Suggestions? My Refugium Sucks

Nickcdll · Jan 18, 2019

I've had it for about half a year. I had cheato in it for awhile, but it didn't last. In there are amphipods and two snails. I have about 2 inches of that mud that you can get, and some gravel on top of that. I also have a led light on it that i can set the color and intensity of,
which i've basically been messing with because i'm not sure what is best. I'm not sure at this point if i should take it off or rehab it

galantra · Jan 18, 2019

Some questions:

Watt of light?
Couldn’t grow any macro algae?
What’s in your main tank? Live stock?

With your refugium and not growing anything I would look at is the light killing plant life? Or you don’t have anything to feed it

mtraylor · Jan 18, 2019

Ditch the light if you cant tune it in to about 6500k. Go to home depot and get clip on light for about 8 bucks and a 6500k cfl light for another 8 bucks and get some chaeto and or what ever algae you please. Enjoy

mtraylor · Jan 18, 2019

Blue light not needed in refuge.

Xandernfs · Jan 18, 2019

I would go to HD and find a 6500k bulb or a grow light from amazon. There are A LOT of different styles of lights on amazon that would suit your needs. That would be a good starting point.

stacksoner · Jan 18, 2019

Pax Bellum references a specific ratio of Nitrate to Phosphate, and an iron/manganse dosing regimen that's ideal for Chaeto growth and sustainability.

(http://www.f3images.com/IMD/UserManuals/6U0330_1.pdf)

DesertReefT4r · Jan 18, 2019

Shop lamp and CFL bulb for the win, garranted to grow chaeto. I had an 18w freshwater 6500k LED on my fuge for a little while and it grew chaeto but it was lighter in color and thinner. That LED died, cheap china crap, and I went back to the CFL. Growth is thicker and darker and just as fast. What is your no3 and po4 at? If these are really low and you display does not get any algae or even green film on the glass every few days then there may not be enough nutrients to grow macro algae. IME nothing special is needed to grow macros and you should not need to dose anything for macros.

stacksoner · Jan 18, 2019

Check out this article written by the legendary @Randy Holmes-Farley

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/8/chemistry

Nickcdll · Jan 19, 2019

Thanks for the article reference, that was good to read. Sorry it took me a minute to get back. this is the light i have
https://www.marinedepot.com/Aquatic...quariums-AquaticLife-AK01494-FILTFILD-vi.html

Nickcdll · Jan 19, 2019

it has a color wheel that i can,i guess point to on the app, and a white intensity...oh and a brightness....which to me is confusing. the turbo snail i put in is happy so far. is there anything other than that i can put in there? And all this time i've been wondering, is that mud at the bottom any good....was that a good idea?

Nickcdll · Jan 19, 2019

mtraylor said:
Blue light not needed in refuge.

I'm definitely going to go get that kent iron supplement and some new cheato this week. I wish there was some colorful thing i could put in there

cbellm · Jan 19, 2019

I would look at your water parameters as well, How old is your tank? The Refugium is often used to transport nitrate and phosphate if your tank has a reading of 0 in both then don't be surprised if you are not growing macroalgae and only hair or cyano which are much more simple and can out compete the more complex species

Nickcdll · Jan 19, 2019

my tanks a little over a year old

stacksoner · Jan 19, 2019

Watch the brs tv investigation with chaeto and various light testing.

cbellm · Jan 19, 2019

any idea on your nitrate and phosphates?

mtraylor · Jan 19, 2019

Nickcdll said:
I'm definitely going to go get that kent iron supplement and some new cheato this week. I wish there was some colorful thing i could put in there

Stay away from iron supplement. Its not needed and can kill fish such as tangs if added improperly. Just get the proper spectrum of light. That is what is needed.

lapin · Jan 19, 2019

Nickcdll said:
https://www.marinedepot.com/Aquatic...quariums-AquaticLife-AK01494-FILTFILD-vi.html

Your light has 7 watts according to the AL web site. This is not enough to grow plants like you want. If you have the money you can get something like the viparspectra 300w grow light. This light will produce over 100 watts and is way more than enough to make your plants grow. Hang it at least 12 inches over your tank no closer.

Nickcdll said:
I'm definitely going to go get that kent iron supplement and some new cheato this week. I wish there was some colorful thing i could put in there

I would try to put some other macro plants in the fuge. Reds are colorful Botryocladia, Gracilaria, Gracilaria hayi
If you want a lot of quick growing stuff that floats on the top Ulva is a good choice

For other sea life (if you are brave) you can find a piece of live rock that has actually been in the ocean (avail on line) It will come with a whole bunch of critters.

DesertReefT4r · Jan 19, 2019

I used the reef mud for a while many years back. Waste of money imo since I never saw a difference when using it. Get a stronger light and let us know what your no3 and po4 are. You dont need to dose iron, if you do water changes you will not be low and trace elements. Dont dose what you dont test.