dying macro???

[PufferGuy]

I got a bunch of macro algae for my fuge and put it in there this last friday and i was gonna clean my skimmer today and noticed like 70% of it just dissapeared... i think it died and just kinda fell apart but i dont know why... i havelight on it 24/7 and good water flow. What more would it need? Also, how powerful of bulbs does it need??

p.s. it looks like its grape caleurpa

Thanks

 

[bjohanson1234]

have the light turn off for 6-8 hours a day.

plants also need time to rest and relax

brian

 

[dcantucson]

With that said, a lot of people run their lights 24/7 too and have good results. I don't know about that stuff as I don't have a refugium. Others will chime in with their expertise!

 

[PufferGuy]

also, my baffle between my fuge and compartment where the sump is is just a pane of glass.. so some of the algae keeps going over it in the wrong compartment. What could i use to make a grate that would stick out of the water and keep the algae in there?? any ideas??

 

[dcantucson]

You could use some lighting grid from Home Depot. Cut it to fit.

 

[PufferGuy]

how would you secure it on though? just wedge it in there??

 

[dcantucson]

Wedging it will work. Or you can silicone it into place. That requires taking it out of commission for a couple of days though.

 

[Bifferwine]

What is your water quality like? If you have really good water quality, it will die off because there aren't enough nutrients to feed it.

 

[PufferGuy]

ha i wish, i dont think thats the case because i have a lot of cyano growing

 

[andysgirl8800]

I used a piece of light diffuser grid (Home Depot) cut to size and secured it with all plastic clothes pins so it's not permanently fixed. I like to be able to take it out to clean it now and then. I put mine in at a sloping angle with just a little hanging over. Keeps my chaeto in the compartment where it belongs! :twocents:

 

[wontonflip]

I use a 26w cfl, 6400K. I had mine on 24/7, and my chaeto grew like crazy. I had bad results using a regular bulb before, mainly because the bulb grew too hot. The cfl stays cool. And it's about 6-10in from the water surface. Now, though, I've been running it opposite the tank lights, so lights are on for around 14-16 hours at night when the main tank lights go out. Trying to see if I get similar results. Dunno how sensitve caulerpa are.

 

[PufferGuy]

i might try a different bulb... i just ordered some chaeto from ebay should be here this week...