trying to get my display refugium going

fermentedhiker · Dec 29, 2019

So I have a 125 gallon mixed reef to be tank going. It has a 40B sump with two returns pumps. A chaeto/ulva area lit on a reverse schedule and no skimmer(at least currently. I also have a third return pump that pushes water up to a header fuge(72x12x12). The plan has always been for a mix of macros, sponges, RFA and maxi minis. It's lit by a current usa marine ic pro single about 16 inches off the sand bed. I'm finally winning the battle with red cyano in this header tank(none in the DT) and now my powerheads have quit(always something right) but that's not what I'm trying to figure out. I've tried various macros that I want to be the backdrop in the tank(mermaids fan, shaving brush, pencil cap, pine cone) but none of them survive. Do they need more Par than I'm giving them. Tank has been in a high nutrient state for awhile which I'm slowly bringing down. Are the high nitrates inhibiting them or could it be missing micros. Haven't done a WC in awhile but I just finished building a WC station in the basement and plumbing it upstairs so those are about to get back on track. I've been using Liveaquaria salt but am switching back to IO now that the price has jumped. Setting up a doser to do two part plus tropic marin par C once I start adding more coral to the DT. Thoughts or experiences from anyone who has had some success maintaining the above macros?

sixty_reefer · Dec 29, 2019

Hi mate I’d like to see pics, love a display refugium.

regarding your questions you have a few things to consider

1. macroalgaes will have more needs than coral it’s actually harder to keep most algae’s in comparison to coral, they will deplete most traces really fast, iron and iodine are some of the main traces.

fermentedhiker · Dec 29, 2019

Here's the original build thread which has a few pictures. Since reef2reef stopped using tapatalk I haven't been able to use the forum from my phone so I'll have to get a photo from the phone to the laptop in order to update it(maybe later today if I can get to it).

Build Thread - 125 w/header fuge build

So I ended up scoring a reef ready 125 used for cheap. Including return pumps, powerheads, wave maker, and some lights(which I might not be able to use). I disassembled a couple defunct freshwater 40 gallons and once I've finished cleaning out the space of equipment etc... I'll be building a...

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