Lights, Powerheads and Aiptasia

[mutley29]

What would be correct or good lighting for a refugium, at the moment i have PC's over it and all i seem to grow is green coraline and Cyano, i was thinking of removing the PC's and putting them over my main tank with Actinics, as they are a retro fit kit, what other lighting will work over the refuge?

Secondly, i am on the lookout for good powerheads, i have mostly 802's and Maxijets at the moment, are the new Rio's any good?

I think the cyano growth in the refuge is down to lack of flow

I also have a small, but getting larger by the day Aiptasia outbreak, injecting Kalkwasser doesn't seem to be having the much affect on the ones i can reach, A CB Butterfly would probably nip it in the bud, but i know that once he's polished them off he'll probably starve or turn to coral polyps so thats not much of a option, Any suggestions??

Any help appreciated

Anton

 

[ChrisRD]

On the fuge light thing - I think PCs are fine for your fuge and I don't think that's the problem (provided the lamps are not really old). To me, it makes the most sense to stick to the daylight-type lamps for growing macros and such in the fuge. Have you tried several different types of macros? As with corals, not all macros seem to thrive in all tanks.

On the powerheads - haven't tried the new Rios but I hear they're good. Not sure I could bring myself to own another Rio though. Personally, I really like the Tunze Streams (especially for a large tank like yours). You could always try a small DIY eductor for one of your existing powerheads, or a penductor on your return pump (if it's pressure rated). Don't know how well the DIY eductor-on-the-powerhead things works, but I've seen some people on the boards doing-it and claiming good results.

As for the aptasia thing - I (and several people I know) have had good luck with Peppermint Shrimps (Lysmata wurdemanni) and the kalk-nuke treatment to eradicate aptasia. Basically, you nuke the big ones and the Peppermints munch the smaller ones and any new ones that are popping up. Eventually you won't see any in the main tank anymore (although they will probably still be around in the fuge, overflows, etc.).

The only downside to the shrimp, IMO, is that they love to steal food that sticks to many of the corals' polyps at feeding time. Sortof annoying, but I don't know that any harm really comes from it.

HTH

 

[mutley29]

Thanks for the help Chris

i'll try the Eductor?, have you got any info on them, websites etc?

I tried the Pep shrimp, unfortunatley i have an Multi-Coloured Dottyback, Ogilbyina novaehollandiae in the tank which makes short work of Pep shrimp, and i've got more chance of winning the lottery than catching the bugger.
The lights and well everything is new, only had the tank up and running since May last year, have changed out my MH's a couple times, and was thinking using the retro PC's i have over my main tank in conjunction with my 400Watt, 20k, XM's to see if it helps with my SPS growth.

i may get a 150w MH for it and use it as a frag tank too, space is limited

Thanks again

Anton

 

[shawnz28]

For the Aptisia I would pick up some Joe's Juice. It works very well and is inexpensive.

As for the powerhead I would just stick with MaxiJets. There really isn't a better power head out there for the money

 

[ChrisRD]

i'll try the Eductor?, have you got any info on them, websites etc?

Here's a link that describes how they work: Click Here

I know Aquatic Eco-Systems sells the (relatively) small ones. There are probably several other sources for them as well.

Do a Google search and some searches on the boards and you will find a lot of information.

HTH