I use chamber 2 as a fuge. I stuck a cheato max light to the exterior and grow cheato like crazy it really doesn’t help much with nutrient export but it keeps my ph stable. I use a denitrator for nutrients.
My tank is stupidly simple. Chamber 1 houses my mechanical filtration and the pump that supply’s my denitrator. Chamber 2 houses the chaeto and chamber 3 houses my heater, Ato sensor and stock return pump. That’s literally it. Although my cheato never tumbles it grows very well. Perhaps it’s because there’s good flow in there. Don’t for get to plug up the hole in the demising wall that separates display from fuge, it’s really not needed.
What light do you use for your fuge?
I'm very interested in this. Can we see what (how bad) it looks? =)
I could post a pic but you’d literally not even be able to tell it’s there. My tank backs to a wall and you really have to look for it to see it.
Absolutely correct. I run the cheatomax opposite of my lighting schedule and for about 11hrs at the moment.
I can assure you that it’s extremely none intrusive. The included 2 sided tape blocks about 95% if side light leakage and since it’s a red spectrum it’s very vague.
Totally helps! I think i'd like to try this. Are you able to keep your nitrates above 0?Not sure if this will help but here’s my fuge light when it’s on.
To be honest, I thought it would strip my water of N03 but, even running it at 18 hrs a day, it wasn’t enough to keep my nutrients down. I instead made and incorporated a denitrator. Which dramatically helps me maintain desired nutrient levels.
What is a Fuge?
Very nice! I like simple. I’ve been told it’s pointless and it most likely is but, I don’t care. Sometimes I’m a swim against the current kinda guy lol. I’m trying my hand at minimal water changes. So far I’m about 6 months into a no water change trip. I use a denitrifier to keep N03 at bay (works exceedingly well) and dose All for Reef, phyto, manganese and, aminos with the occasional once a week target feeding of reef roids. I feed a mixture of frozen food (LRS reef frenzy nano fish eggs mysis all mixed up) once daily at about 1.5 ml. All I have for filtration is that blue/white Ac filter (rinsed) and that’s it. I’ve been having really great numbers for the past few months *sign of the cross* and plan on sending for an ICP at the end of the month. P04 in the .04-.08 range & N03, I can keep where I like but, usually between 5-15 and both have been consistent to the point I can almost predict my numbers. I’m finally getting a grip on this reef stuff!!! I almost tapped out. Pretty sure starting dry was a huge crutch. I’m pretty confident I’m ready for the big leagues (tank upgrade)!
My numbers were pretty close....a little higher on the PO2, but still perfectly manageable. I dose All For Reef and occasionally Calcium and Alk if testing warrants it and I feed a combo of Krill, Mysis, and Baby Brine Shrimp once per day. I also only use the blue/white filter floss pads most of the time, although I have some water polishing filter media that I use occasionally after water changes to pick up the microscopic debris that gets tossed into the water column by the gravel vac. It sounds like you and worked through a similar progression and reached the same conclusions so anyone here looking at how to set up an Evo 13.5 shouldn't have any problems if they have the bank account to buy the same parts we both bought.
