Refugium questions... Please help :)

[ereefic1]

I'm purchasing a CPR aquafuge 18" HOB model. The reason for this is to get rid of excess nutrients. Our 55 gal has a hair algea problem and thinking this is going to help. Here's my questions:

1. How much light is necessary to grow macros?

2. What would be the best macros to use? Pro's and Con's of culerpa?

3. Lighting periods?

I would like to get the best possible refugium going with minimal worry about macro dying and harming main tank. Please forgive me as i'm new to this type of system. Thanks for all replys.

 

[Markymarklar]

ok, for lighting, nothin fancy. just get a NO flurecent from home depot and place over it. the best macro in my opinion is the grape looking kind. i think its called valonia or something like that. the lighting period is a big issue right now. some say on all the time, some say 12 hour photoperiod opposite of the tank lights. i personally run mine 24/7 and have had great growth and my nitrates and phosphates went to nothing in a couple weeks (pro). the only thing you must remeber is to trim back the macro when it starts gettin out of control so it doesn't reproduce and make your water green (con- rearly happens). dont worry about trimming too much- it grows fast. HTH

 

[reefNewbie]

i already have a spare NO 50/50 bulb....will this work for mine?

 

[31-2c]

Please keep in mind that the CPR refugium hangs on your tank. If you light it at night, it will light up your tank. I have heard that some cover the refugium with something to keep the light from getting into the main tank.

FWIW, the CPR refugium is kind of a pain to use. It is only about 4" wide so it is very difficult to get into it, especially if you hang it behind your tank. If I were to do it again, I would consider getting the 12" ones and put one on each end of the 55 that way they are a little more accessible. For the cost, You could easily set up a 10 gallon tank as a refugium, and have much better success

 

[Anonymous]

The HOB fuges are a waste of money IMO. The amount of beneficial biomass that they can hold to process water is a fraction of what it needs to be. You're better off with an external/separate fuge, or insump fuge.

I can't see how these CPR HOBs are so popular.

 

[reefNewbie]

actually, not everyone has the space necessary in there cabinet to have a refugium to sit. I was going to build my own refugium, but i do not have the room. When I asked the board about making a refugium in my sump they all disagreed and said that i would be much better off having a seperate refugium do to too much flow if it would be in the sump. So the aquafuge is actually the best bet in a situation like this. If you get the large, thats 6.5 gallons. Thats enough water volume for its application.

 

[King Jason]

You may have trouble getting the Macro to grow in the refugium. If you have a lot of hair algae in your display tank it is using up the majority of the nutrients Macro needs to grow. So when you put the Macro in the refugium it might not be able to "steal" the nutrients away from the hair algae.

My suggestion would be to light the refugium 24/7 for a few weeks. That way the Macro gets a "leg up" during the night where it can grow and use up nutrients, while the hair algae is in the dark. After you see the hair algae starting to deplete switch to reverse lighting (when display tank lights are out, turn on refugium lights).

My refugium (40g tank) is only lit by a 13w Daylight PC bulb. I have Grape Caulerpa growing at a pretty steady rate. But I only did this because I had an extra PC setup laying around. I would go the cheapest route you can find.

 

[ereefic1]

Can't you just remove all the hair algea from the main tank before starting the refugium?