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Post by Frank on Apr 23, 2014 15:53:23 GMT -5
I've read that tumbling softball size is good. Mine right now is going crazy. I've been trimming off anything that doesn't look great and the thing is almost filling my Refugium. Almost 1'sq. pro/con for letting it be this big? It doesn't seem to affecting my water quality.
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Post by maineultraclassic on Apr 23, 2014 16:01:44 GMT -5
LOL..........I'm wondering the same thing. Mine is covering an area about 12" wide, 18" deep, and about 3-4" thick.
But I have 0 phosphates and nitrates...........so I'm not complaining.
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Post by BriMc on Apr 23, 2014 16:31:28 GMT -5
There is no such thing as too much as long as water can flow through it. The optimum is to have the chaeto in a ball that rolls with the water. " a tumbling softball size"
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Post by speedyron on Apr 23, 2014 17:43:12 GMT -5
your supposed to be throwing it out. thats how you get rid phosphates. cut it in half and throw it away
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Post by BriMc on Apr 23, 2014 20:20:51 GMT -5
So I guess when you trim your Chaeto and give it to someone you are actually giving them your Phosphates. Just Kidding  |
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Post by jasonandsarah on Apr 24, 2014 5:27:43 GMT -5
your supposed to be throwing it out. thats how you get rid phosphates. cut it in half and throw it away He's right. There's really no such thing as to much but...They say the more you trim the more the algae will want to grow and the more you grow the more you can remove, witch is the whole point of having a fuge(nutrient export) and a bug haven. Everytime you trim out some and give/throw it away your permanently removing those bad excess nutrients. Tumbling the chaeto if I remember correctly is to get as much water flowing through the algae as possible just like gfo or carbon the more water contact flowing through you get the more nutrients that can be removed. Pick a size you like best and think works best and stick with that, adjust accordingly if needed. |
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Post by moulton712 on Apr 24, 2014 11:59:43 GMT -5
Along with the previous good statements, you want light to be able to efficiently be absorbed by the algae. This is another reason why a tumble is best. Mines not tumbling so don't worry. It's hard with a 1' sq area (packed with algae) to have light penetration so you will have some die off releasing nutrients back into the system. So it's best to trim. It's also best to pick a end size and trim every week as opposed to once in a while grabbing handfuls out. This makes smaller changes to water perameters. Mostly ph.
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Post by speedyron on Apr 24, 2014 17:45:03 GMT -5
yeah tumbling is so light hits all sides if it doesn't it will start to degrade a slow tumble is best. but, if it is small enough to tumble i dont think there is enough there to make a big difference in your tank. so i turn mine every day and throw out the worst looking parts of it.
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skirossi
Full Member
Brunswick
Posts: 117
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Post by skirossi on Apr 25, 2014 11:43:27 GMT -5
Also make sure it's being lit on a reverse cycle from your display, helps add oxygen IIRC.
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