Refugium Ligt Cycle

[reefcrazed]

For those of you who keep refugiums, do you maintain a 24-hr light cycle or a light/dark cycle?

 

[rbredding]

refugium light is on when the main display light is off...

 

[fener103]

+1 Run its lights opposite to the main tank

 

[slayer]

you may run it 24/7 if you wish but most people run it on an opposite cycle of their main tank. This is so that the natural ph dip that occurs at night is reduced and stays more stable secondary to less flucuations. Of course this will only happen if you have macroalgae in the fuge that will photosynthesize the co2 into o2 thus increasing the ph.

 

[hnguyen]

I run mines the same time as I run my display lightly and my pH only changes about .05 from night to day. I also run a Co2 scrubber I made to help with pH problems.

 

[sbfishman]

Is there a certain type light that any of you would recommend?

 

[hnguyen]

I use the fluorescent light used to grow plants. I think that works best for me. I use to have my chaeto die all the time when I used the regular lights then I moved over to these and it works great. My mangroves are sprouting leafs left and right! It looks like a freaking tree.

 

[rbredding]

yeah.. I think mine is 10000K

 

[hnguyen]

Rbredding;589552 wrote: yeah.. I think mine is 10000K

I believe mine is too but I can't remember for sure. It gives my sump area a good white light so that's what I'm guessing it is. Mines are the long bulbs like the T5 bulbs. But only about 18" or somewhere around there

 

[rbredding]

mine are too....it must be the same lamp...

 

[jef4y]

24x7 and I throw out a wad of chaeto the size of a soccer ball every 3 weeks.

 

[hnguyen]

JeF4y;589561 wrote: 24x7 and I throw out a wad of chaeto the size of a soccer ball every 3 weeks.

Dang don't throw them out!! I want some. For some reason I can't grow chaeto. Mine don't die but they just don't grow. I've bought a wad of chaeto the size if a grapefruit and it's been lime that for months. Never grows but it won't die either. I can always use more the next time you plan in throwing them out

 

[jef4y]

Hnguyen;589574 wrote: Dang don't throw them out!! I want some. For some reason I can't grow chaeto. Mine don't die but they just don't grow. I've bought a wad of chaeto the size if a grapefruit and it's been lime that for months. Never grows but it won't die either. I can always use more the next time you plan in throwing them out

Should be doing a water change next weekend if you want to come grab it.

 

[hnguyen]

JeF4y;589593 wrote: Should be doing a water change next weekend if you want to come grab it.

sounds like a plan. Hows your soda lime supply coming along? I'm in need of more right about now if your ready to restock.

 

[jef4y]

Hnguyen;589597 wrote: sounds like a plan. Hows your soda lime supply coming along? I'm in need of more right about now if your ready to restock.

Im actually still good. Figured next time I'd just buy a whole bucket myself. Should last me the better part of a year.

 

[ibleedblue65]

I run my fuge opposite my display.I have one standard go fluorescent and some aquarium plant lightfluorescent.I also have another fixture over it with a standard yellow bulb.I don't think lighting is as important as flow in my experience.I have had trouble with growth sure to flow not lighting.

 

[jef4y]

ibleedblue65;589949 wrote: I run my fuge opposite my display.I have one standard go fluorescent and some aquarium plant lightfluorescent.I also have another fixture over it with a standard yellow bulb.I don't think lighting is as important as flow in my experience.I have had trouble with growth sure to flow not lighting.

I had the exact opposite experience. Same sump, same flow, lighting under 5000k and growth was dismal. Went to 6500k and it exploded. And this is over about a year's worth of time.

 

[ibleedblue65]

I definitely believe you just never had lighting issues just flow ones. Maybe I just had good luck with lighting from the start. All I had to do was adjust flow to get good growth.

 

[cr500_af]

I run mine 24/7, mostly because I'm out of outlets on the controller so I'd have to go buy a timer.