. And like higher plant forms when stressed they will go to seed to preserve themselves even a simple lawn grass will do this .

    But again applying commonsense you can not just up taking nutrients and not release waste products. And when the alga's can't dump the waste from lack of dark time they go to seed to preserve themselves Yep its that simple.. Don't believe all you read in this hobby..

    Again as I said I have always applied commonsense and ran my algae filters on a reverse photo period and I have never had a single plant to ever go sexual to date. The reason for the reverse Photo period is that during lights on the Lights and increased respiration rate of the tanks animals will keep the fuge grasses fed with CO'2s as a food source But when the lights on the tank go off the P.H will fall from excess CO'2 But the lights on the fuge have the alga's all working to give of oxygen to keep the CO'2 lower at night.

    As for the fuge above the main tank another bunch of bull the pumps will send the stuff up to the main tank just as well as gravity will pull them down. Beside it looks dumb :)
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. Froc3

    Froc3 Fire Goby

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    lol +1

    It has been proven that the optimum light/dark cycle for the growth of a plant is quite close 24 hrs. 12 light 12 dark. This allows the best growth of the plant. Many plants require seasons to seed and spore. Without any seasons in your tank i think you're good to go.
     
  6. paxrom

    paxrom Plankton

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    wow I come across this post from a random google search and it is so faulty in its science that I have to register an account to post in the hope to show that not all information you come across on the internet is correct.

    Plants taking up CO2 by day and at the same time produce O2 (Oxygen). This is called photosynthesis (please google). They DO NOT wait until night time to release the Oxygen waste product.
    By night, the reverse happens, when plants will uptake O2 and release CO2, though not to the same extent as what happen in photosynthesis
    Reproduction requires energy. It is not because an organism is under stress and therefore they will reproduce. In fact, when an organism is under stress, they tend to LESS likely to reproduce.
    I give up..
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2008