Switching carbon dosing to refugium

[Ert]

Hi all

I've been carbon dosing for several years now but have finally decided to switch to a large refugium with chaeto. I purchased a Chinese horticultural LED black box for 60 buck which is producing roughly 600-1000 par, depending on depth. In addition, I've taken my GFO reactor offline and will periodically drip lanthanum chloride to control phosphates. God I hate GFO!!!!

Please chime in on your thoughts...

 

[CodyRVA]

My only advice is to take things slow by making one change at a time. If you change too much at once and have issues, it'll be harder to pin point where you're having issues. Good luck!

 

[Ert]

Thanks! Nothing good in this hobby happens quickly. I'm carefully monitoring the system and will be beefing up on WC as to keep up with the biological changes.

 

[Greaps]

How did the transition go?

 

[snappa1953]

Yep. Same question - what has happened?

I'm thinking of a small refugium with some carbon dosing and phosphate control.

Currently with dosing and GFO I still have 25ppm NO3 and 0.06 - 0.16ppm PO4 because I'm a chronic over feeder.

Any thoughts? It's a 525xl red sea reefer with mainly lps and a few struggling or dead sps frags.