Refugiums, Macro Algea and Nitrate Reduction

Thanks for the good info. I suspect that my refugium is ovrloaded with algea.. I probably overloaded it from the start and need to trim. It is growing, but as you look deeped down into the refugium the light is clearly cut off.... I think I'll start daily feeding of live algea to my tangs rather than the weekly plan I was on.

As for the question asked duing the exchane. I probably have 35-40 inches of fish right now.. I figure if they get much bigger, I'll either get a 150 gallon tank or trade a few in for maller fish... we'll see how it goes.

 

Allen - Adding more sand so that you have 3-4" will help reduce nitrates once it's all active. You can use the plastic bag trick (carefully adding bag to tank, and once it's on the bottom, slowly remove bag) or a big pvc tube.

Or, if you have the space, add another sump and put the sand in there.

 

[quote author=Allen Seidman link=board=Filters;num=1069189473;start=0#10 date=11/19/03 at 10:42:17]I figure if they get much bigger, I'll either get a 150 gallon tank or trade a few in for maller fish... we'll see how it goes.[/quote]

Go team! Great job Allen and come join us! Registration is free.

 

Yeah, jump on in. The water is fine and we don't bite. Well at least I don't.

 

Allen, careful not to get any fish that are small enough to fit in the mouth of your Lion or it will just be an expensive snack!

 

Update on my refugium: My caulerpa has all died off is suspect due to a copper treatment I had to add to the tank due to hard to kill-off parasitic infection that two of my fish had. The parasites are gone, but so is the Caulerpa - I suspect its related.

That said, I do have live macro algea left. I don;t know the scientific name but I've heard it called brillo pad algea. It seem very hardy and did not sie off at all. Still... the nitrates do not seem to be effected by the refugium ! Surprised ? Any ideas ?

thanks...

 

It will take some time for your macro algae to grow and have a measurable impact on nitrates and phosphates.

 

about how long?

 

All depends on your tank and the amount of nitrates and phosphates which are difficult to test for.

 

i have 0 nitrates according to my test kit