Will's 300g Mixed Reef Re-Boot

[WLachnit]

Originally Posted by JVU

I agree with the tumbling theory for optimization (and cool factor), but practically speaking since you have a bright refugium light the algae should be filling the whole refugium space very quickly without any tumbling, under the right water conditions. Mine doesn’t tumble and I’m taking out basketball size clumps every couple weeks or else it gets too packed in there.

I don’t think it is likely that the cause of stalled chaeto is because it isn’t tumbling. More likely that you don’t have enough of some nutrients for it to grow. Since you are using NOPOX, that is the most likely candidate, since it will consume the NO3 and PO4 faster via bacteria that out-compete macroalgae.

Since I know that you also run NOPOX, what are your NO3 and PO4 levels?

[JVU]

As a trial I tapered and stopped the NOPOX because it was working too well and zeroing out my NO3 and PO4 in conjunction with the chaeto.

Now my levels are very low (NO3- 5 ppm, PO4 approx 0 ppm with Salifert), with just the chaeto and no NOPOX for a couple weeks. Chaeto is growing like nuts. I’m still a bit fan of NOPOX because it works amazingly well, but I overall prefer a refugium for pods, because it appeals to me as a biological system, and because it’s one less thing to do every day.

[WLachnit]

Added a Convict Tang to my DT a few weeks ago. He was definitely not thin while I had him in QT and noticed that it looked like he had lost weight even though he's eating well. However, it looks like he’s gained a bit of it back now.....Will have to keep an eye on him

Pic from QT