Nano refugium

[Rikerbear]

I am turning one area of one chamber in my IM 16 gal nano into a refugium. &nbsp;Any idea on where I can get small amounts of 'mud'? &nbsp;Most places seem to be selling no lower than 10 lbs, and I at most need 3.<br>I suppose I could use what I needed in the refugium and put the rest in the display tank....I would love the added diversity in the micro critters, but don;t want to create a DSB. &nbsp;There is already 1.5 in 'live sand' in there now.<br>Thoughts? &nbsp;Suggestions? &nbsp;Links to suppliers? &nbsp;Sell me some of yours? &nbsp;<img src="https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/images/smilies/cutemoticons/cutemoticons/bigsmile.png" border="0" alt="" title="Bigsmile" smilieid="377" class="inlineimg">

 

[Steelerfan747]

Foster & Smith sells smaller amounts

 

[Rikerbear]

Thanks! I checkout their site :smile:

 

[alberthiel]

I am turning one area of one chamber in my IM 16 gal nano into a refugium. &nbsp;Any idea on where I can get small amounts of 'mud'? &nbsp;Most places seem to be selling no lower than 10 lbs, and I at most need 3.<br>I suppose I could use what I needed in the refugium and put the rest in the display tank....I would love the added diversity in the micro critters, but don;t want to create a DSB. &nbsp;There is already 1.5 in 'live sand' in there now.<br>Thoughts? &nbsp;Suggestions? &nbsp;Links to suppliers? &nbsp;Sell me some of yours? &nbsp;<img src="https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/images/smilies/cutemoticons/cutemoticons/bigsmile.png" border="0" alt="" title="Bigsmile" smilieid="377" class="inlineimg">

There are online and local places that sell it in smaller quantities, you may have to search on the net or make some phone calls to local LFS's I think and you'll find that you can get smaller amounts.

 

[Rikerbear]

Before turning to this site I had called every LFS in the Seattle area....the smallest amount I found was 10 lbs. That is why I came here for suggestions.
F&S have a 24 oz bottle - Refuguim Booster
Hoping on of the LFS will special order it for me

 

[alberthiel]

Before turning to this site I had called every LFS in the Seattle area....the smallest amount I found was 10 lbs. That is why I came here for suggestions.
F&S have a 24 oz bottle - Refuguim Booster
Hoping on of the LFS will special order it for me

You should be able to order it from them yourself ...

 

[Rikerbear]

Albert, I KNOW I can order it myself, however if I can get them to order it for me I would not have to pay such high shipping costs.
I am not stupid ya know LOL

 

[alberthiel]

Albert, I KNOW I can order it myself, however if I can get them to order it for me I would not have to pay such high shipping costs.
I am not stupid ya know LOL

I understand but since they have to pay for shipping they are going to charge you more per pound or whatever the measure is than what F&S would charge but then again who knows ... hopefully it will work out better for you that way.

 

[Rikerbear]

So how do you feel about using macro algae in the nano display itself?

 

[alberthiel]

So how do you feel about using macro algae in the nano display itself?

Depends on which ones ... as long as you stay away from Caulerpa I think you should be OK. Caulerpa tends to grow fast and send out runners that are hard to remove and soon your tank will have Caulerpa all over the place. I would add calcareous algae if you can find them. They are slow growers and look good and do not overtake the tank. FWIW

 

[Rikerbear]

Cool.......have some cheato, red flame, shave brush, and a small single stalk of calerpa which I will pull out now :smile:
Thanks bunches

 

[alberthiel]

Cool.......have some cheato, red flame, shave brush, and a small single stalk of calerpa which I will pull out now :smile:
Thanks bunches

Sounds like a good plan. Caulerpa grows fast, sometimes a little too fast but in a fuge it can be ok as long as it does not make its way in your display tank, and it is known to do that ...

 

[smy168]

Halimeda is a great macro, it's very calcium intensive though and doesn't take well to pruning but it grows semi-slow.

 

[alberthiel]

Cool.......have some cheato, red flame, shave brush, and a small single stalk of calerpa which I will pull out now :smile:
Thanks bunches

Yes I like those and do take out any Caulerpa, except if it is in a Fuge ... it grows real fast and puts out those runners that can irritate corals and Zoas/Palys.

There are some good links on the net on algae. Here are a few for you :

World Wide Reefers - Index
Nuisance Algae ID Guide
World Wide Reefers - Index
Big parasol green seaweed (Caulerpa peltata) on the Shores of Singapore
MontroseReef Macroalgae - Home
Macro Algae – Ever Wanted a Planted Saltwater Aquarium ? | Saltwater Aquarium

 

[M@!]

I run Caulerpa Prolifera in a couple of my 6G tanks. It is slow growing for me.

 

[nanodoc]

Yes I like those and do take out any Caulerpa, except if it is in a Fuge ... it grows real fast and puts out those runners that can irritate corals and Zoas/Palys


Yeah, how to control it, I tried increasing Mg without success
I have to mow it every week
sally lightfoots and emerald carbs won't eat it

 

[alberthiel]

I run Caulerpa Prolifera in a couple of my 6G tanks. It is slow growing for me.

Good to read then that it is not overtaking the tank ...

 

[Rikerbear]

Thanks doc. Nice to get some more advise and opinions.
And thank you too Steven for the recommendation

 

[alberthiel]

Yes I like those and do take out any Caulerpa, except if it is in a Fuge ... it grows real fast and puts out those runners that can irritate corals and Zoas/Palys


Yeah, how to control it, I tried increasing Mg without success
I have to mow it every week
sally lightfoots and emerald carbs won't eat it

Mg will not kill it IME, that is used to kill off Bryopsis. Interesting that the Emerald did not eat it .. are you sure it was Caulerpa ?

 

[Rikerbear]

I have decided (I think) to use a Eco-pico 5 gal nano cube and make a display refugium with a reverse -overlapping light cycle
Ecoxotic EcoPico 5 Gallon Desktop Aquarium w/ LED Fixture