Reef Cleaners to the Rescue!!! *UPDATE* pg. 4

Well...what's going on in the refugium is not ideal. Ever since I added the boostled the fuzzy caulerpa has taken off in there too. The mangroves are being lit by a suspended 25w power compact. The 25w PC is not powerful enough to grow anything other than the mangroves because they are close to it. So, if I remove a lot of the fuzzy from the refugium and cut off the boostled, then I can clear out the refugium and make space for some chaeto. Should I do this?

 

no doubt fuzzy caulerpa is a good filtering algae, but its ability to spread so fast from fragments makes me think that eventually that should go too, unless you feel comfortable with managing it. The only thing it fuzzy caulerpa is an epiphyte, that would love to take up shop on some chaeto, so it would pay to move some hermits in there to protects it even after manual removal

 

so how goes the battle? by the way, did we remember to send you empty shells, I can't remember now.

 

Update - 12 days after manual removal and adding CUC

Hey John, the following are some pictures taken today, 13 days after manual removal. The tank looks much cleaner after the reefcleaners cleanup crew has been busily sifting and picking through everything. I also added another Koralia nano which brings my total turnover rate to 30.2 times an hour. This has really helped to to prevent anything from settling and becoming fuzzy caulerpa food.

Also, I plan to replace my current old Ushio 10K bulb with a Phoenix 14K. This should help with the nuisance algae a bit. I'll be tackling the sump soon.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the algae in its current state. I added some of my corals for fun.

















the before picture

 

Yup, y'all sent a little bag packed full of all the shells I'll ever need. Thanks again John

 

Wow that looks way better!!! John does miracles!!

 

manual removal too though, because even a miracles needs a ...nevermind it is Jan, back to seriousness!

 

Thanks! With a little bit of team work it's coming around.

 

Okay! So, as originally stated, my plan was 2 pronged. The first prong was to reduce nutrients as much as possible, and the second was to manually remove all that I could and let the reefcleaners CUC take care of the rest.

The second prong is currently in action. But today I've taken a big step towards accomplishing the first prong, went a little crazy on the BRS website last night . The following is what I ordered:

1 - 10k 150W Double-Ended Ushio Aqualite Metal Halide Bulb

2 - 24W - 24IN AQUA BLUE + Plus Giesemann D&D Powerchrome T5 Bulbs

1 - Dual BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor

1 - Maxi-Jet Powerhead 1200 (295GPH)

1 - 1 Pound (453 Grams) Bulk GFO "Granular" Ferric Oxide

I already have a bucket of activated carbon to run in the reactor.

My hope is that the reactor will polish off any phosphates and nitrates, and starve-out the caulerpa.

Also, I'm hoping that replacing my very old bulbs will bring the kelvin rating up to what it's supposed to be and that this will slow the caulerpa growth as well. For acclimation, I plan on changing one bulb out every 2-3 days. But what about the MH bulb? Should I keep it on the same light cycle, and just raise the light up 8-9 inches (its only about 4 inches off the water right now, making total height after raising 12-13 inches)? Or, should I keep it the same height, and just shorten the MH's daylight cycle to 4 hrs a day for a week? Or, should I do both?

Thanks in advance! Happy Reefing -Jarrett

 

time for cuc boost. let me know what speed they are moving at, (is the refugium and return pumps now fuzzy caulerpa free), and then we can speed it up a bit.