Refugium conversion complete. tell me what you think. - Page 2

axia55 · #26 01/17/2007, 07:59 AM

I got a little Gracilaria with my pods that I bought. It completely disappeared after about two weeks in my refugium. I couldn't figure out why, but now I realize it must have been from my PC lights. Oh well, the chaeto grows like crazy!
I just got my baffles from USA_aquarium as well. I didn't completely follow their instructions on placement but I think my setup will works just as well.

sjm817 · #27 01/17/2007, 08:42 AM

YOU NEED TO FIX THAT OVERFLOW!
A Mag3 *should* be enough flow. How do you have it plumbed? What diameter and type of tubing? What fittings, and valves are on it? You can increase the flow by swapping in a Mag5 front cover which will turn it into a Mag5. Get it here. $7

You dont need actinic bulbs for a fuge. Stick with something like 6500K

Get rid of the bio balls and replace with live rock or live rock rubble,.

More live rock would help in the display.

subcrx · #28 01/17/2007, 01:41 PM

yes, Live rock will be in there soon, should I suspend them or submerge them. and as for the plumbing you can pretty much see it all there. 1" drain from the over flow, everything else returns in 5/8th hose

DarthBaiter · #29 01/17/2007, 03:12 PM

Maybe a AquaLifter pump might help with the air in the siphon...

subcrx · #30 01/17/2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
YOU NEED TO FIX THAT OVERFLOW!
A Mag3 *should* be enough flow. How do you have it plumbed? What diameter and type of tubing? What fittings, and valves are on it? You can increase the flow by swapping in a Mag5 front cover which will turn it into a Mag5. Get it here. $7

You dont need actinic bulbs for a fuge. Stick with something like 6500K

Get rid of the bio balls and replace with live rock or live rock rubble,.

More live rock would help in the display.

that cover really will make it that stronger?

sjm817 · #31 01/17/2007, 05:29 PM

It will make it as strong as Mag5, since it will be a Mag5 with the cover change.

5/8" plumbing is on the small side. Bump it up to 3/4" or better yet, 1". What is the outlet setup where it goes into the tank?

subcrx · #32 01/18/2007, 12:09 PM

its one inche from the overflow and 5/8" on the returns

rooroo · #33 01/18/2007, 01:03 PM

The aqualifter would just be a bandaid on the problem. The problem absolutely is not enough flow through the u-tube. I don't think the mag 3 is enough flow. You want around 400 GPH going through that u-tube if its a 1" tube. Then you need the return to the sump to all be 1" or larger.

Also I found that if you have some bit of bubble inside the tube when you siphon the water out before starting, the bubble just grows and grows. So use some airline tubing, tie a really loose knot in it close to the end, and stick the airline tubing and the knot in it up inside the u-tube. So now your airline tube won't come back out when you siphon out the air. Put the tip of the airline tube all the way to the highest point of the bend in the u-tube. Then put in place in the overflow box. Suck out the air, remove the airline, and viola, you have no bubbles in the u-tube.

Hope that helps!

benray4fun · #34 01/18/2007, 08:09 PM

Read all about it here www.garf.org it's a natural occurance.

subcrx · #35 01/21/2007, 07:41 PM

Ok a week later and the nitrate levels are going down. id say they are at 10 ppm. The overflow hasnt failed at all. Has anyone heard of making a hole the top of the overflow? Also all the hair algae is turning brown and my subtrate is covered in the brown now. Im thinking the tank is turning brown cuz of the dying algae. anyone agree?

benray4fun · #36 01/24/2007, 12:00 PM

Yea, it's gonna turn brown, then red and finally green. Since you have chaeto or macro algae...it probably will skip the red and green hair algae phase.

subcrx · #37 01/25/2007, 06:35 PM

I noticed the bulbs in this thing are pretty original, are they the same bulbs that are found in drop light bulbs?

trick440 · #38 01/26/2007, 12:11 AM

I vote you get rid of the 2 tangs and the foxface.

I have 2 tangs and a foxface, all of them are smaller than yours and am going to be getting rid of them when they get about 5" and my tank is 110g.

subcrx · #39 01/28/2007, 11:15 PM

Ok I got some stuff in finally, Im still waiting for the LR rubble and the 10k light to replace the antic one. The LFS gave me this small algae. I think its chaeto. I also notice in the refugium are thousands of little white bugs running around like roaches. Anyone know what those are?

subcrx · #40 02/06/2007, 11:42 AM

wow, Im suprized, that cover sure did the trick, that bubble is gone now. pumps way faster too, I wish i would have looked at one first, all i would have had to do is enlarge the whole on the cover.

archie1709 · #41 02/07/2007, 12:02 AM

you got too much fish. That's what causes your nitrates. Hopefully the export of your refigium helps. At least you are doing something about it. Keep us posted.

benray4fun · #42 02/07/2007, 01:24 AM

You're on the right track sub, those little roaches are pods more than likely and they are great for your system. Once you get the live rock to
replace the bio-balls it's gonna come along nicely..."thats what's causing the nitrates. Good job so far though..."keep learning"...

Here's a pic of mine for you...

cfarrow2 · #43 02/07/2007, 02:01 AM

It sounds to me like you might have started a "mini-cycle" of sorts. The description of that brown stuff sounds suspiciously like diatoms, which occur during the first part of the cycle process. Is it still there? If not, great. If so, you might want to do water tests really often to make sure your ammonia isn't spiking. Just a thought.

subcrx · #44 02/07/2007, 01:21 PM

amonia did spike a little when i started it up. Its back down now. Im still waiting for the live rock, its taking forever. Im sure I might catch a little of a spike when I throw that in. The brown is still there, it covers parts of the hair algae and is all over the sand.

benray4fun · #45 02/08/2007, 01:32 AM

You have to cure live rock that is being shipped in a seperate container, otherwise you'll kill everything in your tank due to an ammonia spike. Curing could take up to a month or more...

bph0013 · #46 02/08/2007, 01:58 AM

if you sell/trade the tangs and foxface the whole process will probably proceed much faster and be MUCH better for the fishes concerned. Honestly, it's like a human being forced to survive in a 6 x 6 foot room for his/her whole life.

benray4fun · #47 02/08/2007, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bph0013
if you sell/trade the tangs and foxface the whole process will probably proceed much faster and be MUCH better for the fishes concerned. Honestly, it's like a human being forced to survive in a 6 x 6 foot room for his/her whole life.

That place is called "PRISON!" Ha, ha....lmao

cfarrow2 · #48 02/08/2007, 10:31 AM

how much LR are you adding? Maybe you said but if it's only a little more I wouldn't stress about it too much. If it's a lot more you'll need to cure it seperately. There's a link on here how to do that but I'm an idiot when it comes to providing lnks.

subcrx · #49 02/08/2007, 11:49 AM

I only put in 10 pounds, it was cured already when i got it.

subcrx · #50 02/18/2007, 12:18 PM

Im noticing the chaeto getting larger. its working, also some of the pieces of grac that were left in there are growing.