how big does refugium have to be to control NO3?

[shoelevy]

recently, i went to AA and the boss and i entered topic of refugium and he told me for nitrate control with refugium, its size or surface area needs to be somewhere close to main tank b4 any significant nitrate control will take place.

i've been using a small 2x1 ft refugium with caulerpa for nitrate control....after hearing what he said, i went home to test my no3 and sure enough, it never dropped since the last time i tested my no3 6 weeks ago.

i jus wanna find out by starting this thread on wat's the experience of those who use or haf used algae in refugium to control nitrates

[35Cents]

My refuge is way way smaller than my main tank....main tank 18g and refuge lesser than 3g. But works for me...nitrate from 20ppm (end of cycling) reduced to 5ppm now.

[shoelevy]

how often do u do a trim of yr algae, the flowrate through the refug and wat algae r u using 35cents?

[Ancelot]

I think you also need to stress on the maintence of your algae. Once they will grown you should start trimming them. Cause like AA said to me, the bottom part which did not receive any light will start to die off and there comes your nitrite, ammonia etc.

[shoelevy]

ok

i'll try trimming the algae more often

[Ancelot]

Good luck to your tank!

[shoelevy]

ancelot, yr last post seems to imply that if i trim more often sth bad will happen

wat r u trying to sae?

[hermit]

ok

i'll try trimming the algae more often

how long u on the refugium light.............?

[shoelevy]

whole dae...24-7

[Eric]

recently, i went to AA and the boss and i entered topic of refugium and he told me for nitrate control with refugium, its size or surface area needs to be somewhere close to main tank b4 any significant nitrate control will take place.

i've been using a small 2x1 ft refugium with caulerpa for nitrate control....after hearing what he said, i went home to test my no3 and sure enough, it never dropped since the last time i tested my no3 6 weeks ago.

i jus wanna find out by starting this thread on wat's the experience of those who use or haf used algae in refugium to control nitrates

Bro, dont waste time on growing macroalgaes if your refugium is small. The nutrients uptake from the macroalgaes are too slow. Just go for a DSB (preferbly live sand 6"-10"), rowaphos and active carbon. The DSB will take care of your nitrate when its matured. The rowaphos for phosphate control and carbon for any toxic chemical release from various corals.

Eric

[shoelevy]

hm eric,

do u mean dsb in sump or dsb in main tank?

[Ancelot]

No la.. i wish you well for your tank. Dont read too much into it la.. LIEW!

[Eric]

hm eric,

do u mean dsb in sump or dsb in main tank?

DSB in sump

[shoelevy]

eric...with this link http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...pic=24343&st=15

looking at photos of my sump, do you think the centre compartment is suitable for DSB based on its size and how the water flows through it?

thanks

[root]

sorry to hijack this thread... but... if I have a sump with DSB and macro algae.. and the algae covers the top layer and little light shines on the DSB.. is that okay?

[35Cents]

how often do u do a trim of yr algae, the flowrate through the refug and wat algae r u using 35cents?

I trim my algea every 10 days. Flowrate thru the fuge is 5X the volume of my main tank. I'm using caulepa algae...dunno wat's the name...you can see it at the following link:

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...opic=27767&st=0

[shoelevy]

so how's the control of no3 in yr tank?

[clownman]

eric...with this link http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...pic=24343&st=15

looking at photos of my sump, do you think the centre compartment is suitable for DSB based on its size and how the water flows through it?

thanks

You can have the DSB in the centre compartment.

But the water flow to the 3rd compartment will be from the top instead of the bottom.

Another issue ... compartment is too small for the DSB to be effective.

[shoelevy]

You can have the DSB in the centre compartment.

But the water flow to the 3rd compartment will be from the top instead of the bottom.

Another issue ... compartment is too small for the DSB to be effective.

er...u sae dsb can be in centre compartment then u sae DSB not going to be effective

that's kinda like saying dun waste time with dsb?

maybe time to upgrade my sump

[clownman]

Haha ... right on

Yes, you can construct a DSB in the centre compartment physically.

But the size ain't big enough.

Read somewhere here that the DSB gotta be at least half the length of your main tank to be effective.

Maybe it's time to upgrade ...

[shoelevy]

wow...so big?

hm...perhaps i'll consider a denitrator

any advice on where to get and price to expect?

diy one also can...cheaper is better for me

[Eric]

wow...so big?

hm...perhaps i'll consider a denitrator

any advice on where to get and price to expect?

diy one also can...cheaper is better for me

If your main tank already have a DSB, then that sump centre compartment for additional live sand will be sufficent to cope with ur nitrate. If your tank is bare bottom, then I suggest you invest on a bigger sump for more surface area to hold ur DSB.

Invest on a good skimmer for the 1st compartment and add in 2 return pumps

(8000l/hr -12000l/hrx 2) for your last compartment for maximum turnover rate.

p/s: If on budget, go for at least 1 reliable germany or japan pump and the other just a normal high flowrate taiwan/china pump, link both together with check valve at discharge of pump so there's no worries of pump failures. If your flowrate is powerful enough, you can even tee-off to your FR,Chiller,UV.......etc

Eric

[shoelevy]

eric

my main tank sand is about 8-10cm ( 3.2-4inch)

issit deep enough to work as a DSB?