Chaeto in sump question

BowedFloor · 05/21/2012, 01:05 AM

I've got 3 sections in my sump. The first is where my tank drains in to, the second is completely occupied by my giant skimmer, and the third houses my return pump, and the pump for my phosban reactor. Sump is about 30 gals.

Water level is highest in the first section. Should I just put the chaeto there and put in a LED light?

Is it possible to have too bright of light for the chaeto? I know with LED's it's not hard to over do it.

ajcanale · 05/21/2012, 05:55 AM

typically the middle chamber is for refugiums/macro, first (or third in my case) is for skimmer and other equipment.

thegrun · 05/21/2012, 07:00 AM

+1, the typical arrangement is to have the skimmer in the first section (with the drain), refugium in the second section and return pump in the third. There really isn't a problem running the refugium first section, but the skimmer coming first allows it to remove some of the waste before it hits the refugium. If the first chamber isn't large enough for you to fit the skimmer, go ahead and set up the refugium in the first chamber.

chrispc66 · 05/21/2012, 07:01 AM

It's fine to set up a macro algae fuge in the first chamber and appears your only choice here. Cheato grows slowly, and I have found 10K T5 or T8 flourescents is great for macro growth , maximum harvest rate / nutrient export. I have used LED however growth was not as good surprisingly. For maximum nutrient export, you can't beat caulerpa brachypus under 10K flourescents IME.

jerseygurl · 05/21/2012, 08:12 AM

Be careful with Caulerpa, it can turn assexual and if it does it will KILL EVERYTHING in your tank. I'm not exagerating, your tank will turn milky green and everything will die. I've personally seen this and there's pleanty of horror stories to be found. Is it worth the risk?

As for lighting, rule of thumb is any 6,500K light will work just great. Most people just go to HD and buy a cheap clip on flood light and a 6,500k bulb.

matt9190 · 05/21/2012, 08:36 AM

I have my macro in the first chamber, and do not have problems.

I would definitely recommend the 6500K bulb, or else you will experience break off, and limited growth.

Sasquatchluvin · 05/21/2012, 08:47 AM

I have Chaeto in my sump with a 6500k cfl from lowes. I get about a 5 gallon bucket full every 3 weeks when I trim it.

Reefin' Dude · 05/21/2012, 10:37 AM

just leave the entire thing empty. making it easier to siphon out detritus during regular maintenance.

never could figure out the logic of a live sump and where to put one in a sump with a skimmer. put it before the skimmer, then the skimmer removes all that is good for the display. put it after, then the live sump gets less nutrients.

G~

BowedFloor · 05/22/2012, 01:00 AM

Got my Chaeto, went to 3 different stores trying to find a cheap clip on light and no such luck.

Kinda annoyed the LFS was selling it at $4.99 per fist-full. At least the guy had big hands.

chrispc66 · 05/22/2012, 04:58 AM

Caulerpa won't go sexual if you leave the light on 24/7, you just cant beat it for nutrient export. Yeah, clip on 6.5K light works, but you get far thicker / lusher / greener growth with 10K flourescent lighting. Whilst cheato is the new buzz word, growth is very slow and nutrient export potential very poor in comparison to caulerpa.

I had caulerpa go sexual once, no issue with it, a little cloudy water that cleared up within 30 minutes. A 50% water change and no harm done. This was at least two years ago, since then running the fuge light 24/7 and no sexual event has occurred.

05/21/2012, 01:05 AM	#1
BowedFloor Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 50	Chaeto in sump question I've got 3 sections in my sump. The first is where my tank drains in to, the second is completely occupied by my giant skimmer, and the third houses my return pump, and the pump for my phosban reactor. Sump is about 30 gals. Water level is highest in the first section. Should I just put the chaeto there and put in a LED light? Is it possible to have too bright of light for the chaeto? I know with LED's it's not hard to over do it.

05/21/2012, 05:55 AM	#2
ajcanale JTV Reefcaster Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Memphis 10 Posts: 607	typically the middle chamber is for refugiums/macro, first (or third in my case) is for skimmer and other equipment. __________________ If the spirit moves ya, let me groove ya Current Tank Info: 90g SPS display - 30g sump/fuge - 15g frag tank system. Powered by Neptune Apex, Radions, PC Actinics, MP40s, Sea Swirl Returns. Chaeto, Kalk, GFO/Carbon, SWC Cone Skimmer.

05/21/2012, 07:01 AM	#4
chrispc66 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 75	It's fine to set up a macro algae fuge in the first chamber and appears your only choice here. Cheato grows slowly, and I have found 10K T5 or T8 flourescents is great for macro growth , maximum harvest rate / nutrient export. I have used LED however growth was not as good surprisingly. For maximum nutrient export, you can't beat caulerpa brachypus under 10K flourescents IME. __________________ chrispc66 MASWA member - Western Australia. Current Tank Info: Long term reef tank

05/21/2012, 08:36 AM	#6
matt9190 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 88	I have my macro in the first chamber, and do not have problems. I would definitely recommend the 6500K bulb, or else you will experience break off, and limited growth. __________________ - Matt 30g glass DT (3" SB, 45lb DIY LR) + 20g DIY sump/fuge T5 HO (39w 10k, 39w actinic) + 2 LED DIY moonlight CPR overflow box + DIY protein skimmer

05/21/2012, 10:37 AM	#8
Reefin' Dude Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 428	just leave the entire thing empty. making it easier to siphon out detritus during regular maintenance. never could figure out the logic of a live sump and where to put one in a sump with a skimmer. put it before the skimmer, then the skimmer removes all that is good for the display. put it after, then the live sump gets less nutrients. G~ __________________ Friends don't let friends use refugiums. Current Tank Info: sad story

05/21/2012, 07:00 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 7,340	+1, the typical arrangement is to have the skimmer in the first section (with the drain), refugium in the second section and return pump in the third. There really isn't a problem running the refugium first section, but the skimmer coming first allows it to remove some of the waste before it hits the refugium. If the first chamber isn't large enough for you to fit the skimmer, go ahead and set up the refugium in the first chamber.

05/21/2012, 08:12 AM	#5
jerseygurl Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 224	Be careful with Caulerpa, it can turn assexual and if it does it will KILL EVERYTHING in your tank. I'm not exagerating, your tank will turn milky green and everything will die. I've personally seen this and there's pleanty of horror stories to be found. Is it worth the risk? As for lighting, rule of thumb is any 6,500K light will work just great. Most people just go to HD and buy a cheap clip on flood light and a 6,500k bulb.

05/21/2012, 08:47 AM	#7
Sasquatchluvin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 129	I have Chaeto in my sump with a 6500k cfl from lowes. I get about a 5 gallon bucket full every 3 weeks when I trim it.

05/22/2012, 01:00 AM	#9
BowedFloor Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 50	Got my Chaeto, went to 3 different stores trying to find a cheap clip on light and no such luck. Kinda annoyed the LFS was selling it at $4.99 per fist-full. At least the guy had big hands.

05/22/2012, 04:58 AM	#10
chrispc66 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 75	Caulerpa won't go sexual if you leave the light on 24/7, you just cant beat it for nutrient export. Yeah, clip on 6.5K light works, but you get far thicker / lusher / greener growth with 10K flourescent lighting. Whilst cheato is the new buzz word, growth is very slow and nutrient export potential very poor in comparison to caulerpa. I had caulerpa go sexual once, no issue with it, a little cloudy water that cleared up within 30 minutes. A 50% water change and no harm done. This was at least two years ago, since then running the fuge light 24/7 and no sexual event has occurred. __________________ chrispc66 MASWA member - Western Australia. Current Tank Info: Long term reef tank