Seaweed

[marcoz]

I've heard that growing seaweed can be an excellent way of keeping down phosphate levels as it feeds on them and nitrates to grow. I was thinking of growing some in my sump but wondered what is the best type to go for and whether or not my bog standard lights(aqua one 620T) would be sufficient for growth?

[marcoz]

Oh, one other thing - is it best to reverse the lightning so that when my main tank light goes off the sump light goes on or doesn't it matter? Again, one of those things I've heard or read about but can't quite remember where from :-?

[Reefer]

I have read in Marine World of people lighting their sump 24 hours a day with an energy saving light bulb and it working extremely well, with fantastic 'sea weed' growth.
Caleurpa is something that I do not know much about Im afraid but somebody on here will no doubt advise you of the best sort to go for. I would imagine a couple of varieties together would be the best bet though.

[subz88]

The macroalgae (seaweed) species most commonly grown in sumps/refugia are hallimeda, caulerpa and chaetomorpha. Of the three, the easiest I've found is chaetomorpha, commonly called "chaeto."

Problems I've seen with Caulerpa: If it isn't lit 24/7, it crashes and goes sexual, releasing nutrients into the water, making it look like milk! :shock:

Problems with hallimeda: I found that if I thinned it out too much it just crashed completely. :-?

Chaeto requires very little maintenance, simply place it in your sump and light it using any bulb you have, even an energy saver bulb will do, and thin it out when it gets too much. I've got a few anti-nitrate measures on my tank, and growing chaeto and mangroves is one of them, as a result I have practically undetectable nitrates. I still use a phosphate remover to be on the safe side, although any algae will also lower phosphate levels as it grows.

Lastly I also light my sump on a reverse cycle to the main tank. The reason for this for me is two fold:
1) The chaeto receives a much longer light duration than anything in the main tank giving it more of a chance to outcompete any nuisance algae in the main tank.
2) The photosynthetic activity in the sump will use a lot of the carbon dioxide produced by the main tank. This carbon dioxide is responsible for the pH lowering at night. Hence keeping your sump on a reverse lighting cycle helps to keep pH more stable.

HTH, ask away if anything doesn't make sense ;)

[marcoz]

hmmm, makes sense :grin: thanks for the info, looks like I'll be making a trip to B&Q this week!

[flying Jock]

Hi S88 is bang on! :wink:

The only thing i do differntly is to light my refugums 24/7.

I have never had any crash in the last 7 years of running this way with all my different types of algaes.

As said it is a great way to increase the transportation of nitrates and phosphates and it will help to combat the lowering of the Ph at night which adds to the stability of your reef.

It is also a great way to earn some extra £ as once every 2 months i prune my refugums and take a couple of big bag fulls off to a LFS who then exchanges it for a credit note in their shop.

I have had some great corals for this! :wink:

Not bad for very little work!

As S88 said i would still run a phosphate remover (ultiphos) as i am so heavily stocked with fish and feed so much that i have to run it 24/7.

Cheers

FJ

[marcoz]

good tip FJ, I shall check with my LFS to see if I can strike a deal :grin:

[newkidfish]

Marcoz, who is your LFS?
The one I use in wimborne, often has calpura and the guy that runs the marine section uses it to help keep nitrate down in his tanks at home.

[marcoz]

Well, I'm staying in Eastleigh at the mo so I use the LFS up here but I think it's overpriced and elitist :evil: I didn't know there was one in Wimborne, next time I'm down I'll take a look :grin: What's it called?

[newkidfish]

Maidenhead Aquatics, in Wyvale garden centre. Its a bit pricy, but if you are spending a lot speak to Simon the manager, he can give discount.
Also if you need test kits,Three Cross Koi and Aquatics are good they give 10% discount card against future purchases if you spend a certain amount (they are not marine but can order stuff in)

[CORALS4YOU]

hi marcoz any type of caulerpa is good i use the fine feathered type, you don't need strong lighting and you don't have to have it on all day, it certainly helps with phosphates -paul

[marcoz]

thanks newkid :grin:

[marcoz]

thanks paul, I'm going to try some 'chaeto' to begin with and see how I get on :mrgreen:

[liquidlogic]

ill be keeping a tiny bit of cheato in my tank mate let me know how urs gets on tho