beginner in refugium algaes

[Treezer8]

So I have just started my new sump, and in my refugium section I am just using rock and the algae that everyone uses. Got a mixed back from one of my LFS,
I know there's a small bit of chaeto in there, but not sure about the other stuff, I forgot to ask.

So I'm wondering what I need to do to take care of them? I have a small clamp-on lamp with a bulb in it, 60w I think, hanging over all of it. Do I need to do anything to the actual algae to keep it healthy?

And for the lighting schedule, I've heard 16 on 8 off? Should the 8 hours off be while my DT lights are on?

Thanks!

Here's a pic of what I got

 

[reefnoob]

That is fern caulerpa. Some people keep their fuge lights on 24/7. Others turn it on at night when their DT lights are off. I personally only keep the fuge lights on about 12 hours a day, because I found that I will grow all that other nasty algae. You don't really need any special care for them, just cut some out when there is too much growing in your fuge.

 

[Treezer8]

Thanks reef, looked it up and thats the stuff for sure. There's only a little chaeto in there, so I'll try to even it out as it grows and have half of each

 

[Bifferwine]

I would actually keep it until you get more of the chaeto, then get rid of the caulerpa. Caulerpa is not usually considered a very desirable macroalgae to keep in the fuge.

Chaetomorpha vs Caulerpa | AquaNerd

 

[Treezer8]

I would actually keep it until you get more of the chaeto, then get rid of the caulerpa. Caulerpa is not usually considered a very desirable macroalgae to keep in the fuge.

Chaetomorpha vs Caulerpa | AquaNerd

Great article, thanks

 

[Treezer8]

So I'm noticing some of the fern algae starting to turn into a clear white on the ends. I pulled the parts out that were, was only a few. Should I be worried?

Also, is there a way to do a DIY top off system or something? Because it must be from evaporation and I don't have any tops on my tank, but the return pump chamber is always running low, so I add the topoff water to last few chambers

 

[reefnoob]

I think the reason it is turning white could either be because it is receiving too much or too little light.

 

[Treezer8]

I've got a 60w bulb beaming down on it for 16 hours a day, 8 hours off.

What do you recommend?

 

[reefnoob]

I don't remember how many watts my bulb was, but I just used one of those regular swirly bulbs that you can get from home depot. I don't have a timer for my lights, so it varies form day to day. Most of the time, I keep the lights on all through the night and maybe 2 or 3 hours in the day.

 

[Treezer8]

Yea I use the same kind of bulb.

 

[Ted]

My twisty bulb is a 6500k is suppose to replace a 100 watt incandescent bulb. It looks really yellow not a bright white at all. I have to half the cheato every month. It is on a reverse time cycle as the tank light. so basically 14 hours a day.

 

[Treezer8]

The light is definitely more yellow than white.
Ok so I am replacing the bulb with a stronger one

Before: 60w replacement w/ 800lumens
New bulb: 100w replacement w/ 1600 lumens

I'll see how it does.

 

[Steveg229]

If you check my diy sump ?'s thread, I am working on a gravity fed ATO.