Refugiums and macros

[Northmole]

Hi, and thanks everyone for the advice! But I have a dumb question :? - what exactly is " use macros as another option for nutrient export. You could look into setting up that extra tank as a fuge for growing macros."
What is a refugium and macros? Sorry this sounds so dorky! :roll:

 

[tazdevil]

A refugium is basically a tiny tank that hangs on or sits near the main tank, with a small amount of water flow going in and out from the main tank.


Macro's are a type of algae, usually leafy (many species, such as sargassum). Some use it as a way to eliminate nutrients from the main tank to avoid algae problems. This is a hotly debated topic, as nutrient export can be performed in many ways, with many different means. I personally like using a protein skimmer, with 25 % water changes using R/O DI water every 2-3 weeks.

 

[Anonymous]

The way it works is that the macro algae grow, consuming nutrients that nuisance algae would have used to grow.

Then, you periodically harvest the macro algae, and dispose of it, thus removing those nutrients from your aquarium.

People usually do this in a separate tank because either their fish would eat the macro algae, or the macro algae may become unmanagable in the main tank. With a separate tank attached to the main system, you can allow for really heavy growth without effecting the aesthetics of your display tank.

 

[Anonymous]

The refugium also provides a predator free environment where you can grow copepods, algaes and other food sources for your animals. Some people (me at least) also use them to display growths of many different macro algaes as well. I also have a little live rock in there for additional nutrient export and for host areas for the copepods.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, and thanks everyone for the advice! But I have a dumb question :? - what exactly is " use macros as another option for nutrient export. You could look into setting up that extra tank as a fuge for growing macros."
What is a refugium and macros? Sorry this sounds so dorky! :roll:

The only dumb question is the one not asked.

One way to look at a refugium is that it is the aquarium equilivant to a wildlife refuge on land. Only instead of being a place to protect animals from humans it is a place to protect plant life and small livestock (pods) from the main fish.

It can be either in tank or external to the tank itself. In tank would require some sort of barrier or partition to seperate the main area from the refug.

It is the inhabitants of the refug that help the tank. By protecting the plant life especially, parameters are stabilized and the quality of the system is greatly increased.

Macros are macro algaes which are basically organized algaes that look like plants. Because they are food to many fish, in the main display area they quickly disappear. But protected in a refug, they can work their wonders.

 

[Rikko]

Perhaps a clarification of a slightly picky semantic nature (but might clear things up a little overall):
macro is shorthand for macroalgae. It's any algae that is generally large or colonial with an "interesting" shape.
Microalgae is what's left over: typically slime algaes, colonial scum, tiny fuzz, etc.

I like the quote in my book that a microalgae is essentially synonymous with an algae that reefkeepers don't like (Weed: something for which we haven't yet found a use) and a macroalgae is typically desirable.

My reef is still getting up and running so the algae has of course exploded. I'm largely a FW planted tank kind of guy, so I don't have any microalgae in there - it all looks nice!

 

[Anonymous]

Perhaps a clarification of a slightly picky semantic nature (but might clear things up a little overall):
macro is shorthand for macroalgae. It's any algae that is generally large or colonial with an "interesting" shape.

Pretty much!

Microalgae is what's left over: typically slime algaes, colonial scum, tiny fuzz, etc.

Almost. There are also the cyanobacterias and the dinoflaggelates. Micro algae also included the algae xoozanthellae inside the coral tissues.

I like the quote in my book that a microalgae is essentially synonymous with an algae that reefkeepers don't like (Weed: something for which we haven't yet found a use) and a macroalgae is typically desirable.

My reef is still getting up and running so the algae has of course exploded. I'm largely a FW planted tank kind of guy, so I don't have any microalgae in there - it all looks nice!

Hang in there, it'll come around soon!

 

[Northmole]

Ok! So how do I set this up and connct etc. to my tank????
THANKS!

 

[Rikko]

Microalgae is what's left over: typically slime algaes, colonial scum, tiny fuzz, etc.

Almost. There are also the cyanobacterias and the dinoflaggelates. Micro algae also included the algae xoozanthellae inside the coral tissues.

Should we split hairs and argue that cyano/dinos/xoozanthellae aren't "true" algaes?

My reef is still getting up and running so the algae has of course exploded. I'm largely a FW planted tank kind of guy, so I don't have any microalgae in there - it all looks nice!

Hang in there, it'll come around soon!

Yeah.. Maybe.. If I can get off my butt and assemble my skimmer...

Woof!

 

[Anonymous]

That doesn't look too bad at all. I would harvest that hair algae though!