Refugium Help

[mwithy]

Howdy everyone, need some help. Have a 75 Gal Bowfront with wet/dry, skimmer, T5's, just love it! But am having some problems controlling bubble algae. My LFS said about the best bet would be to setup/invest in a refugium. I don't know where to start or what to look for at this point. I heard you can make your own, or buy them ready to go. I just don't know the direction to go. I am hoping this will help control the bubble algae in my tank. First off, will this help?

Thanks!

mark

[twisted]

i dont think a fuge will help with bubble algae, but it will help control and remove nutrients from your tank if set up properly. mine is very simple. i have a 10 gal tank that is connected to an overflow and a pump in it to return water to the dt. in it is a sand bed and cheato. cheato is great for nitrates and also loaded with pods. just pick up an overflow and a matching pump and you are good to go. make sure you keep the water level in it to where if the pump shuts off the overflow willl prevent it from flooding your floor.

[mwithy]

Thanks Twisted, appreciate your time. Any suggestions on bubble algae, and how to limit (besides never get them at all)? I have heard emerald crabs, but then read they pop the spores and can do more damage than good, also heard a Foxface will eat them, but not always 100% guaranteed that will happen. I don't have tons of them, but have them scattered about on my rocks right now. I am tired of manually removing them, and risking hitting a rock, my corals, or causing other issues.

Thanks for the thoughts!

Mark

[twisted]

thats pretty much the way of the bubble war. i use tweezers and carefully dig under them to get to the root. sometimes i get lucky and sometimes i dont. i have an emerald and i do believe it helps a little but only in the area that it hangs out. stick to the old fashion manual removal. if you can limit the nutrients it will also help. when i added my fuge i noticed a huge difference since they are a great aid to nutrient export. ive seen quite a few nice tanks that never get rid of it. i just count it as part of the tank and maintanance. just try to control it and eventually you'll just end up with a few small stubborn spots

[twisted]

what part of orlando? i lived in mt dora for 6 years and orlando was one of my favorite hang outs

[mwithy]

Twisted, not too far from Mt. Dora in Longwood. Already getting warm down here!

So, safe to say that a refugium won't defeat the bubble algae war, but it would definitely help control it? What would you recommend for my 75 gal tank? I saw some that seem to hang on the backside of the tank, and others that are on the floor. I don't want to spend a ton of $$$, just looking for something that will help me with the fight!

My dad used to always say they can put a man on the moon. . and then would say something that isn't fixed. I guess I can say they can put a man on the moon, but they can not come up with something to eliminate bubble algae!

Thanks
mark

[twisted]

it definitly helps control it. i can almost say get rid of it. ive just been too lazy to really working on the last 2 little patches. they are only a dime size and i havent had any pop up in new spots. the trick is getting the out before they release the spores. i usually pop one or two but i can say that a fuge is worth it for more than just that reason. it also provides and safe zone for pods and other live foods that are easy to maintain and have multiply to give your fish and corals a regular supply of munchies. and if you have any kind of dragonetts (mandarin, scooter...)a fuge is a must have. you dont have to get fancy with it. mine is about as simple and almost backwards as you can get, but it keeps my tank perfect and crystal clear. ill take a pick tonight of how its set up and you can see how simple they are. its just a 10 gal tank, pump, sand and cheato. ive been told its not good to have them in the fuge but i also have 2 hang on protien skimmers in it and have never had an issue. and this thing is loaded with a few kinds of copeods,amphipods, bristle worms, feather dusters,and snails

[mwithy]

I would appreciate the pic! I am a bit clueless on what is needed. Right now I have a wet/dry with two pumps in it, and my protein skimmer is in there as well. One pump runs the tank, and the other the skimmer. I am not sure how the refuge would fit into the system. If it will help me have a better tank, I am all for it. Just want to make sure also I understand what I need to make sure the darn thing doesn't overflow!

Thanks!
Mark

[twisted]

I would appreciate the pic! I am a bit clueless on what is needed. Right now I have a wet/dry with two pumps in it, and my protein skimmer is in there as well. One pump runs the tank, and the other the skimmer. I am not sure how the refuge would fit into the system. If it will help me have a better tank, I am all for it. Just want to make sure also I understand what I need to make sure the darn thing doesn't overflow!

Thanks!
Mark

im about to upload some pics, give it a few minutes then click on my sig below and you'll see them

[twisted]

heres my fuge. simple but does a great job

[mwithy]

Twisted, appreciate the pic, helps a bunch! Thankf for the time!

[Steve McKay]

i dont think a fuge will help with bubble algae, but it will help control and remove nutrients from your tank if set up properly. mine is very simple.

+1. Bubble algae is a macro algae, a fuge will more than likely not help with that problem. But it will help remove nitrates and phosphates, Cheato macroalgae is what I use and it works great.