Refugium Harvest and Flow?

dvybiral · Jul 30, 2019

Hello Reefers,
How often should you harvest the macroalgae in your refugium and how much flow should you have going from your refuge to your display? I have a 46 gal. sump with a build in refuge which is feed into my 120 gal. display via an manifold and controlled by a 1/2" ball valve. Thanks for any responses.

BeejReef · Jul 30, 2019

following..

lapin · Jul 30, 2019

I grow ulva in my fuge . When it covers the complete surface of the 20 gallon tank I remove 1/2 of it.
Flow; 300 gallons a day = 12 gph ? I have had fast and slow flows. Its up to you. You dont need much. It really depends on whats in your fuge.

LesPoissons · Jul 30, 2019

Its all up to you basically. I have slower flow bc i think the algae can absorb more nutrients and pods like it a little better, but thats just my opinion, it runs fine at fast or slow flow, depending on what kind of macros you have. I think the only kind ive noticed that cares is that uvla seems to like it slower. (again, just my opinion.) I like my chaeto to spin slowly but it doesnt need to if you flip it once a week or so, or it can spin like crazy. Harvest whenever. I did it when it starts to outgrow the tank and wont spin. I have red gracilaria (sp?) for my tangs that like it. I throw a chunk in from the fuge whenever i happen to think of it. If your algae starts getting too small, stop harvesting. If its too large, harvest more.

dvybiral · Jul 30, 2019

My fuge is 15" x 15" x 8" and is packed full with chaeto so it doesn't spin so I guess I will harvest some and let it regrow. Thank you for the help

Hermie · Jul 30, 2019

Triton recommends 10x flow of your whole system going through your sump (and refugium), I think high flow is best for refugium because it will prevent nuisance algaes from growing on your plants. I've never seen a study say that low flow is best for macroalgae or even corals for that matter (I know there are bounds, but I am saying, generally). IMO higher flow is better.