How do I run a succesful refugium

[Solo McReefer]

Again, you can't starve hair algae while also growing corals because zooxanthellae = algae.

Maybe yes

Maybe no

At the very least, they use different kind of light

 

[Spare time]

Maybe yes

Maybe no

At the very least, they use different kind of light

What evidence is there for that?

 

[Solo McReefer]

Zooxanthellae are not algae

They are dinos. I believe the burden of evidence is on you to show that they are the same. Or rather, the person who wrote that they were the same, whoever that was.

 

[Spare time]

Zooxanthellae are not algae

They are dinos. I believe the burden of evidence is on you to show that they are the same. Or rather, the person who wrote that they were the same, whoever that was.

Dinos are a type of algae. Though,as taxonomists like to do, some apparently debate their placement. Either way they are both using chlorophyll a and c and some other accessory photo pigments. Simply look at the spectrographs. Blue/violet is the most exciting for them in photosynthesis.

 

[cdemoss01]

An update. I have not started a fuge as I think it'll kill my coral as some have said. The algae is acting weird. Look at these pictures I took what's happening with it?

 

[Formulator]

An update. I have not started a fuge as I think it'll kill my coral as some have said. The algae is acting weird. Look at these pictures I took what's happening with it?

A fuge will not kill your coral. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. It is a useful tool for reducing nitrates and the size you are talking about is not going to bottom out your nutrients completely. That said - I saw a post in the beginning about not having a skimmer. I would make that priority #1 before a fuge.

 

[Solo McReefer]

.

 

[cdemoss01]

A fuge will not kill your coral. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. It is a useful tool for reducing nitrates and the size you are talking about is not going to bottom out your nutrients completely. That said - I saw a post in the beginning about not having a skimmer. I would make that priority #1 before a fuge.

Yes my LFs has ordered a icecap k-50. I'm new to fuges so that's what I heard idk

 

[Formulator]

Yes my LFs has ordered a icecap k-50. I'm new to fuges so that's what I heard idk

If they killed coral, nobody would have them…

I have a 20g standalone fuge on my system. No problem growing coral…

 

[Solo McReefer]

Yes my LFs has ordered a icecap k-50. I'm new to fuges so that's what I heard idk

Some people run a refugium and no skimmer

I wouldn’t even set up a tank that didn't have an overrated skimmer

That's just the way I reef

I dump my skimmer cup every day or every other day. I don't want that poop in my water, or in my tank stand

And I am still able to run a viable macro algae reactor. Which is sort of a refugium in a can

 

[cdemoss01]

If they killed coral, nobody would have them…

I have a 20g standalone fuge on my system. No problem growing coral…

You got LPS and softies ,nems?

 

[Formulator]

You got LPS and softies ,nems?

Yes I have all those things. I do dose nitrate at this point to keep it at 10 ppm, but I was doing that even before the fuge was setup. I like my fuge for the benefits to my pod population, reducing day/night pH swing, and general biodiversity, even though I don’t really need it for nitrate export.

 

[twentyleagues]

An update. I have not started a fuge as I think it'll kill my coral as some have said. The algae is acting weird. Look at these pictures I took what's happening with it?

Wow Aiptasia farmer!

 

[cdemoss01]

Wow Aiptasia farmer!

Idk how to get rid of it

 

[cdemoss01]

Yes I have all those things. I do dose nitrate at this point to keep it at 10 ppm, but I was doing that even before the fuge was setup. I like my fuge for the benefits to my pod population, reducing day/night pH swing, and general biodiversity, even though I don’t really need it for nitrate export.

Very nice. What light do you use? Where is your fuge in your filter?

 

[Formulator]

Very nice. What light do you use? Where is your fuge in your filter?

Thanks. I use a tunze submersible light and a hygger LED bar on top. My sump is in my basement so I have a large fuge plumbed in-line with that.

 

[cdemoss01]

Thanks. I use a tunze submersible light and a hygger LED bar on top. My sump is in my basement so I have a large fuge plumbed in-line with that.

Wow that's really cool. I might put a light into my Tidal there's a video out there about it working and others have done it before. If I wanna install it to my top then I'm gonna have to go with a smaller strip light. Like those crappy little lights we get in fish tank kits and stuff. Or if I wanna take my top off I need a cheap fuge light that'll just clip on I guess. I'll probably do chaeto. What should I expect after I install the cheato in?

 

[twentyleagues]

Idk how to get rid of it

There are threads on how to deal with it. Unfortunately its persistent. I have used aiptasia x seems to work-ish no better or worse than other options. There is a current thread on another option but seems a little "dangerous". Lots of this or that works but nothing I have found is 100% in all situations.

 

[cdemoss01]

There are threads on how to deal with it. Unfortunately its persistent. I have used aiptasia x seems to work-ish no better or worse than other options. There is a current thread on another option but seems a little "dangerous". Lots of this or that works but nothing I have found is 100% in all situations.

Alrighty then

 

[vlangel]

@cdemoss01, let me say that there are multiple ways to run a successful reef. A fuge with macroalgae, live rock and sandbed are one way. Its the way I choose because I'd rather prune macroalgae than clean a skimmer cup or use a reactor that I don't have the experience with or attempt vodka dosing. However there are folks who are very successful with all of these and other methods I did not mention. Its a matter a finding which method of maintaining a proper nutrient balance in your tank works for you. Some costs more, some require more space, some are more labor intensive. You may need to try different methods to determine which is best for you. However, just to dispel the myth that macoalgae will kill your coral, I am including a pic of my almost 8 year old system that currently and probably for the last 5 years has only used macroalgae as the main way of exporting nutrients. I have nems, softies and LPS and they are all thriving.