why beat the bush, just let it grow?

hello all,

iv been doing some reading on refugiums and though i currently own a non lit one under my DT i am considering adding some light to the story so as to have algae eat up a bit of nutrients.

now it seems the most common algae choice for people is cheato due to its growth speed. i was wondering however since i cant find any cheato round here, unless i buy online, cant i just let the natural algae that appear on live rock grow? wont that have the same effect?

thx
jeff

 

Yes it will have them same effect of soaking up some nutrients. But, It wont be enough to be noticible. Plus, the micro-algeas wont out sorce the other micro-algeas. So in effect your display can still be over run by micros. The macros will do all, out compete the micros and soak up a small amount of nutrients found in the water, enough for you to be able to test out the differance from before and after.

 

+1

FWIW, many online suppliers carry cheato as well as other macro-algae species.

 

right so im really looking for macros then, thx for the quick reply guys. i was thinking something along these lines for lighting, would a couple be enough?

White led lights

http://img.alibaba.com/wsphoto/v0/3...Touch-Light-Kick-Stick-Lamp-Free-Shipping.jpg

my space is kinda limited to fit a proper lamp

 

Don't know the spectrum on that unit. A lot of people just use a clamp-on fixture with a twisty fluorescent bulb from Lowes or Home Depot. You'll need the 6500K bulb for macros.

 

GARH!! alright ill have to come up with a master plan to get round my limited space. thx for your help as always bill!

 

There is a method to use algae...it's call an "Algae Turf Scrubber". I've never tried it, do a search and you'll find more about that than I can describe here.

Rick

 

Yeah, I think allowing mocroalgae to grow is fine and will help. That's what an algae turf scrubber is really. The difference though is an ATS provides a way to export the algae as it grows. If you have hair algae or something growing in your sump, how are you going to remove it. Macro is also easy to export, but microalgae attached to you tank or rocks, not so much...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

yes you can let natural algae grow in your tank, a tank full of turf, green hair algae, or bryopisis would be fine in stead of a fuge with macros. granted most people wouldn't want that look, and I can't promise they wont grow on your corals.

Caluerpa is another popular macro besides cheato. I actually like caluerpa better.

 

hmmm thank you for the further tips, im not really into the whole algae cultivation bit........ yet, what im aiming for if a stable refugium with a good nutrient removing system. apparently this is best obtained with macro algae.

this is what my sump+refugium looks like (the refugium is crazy small) do you people think its still usable?

Note what you see is a 20 l tank (a bit over 5 gallons and my DT is 48 gallons)

http://www.3reef.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=43950&d=1315564511