How does this look? New fuge

hllb · Aug 4, 2020

I set up a fuge maybe a week and a half ago. I’ve seen small reductions in nutrients so I think it’s going ok but I’m not entirely sure how to tell (if it’s growing, it’s not enough for me to be sure it’s growing LOL).

Here are some pictures of the setup and my current algae. Currently running the lights from 10 pm to 7 am. Should I increase that?

Ron Reefman · Aug 5, 2020

IMHO nine hours is enough. Going longer probably won't make it grow mush faster. Plants can only do photosynthesis for so many hours a day and then it shuts down.

hllb · Aug 5, 2020

Ron Reefman said:
IMHO nine hours is enough. Going longer probably won't make it grow mush faster. Plants can only do photosynthesis for so many hours a day and then it shuts down.

Thanks! Does the chaeto look OK? In the photo in tank, I think it looks good, but when I pulled it out, pieces of it look light. My nitrate is 4 and po4 is .04. I have a fair amount of GHA in the display side that I'm trying to kill via manual scrubbing/removal and hope the fuge will take over.

Ron Reefman · Aug 5, 2020

It takes time, keep at it and be patient.

hllb · Aug 7, 2020

I'm new to the whole fuge thing, so wondering how best to tell how it's doing. It's been 2 weeks now and I'm not sure it's grown (if it has, it's just a little). I read somewhere that if the chaeto starts dying it will start breaking apart or get white. Is that true? This is still quite clumped together.

hllb · Aug 7, 2020

Maybe I answered my own question. I need to take progress pictures lol. On the left is from 7/27 and on the right is from today. It definitely looks thicker so I think I’m on the right track.

Pistondog · Aug 7, 2020

hllb said:
I set up a fuge maybe a week and a half ago. I’ve seen small reductions in nutrients so I think it’s going ok but I’m not entirely sure how to tell (if it’s growing, it’s not enough for me to be sure it’s growing LOL).

Here are some pictures of the setup and my current algae. Currently running the lights from 10 pm to 7 am. Should I increase that?

on at 4pm, off at 10am, take out 1/2 every 2 to 4 weeks.
my phosphate is higher than yours and my light is 2 inches off the water, 12" by 12", one of those horticulture arrays or LEDs, same light color as yours.