Whats in your Refugium?

[vdhillon]

Hi everyone,
i just got done setting up my 55 gallon with a DIY refugium, and i was wondering what i should put in it. I know there are certain algeas that let off spores and to stay away from those...i'm not sure of the names. Also how much light is good? is 18w good enough?
Someone on ebay is selling Red Gracilaria, Chaetamorpha, and Prolifera for $18. Is that a good price? are those what i need? will that grow under 18 W.
Its all fitting into a 20g refugium, but the actual refugium part is probably only like 10g, maybe more.
thanks

[Birdlady]

I like chaeto best, it grows quickly and does not go sexual, releasing fragments or spores which can run amuk in your main display. Gracilaria is good as well, but a fairly slow grower.

You may choose to stay away from Caulerpa algaes (of which prolifera is one, as is grape, feather, mexican and others I cannot recall). If those get into the main display, they can be difficult to keep at bay. The
'root' part can also pierce coral tissue. So for a few reasons I prefer the mild mannered chaetomorpha

As for buying some, usually, if you have a local reef club, folks are tossing stuff in the trash each month due to the growth - you should easily be able to get some for free or cheap from fellow reefers!

Where are you located?

[vdhillon]

I'm in charm city---baltimore, MD
thanks though, i think i'll stick with the cheato then...i've heard that tangs like the gracilaria, is that so? if i get that can i stop with the seaweed diet i add 3 times a week?
thanks again BL

[Birdlady]

Yes, I hear that tangs eat the gracilaria, but I cannot get my gracilaria to grow larger than loose golf ball size....that would be one meal for my tang! LOL!

I feed the dried seaweed , also mysis, formulas one and two...mix it up a bit

[boostenmkiv]

I wanted to ask this same question, but directed in a different direction...

Whats in your refugium as in snails, hermits, stars..anything that YOU put in there other than hitchhikers from the LR (mini brittle stars, bristle worms, amphipods, copepods, etc.) I would highly recommend Chaeto vdhillon. I wish I have had mine for longer as i'd be happy to meet up with you and give you a handful as I am in NoVa.

In my refug, I have 2 large chunks of LR, ball-o-chaeto, 4in dsb w/(2lbs live sand), 1 margarita snail, I also have added about 15 mini brittle star which I believe are called Ophiuroids from my old tank that I have had for 4+ years.

Mike

[Birdlady]

This is the nearest to you club I can find...

WAMAS

Lucky you! What a huge club! Try posting in their forums to see if anyone near you is ditching any chaeto?

[Birdlady]

I have chaeto, gracilaria, couple small rocks, 4" DSB with sand and miracle mud, mini brittles, pods galore, amphipods, copepods, hydroid jellies, I think last nite I found a limpet and some small chitons, bristle worms, ummmmmmm, I think that about does it!

[Gresham]

I steer clear of cheato, being the SPS guy I am Cheato is a big consumer of calcium. I won't loose any to macro, my corals want it more

I do graciliaria and some other oddballs.

Prolifera is OK, it doesn't root like other caulerpas really. Does pretty good not going asexaul, if you don't do drastoc water changes. That seems to cue it to go south. It does best in sand, rather then on rock, which makes it very easy tp remove. Tangs will eat it, as will many other herbivours.

[jnbahwkins]

I grow grape Caulerpa.it grows nice and fast removing the harmful crap..my naso tang goes ape**** over it when i give her some.i have no worries of it spreading to my main tank due the the fact that my naso is a voracious eater

[vdhillon]

thanks BL for the web site...there a little farther then i'd like to drive. Hopefully i'll find some soon. but i still need to get the light for my refugium.
Any idea what a good amout is? i was thinkin of getting either a 13 or 18w. I'm just not sure thats enough.