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04-27-2008, 09:25 PM
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#1
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: California
Posts: 167
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Chaeto in the display
So i was at my lfs today and i asked if they had any chaeto for sale and they said no and instead they hooked me up with two handfuls of it for free!  I want to keep it in the display for a while and i was wondering if it has to be in a container, because i have some hermits and tangs that i was wondering if they would nibble on it. Or if there are any other crucial reasons it must be kept in a container if its going in the display. For some reason whenever i see it in the display its in a little container.
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__________________
My fishtank is so coool! It has a fat tube thing that makes a bunch of bubbles, light bulbs, and a bunch of these little boxes that blow water!
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04-27-2008, 09:29 PM
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#2
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waiting for zooplankton
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: East Fallowfield, PA
Posts: 685
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you can just put it in the display the tang will eat it though, they love it
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04-27-2008, 09:36 PM
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#3
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So Where Is "Dimples"???
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 1,404
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I have some in my fuge...I tends to have little fragments break off and end up all over the tank. I have a couple of hermits in the fuge that like to use it as a jungle gym but they don't bother it otherwise...I have seen Tangs eat it and imagine they would think you put it there just for their snacking pleasure. I think you would want to keep it segregated in some way.
Oh, BTW...why do you want it in the display???
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04-27-2008, 09:39 PM
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#4
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: California
Posts: 167
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wannareef
you can just put it in the display the tang will eat it though, they love it
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I just went to check up on it and there were three hermit crabs nibbling on it, will this damage it, or stop its growth, or like stress it out in any way? I haven't seen the tang nibble on it, its probably just not hungry. Sorry about all the questions i don't have any experience with refugium related stuff. 
__________________
My fishtank is so coool! It has a fat tube thing that makes a bunch of bubbles, light bulbs, and a bunch of these little boxes that blow water!
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04-27-2008, 09:41 PM
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#5
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: California
Posts: 167
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jnicho
I have some in my fuge...I tends to have little fragments break off and end up all over the tank. I have a couple of hermits in the fuge that like to use it as a jungle gym but they don't bother it otherwise...I have seen Tangs eat it and imagine they would think you put it there just for their snacking pleasure. I think you would want to keep it segregated in some way.
Oh, BTW...why do you want it in the display???
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Haha i knew someone would ask that, most people find it unsightly but it doesn't really bug me, mainly because i dont have a pc lamp for my sump and my only choice is to use a regular desk lamp and im not sure if thats enough lighting. Also i dont know if i have enough flow in my sump for it.
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My fishtank is so coool! It has a fat tube thing that makes a bunch of bubbles, light bulbs, and a bunch of these little boxes that blow water!
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04-28-2008, 12:03 AM
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#6
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Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: jacksonville
Posts: 26
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cheato algea is really not that picky... i have a 20 gal fuge and its full of cheato... it only has a heat lamp (like kind you use for iguanas and such) but the bulb is a 65W gro light (plant light) and the stuff loves it.... the flow is a veryslow trickle.... that way i can get the free roaming pods i want.... some people tumble it constantly i dont.... the chaeto really only needs about 3watts per gal... and my hermits eat the stuff too .... my tang doesnt touch it...
if youdont mind me asking.... whats the algae in your system for?
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04-28-2008, 12:14 AM
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#7
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So Where Is "Dimples"???
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 1,404
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Put it in the sump...flow is not a problem and it will make a mess in your display over time.
As for lighting, go to Walmart and get a work light reflector like this:
Then go around the corner to the light bulb section...they have 26W twisty CF bulbs...be sure and get the "Daylight" which is in a blue package, it's 6500K. Put that light over your sump/fuge and it should grow fine. I actually built a hood with 3 26W/6500K twisty bulbs for my fuge and my cheato doubles every week-10days...and I can see growth in my halimeda ever 2-3 days. |
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04-28-2008, 12:18 AM
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#8
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Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: jacksonville
Posts: 26
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yes another thing you could do with slow flow is turn the ball over every couple days
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04-28-2008, 12:28 AM
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#9
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: California
Posts: 167
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Ok thanks for the help guys, im going to stick it in the sump and use a desk lamp for now until i get the chance to run to walmart and get a better bulb and reflector.
And ill be using it to lower nitrates and other organic materials from the water, to address sumo's question.
__________________
My fishtank is so coool! It has a fat tube thing that makes a bunch of bubbles, light bulbs, and a bunch of these little boxes that blow water!
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04-28-2008, 12:29 AM
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#10
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: California
Posts: 167
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sumo
yes another thing you could do with slow flow is turn the ball over every couple days
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Oh yeah thats a good idea, ill keep that in mind.
__________________
My fishtank is so coool! It has a fat tube thing that makes a bunch of bubbles, light bulbs, and a bunch of these little boxes that blow water!
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04-28-2008, 12:36 AM
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#11
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So Where Is "Dimples"???
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 1,404
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Cool...I think you'll be happier in the long run that way....It also makes a nice pod breading ground (yeah free food). I light my fuge on a reverse schedule (IE. on when the display is dark) this helps to limit PH drop at night.
I don't know how much good it really does...I grow cheato, halimeda and feather caulerpa in my fuge. It all grows really well with the caulerpa being the slowest grower. I guess the fact that is grows well means it must be getting nutrients that in theory get removed when I prune. My fuge has actually become it's own little bio-tope tank, and in it's own way is pretty cool! |
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