Nano Reef Juwel Tank

[matty31898]

Hi All,

Just Wondered if anyone knows of any one who has converted the a Juwel Filter to contain Caulerpa and a 24hr light? I have heard that people sometimes use HOB Filters containing algae, LR and 24 Hr Light and was wondering if I could do something similar with the Internal juwel Filter. I was hoping that this would help keep my nitrates low. I was Planning to Attach a 15W Pygmy Lamp above the Filter which I would leave on 24Hrs. I was going to place some small pieces of LR in the filter then fill it with Macros Agaes.
Please let me know if this a stupid idea or have I lost the Plot?


My current systems is a 70 Litre Juwel Rekord,
10 Kg LR
1 addition Internal Filter Containing Polyfilter and RowaPhos
Currently Pre filter and Poly Filter in the Juwel Filter
No Skimmer.
2 off Pecula Clowns
6 hermits Crabs
5 Turbo Snails
Current Nitrates = 10 with 2 weekly 15% water changes.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[fraservet]

im afraid i dont think that will work very well.

you would only be able to get a small amount of caulerpa in the filter, and the filter is deep and has a small surface area, so light may not get to any at the bottom.

the best thing for you would probably be to grow a macroalgae in your main tank area - you don't have anything that would eat it faster than it will grow, and it will provide some nice colour and movement to the tank.
Obviously you won't have 24h light on in the tank, but the algae will still grow and remove nitrates.
I would advise a species other than caulerpa - it is quite prone to going sexual when not under 24h lighting.
I can't remember any names of good ones - maybe someone else can suggest.

 

[matty31898]

Thanks For the Advice,

I might just grow some algae in the main tank.

My light is on 12hrs a day at the moment (15w 50/50 zoo med)

When you say about going sexual do you just mean the it repoduces rather than just growing.

My LFS sell a bag of Algaes for £10 but there is a mixture of types i Think.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[chkltcow]

My LFS sell a bag of Algaes for £10 but there is a mixture of types i Think.

That's like $17 or so.... for ALGAE?! Good god almighty man, that place is out of their minds. The store down the street from me sold me a bit of caulerpa for $1. I put it in my makeshift refugium with a light on it for only about 13 hours a day, and in a month or so it has grown to the point that I have no room for anything else in there. The amount of algae you're talking about buying is outrageous, especially for a nano.

Remember, the reason we want macroalgaes is because they grow fast and export nutrients. Filling up a sump to the point that there's no room for the algae to grow is almost defeating the purpose.

 

[Chac]

That's like $17 or so.... for ALGAE?! Good god almighty man, that place is out of their minds.

Just another drawback in lving in the good old UK

Oh and Tony Blair of course

 

[maestro]

I was also wondering what going sexual means, ive heard the expression a few times but never followed it up.

One suggestion that might work is to have a acrylic divider a few inches from the back of the tank to house the algae, water can flow over the divider using a weir comb into the back section and then it goes over the algae and then is returned via a powerhead