[bagemrn]

Hi I am new to the refuguim technique in lowering nitrates, I have an idea if anyone has tried. I was thinging of live seaweed in the refugium. Cost is economical at 2 dollars a pound from a local supermarket, and if it works, it can reproduce enough fish food anyone will need..

[blind1993]

where are u goingt o buy that from

[bagemrn]

I bought some seaweed from a local supermarket, and it drew like weeds, it worked really nice taking nitrates out of my tanks, no nitrate over 4 weeks, but it looks terrible, it is what it is seaweed, my refuguim was nest to my show tank, I finally took it out and bought some salt water plants, spent more money but it looked nicer.

[e_baer]

what supermarket did you go to? was it already in a tank or did you have to buy it in a bag?

[bagemrn]

I bought it at a local supermarket, stuff for clam bake, but like I said, they look terrible in a tank, I bought some salt water plants from a local pet shop, small bunch is all you need, in a few weeks, I had more than I need, under metal halide or power compact they really flurish, my refugum is close to the window, I think the sun light is whats making it grow,
72 bow front , 37 refugum, 20 gal slump, one system,
55 corner, and 20 long

[e_baer]

well, i have a fuge under my tank and i want to try some clams and seaweed in there.

[bagemrn]

I had 5 types of plants at first, now I have 3, depends on what you buy, some plants will bleech out and die under direct intense metal halide, Halimeda Plant will bleech, but Chaetomorpha Algae will thrive, I susgest buy a tiny bit of as many kind and try it. However if you have clams they will need alot of light. metal halaide is the best about 3-5 watts per gal middle or upper tank, 15-20 k, under power compact people have had them growing with >5watts per gal, the more light you have the nicer your clams will look, I have 4 clams and they are all under 250 MH, and PC 130 antic, 380 in 55 corner. I have the same light above my refuguim, some of my plants died under MH, but doing well 130 watts PC. One thing about light, they get HOT, can cook your tank, I lost 50% of my pomping xenia to 92 F temp. now I keep my central air at 70F all summer, better than buying 2 coolers.

[e_baer]

well, i was talking about the clams you can get at the grocery store.

i only have 2 75w growlights above my fuge, but suprisingly, they are doing very well. i have some shrooms growing under the lights and they look VERY healthy.

Ill be getting some cheato soon from ebay.

thanks for all the help.

[bagemrn]

lol I thought you were talking about the seaweed, Clams , I never tried them but i would assume they will live for a short while, clams like cold water, I had oysters in a 50 gallon once as experiment, had it in the basement, winter months water was 58-65 F, 20 and they lived for 4 months until they started to die one at a time as the water got warmer in the summer, all were perished at 76F , I assume the water was too warm for them, once they started dying my water safe levels was uncontrolable. good luck,,

[mujacko2002]

Mabuhay to all!!!


@e_baer
i only have 2 75w growlights above my fuge
---sir what are growlights? are these lights use for growing freshwater plants?


thank you

Godbless

[e_baer]

grow light are actually for any kind of plant. most comonly used for plants that are grown indoors, like orchids and whatnot. You can get yourself one for 10$ at walmart, home depot, lowes etc.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Bagem,I am curious as to why you might have metal halides over a fuge?Where is this fuge located?How much metal halide do you have over it and what size is the tank?

[bagemrn]

I have metal halide and compact combo light, I have a 37 gal refug standing next to 72 Bow front, 37 gallon divided in 1/2 as refug and 1/2 for coral propagatings, 130 watt wasnt enough for the corals props so I have to use the 250 watt MH as well, thats why I use MH. 72 and 37 overflows into same slump. 300 gal/hr return flow into the refug. I use an plastic crate as divider and MH seems to penitrates all the way to the bottom of the packed dense matt plants, my plants are packed all the way to the bottom, I clean off some hair algea once every few months or so, this set up seems to be working, no nitrate problem ever, but I think, I have more plants space and light than most refug made out there. I have a manderin controlling the cope pods.