1 qt windowsill refugium.

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by stepho, Sep 29, 2010.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. jkat21

    jkat21 Bangghai Cardinal

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2009
    Messages:
    1,379
    Location:
    S.I. N.Y
    WOW thats pretty impressive growth..very inventive idea..K+
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. ComputerJohn

    ComputerJohn Panda Puffer

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2009
    Messages:
    2,123
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Great DIY!! Amazing what free sun light can do.. LOL!!! K+ my friend...
     
  4. stepho

    stepho Panda Puffer

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2008
    Messages:
    2,118
    Location:
    Orlando FL
    I have long heard from very respected sources that refugiums should be as ugly as a swamp, but how ugly is too ugly? Mine is getting pretty nasty.

    [​IMG]

    I also need some black airline tubing. I think I'll go get that now.
     

    Attached Files:

    2 people like this.
  5. kstafford003

    kstafford003 Feather Star

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2010
    Messages:
    769
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Lol, that is looking pretty ugly. Have you noticed any nutrient export yet?
     
  6. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2000
    Messages:
    13,466
    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    That's how it should look - cool little fuge there!
     
  7. stepho

    stepho Panda Puffer

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2008
    Messages:
    2,118
    Location:
    Orlando FL
    I can't say for certain as I don't track numbers at all on this tank (except maintain SG and do regular water changes). The growth of my chaeto and caulerpa have declined significantly since the build up of whatever other kind of algae as taken over. I have noticed some cyano starting up in the DT since the macro growth became stagnant, but nothing a water change didn't fix.

    Thanks Matt. If nothing else it was cheap. ;D
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. kstafford003

    kstafford003 Feather Star

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2010
    Messages:
    769
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    I love cheap.

    It must be exporting something or it wouldn't be growing. There may be some sort of shallow water algea growing in there that doesn't eat the same stuff reef algea does since it is very close to the surface of the water. Just a thought as to why it looks like that and you have noticed some cyano.
     
  10. Peredhil

    Peredhil Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2008
    Messages:
    5,176
    Location:
    Texas
    I missed this thread originally. VERY COOL.

    Looks, to me, like that super nasty in the latest update is just going to drain into the DT? Yuck.

    When you WC, do you change the water from the fuge?


    I've never had a fuge. But seems to me you are essentially using an overflow as your return - like your skimming the nasty on top of the water into your DT. Wondering if there is a way to stop that so you can return the water from bottom of fuge?

    Have you experimented with less light? Maybe partially cover it to see if that 'other' algae gunk slows down so the macros can reassert.

    Very cool. Good work. +k
     
  11. kstafford003

    kstafford003 Feather Star

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2010
    Messages:
    769
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Good idea. I just got another. Why not use a skylight to light a center of the room fishtank. Like the really nice ones that the stand and hood goes floor to cieling. Then just supplement if need be?
     
  12. stepho

    stepho Panda Puffer

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2008
    Messages:
    2,118
    Location:
    Orlando FL
    So far I haven't seen any gunk going from the fuge into the dt. Flow is super low and the "gunk" is like a hair algae that is attached so that may help. The fuge drains right near a hob filter so it may be picking up all the gunk too.

    The fuge is easily removed so I can put the macros in a bucket and completely clean it out. I will give that a try.


    please excuse wrong words, I posted this from my phone that auto "corrects."