Refugium questions

[mandi29221]

I need help. I'm curious on cheoto and all of that good stuff. Can someone point me in the right direction on how to start I have a big area in my sump that we knew it would be the refugium some day. Where do I get cheoto. How do I begin my next step in this 1yr 1 month setup. It's a 75g with 20g long sump. If that's needed.

 

[sbash]

All you need is a light (with timer if you want to schedule the lighting), and a ball of chaeto. The best place to get some is another hobbyist, otherwise, go to your LFS. Hopefully they will give you some for free, but some do charge a few dollars.

There are lots of options for lights, I first started with a 6500K white LED on a gooseneck and it worked just fine for a small sump chamber like yours. Amazon sells lots of different 'grow' lights, which should also work fine.

 

[Raising Reef.]

There are some online shops that sell cheato and other macro algae or if you have any local reefers with refugium they slate usually willing to share some algae with your to get you started.

 

[BeejReef]

Congrats on a year+

This will be the easiest thing you've done yet. 1) plug in grow light, 2) drop in chaeto.. lol
I got fancy and added some pods and phyto as well and now the cardinal fish have a field day picking pods of the glass in the DT.
Only thought on an established tank like yours would be to be a little picky on where you source your algae since you have a lot to protect from disease and invasive pests.

 

[RIreefGuy]

+1 on local reef club. The clubs around me always have it posted for free. Plus u get to meet some local hobbyists. Great way to get frags as well =).

 

[mandi29221]

Congrats on a year+

This will be the easiest thing you've done yet. 1) plug in grow light, 2) drop in chaeto.. lol
I got fancy and added some pods and phyto as well and now the cardinal fish have a field day picking pods of the glass in the DT.
Only thought on an established tank like yours would be to be a little picky on where you source your algae since you have a lot to protect from disease and invasive pests.

I connected a lfs that's a hour away he said he will take some out and sell me some. But what type of light do I need looking at this

 

[Jeight]

I have seen chaeto and pods sold on both facebook marketplace and craigslist. Also your LFS probably can sell you a hunk...I also put live rock rubble in with it and a small power head to tumble it some

 

[RIreefGuy]

With a name like chaetomax how can u go wrong lol. =) I use grow light spectrum LEDs strips on my lil tanks and know ppl have had good success with grow light led fixtures and bulbs all from Amazon.

 

[mandi29221]

And chaeto does eat phosphates? My rodi after 7stage still has phosphates at .25ppm after.

 

[BeejReef]

I imagine that light will do nicely. An hour is a long drive for chaeto! Have you looked online, FB perhaps, to see if there's a reef club in your area. Someone should be willing to give you a hunk. Search to see if there's anyone selling coral anywhere near you. If you're gonna make an hour drive, put together a list of anything else you might need!

Really, you're in Seaford, Del?

I'll be down South as far as Harrington this coming thursday evening. I'll give you a nice chunk if you come 30 min north.

Delaware Reef Club on FB. Pretty sure there are some in slower lower

 

[mandi29221]

I imagine that light will do nicely. An hour is a long drive for chaeto! Have you looked online, FB perhaps, to see if there's a reef club in your area. Someone should be willing to give you a hunk. Search to see if there's anyone selling coral anywhere near you. If you're gonna make an hour drive, put together a list of anything else you might need!

Really, you're in Seaford, Del?

I'll be down South as far as Harrington this coming thursday evening. I'll give you a nice chunk if you come 30 min north.

Delaware Reef Club on FB. Pretty sure there are some in slower lower

Thank you for the offer but I dont even have a light yet I'm ordering it tomorrow

 

[BeejReef]

No worries. What fish store do you go to? Is it in Dover?

 

[mandi29221]

No worries. What fish store do you go to? Is it in Dover?

Yeah