Reverse daylight in ref..

Our reverse daylight timer turns the light off in the afternoon. I think
a day/night cycle is best for the plant and animal life that live in the
refugia. And, my reason for using the RDF concept is to stabilize the
pH. Plants "exhale" O2 during the daylight, "exhale" co2 during the
nighttime hours. (I think!)
It's the balance of O2/CO2 that influences pH.

BUT, we grow mangroves in our sump. I think the exhaling part is
done through the leaves. Is my understanding of RDP going to work
with mangroves exhaling in the air, not the water?

Got some caulerpa, and some funky other stuff, in there just in
case....

Mark -
My nitrate levels have been very low, if not zero since I came by and picked up some of the Chaetomorpha and caulerpa from your 1 gallon nano.  A BIG THANKS!  There is a fuzzy reddish/purple type of algae growing in small clumps in the mass of Chaetomorpha.  Do you know what it could be?  It showed up a week or so after I put in the macro from your nano.

Meterman, It has rarely been a problem in tanks I've seen. I kind of like the variety of it. It grew then declined in my jug, so your tank conditions were more to it's liking.
Check the 2003 Seascope, Issue 3, from this link to learn about it and see pics http://www.marineland.com/news_seascope.asp

Since Mark just made a plug for SeaScope, I'm going to chime in hear and say that for all of you who like SeaScope, I highly encourage you to pay your membership NOW.  Check with Mark to see if you are current, and don't wait any longer.

Adam

The reddish algae I believe is called asparagus toxiforma.  My rabbit fish and achille's tang would happily munch it first.  I think it's good stuff.  Not the most gorgeous of my macroalgae, and it grows quickly.  Seems like most people talk about it more like a "weed" than a desirable macroalgae.  I like it though.  Connie, I have macroalgae you can have any time.  Mark's closer to you, though. 

If I remember right, I don't think the algae mark and meterman are talking about is Asparagopsis taxiformis.  A. taxiormis is a macro isn't it?  I think the redish stuff they're talking about is really fine and looks like cotton candy in the water.  I don't know what that cotton candy stuff is.  I too got a little of it from Mark's Chaeto, but the cotton candy stuff didn't survive in my system.

I was wondering the same thing.

Maybe it's because I made a plug so he wanted to make a plug?

Or maybe it's because SeaScope has been a great influence on the hobby. SeaScope introduced the WMAS to LeRoy Headlee/GARF and introduced the world to the NNR/Plenum technique of Dr. Jaubert.

Or maybe it's because of something special coming up for WMAS members only.
Or....

SUSPENSE!

Like that?

Now I'm curious too.  Just glad I'm a paid member.

 

Now back to the topic.  I have my refugium lighting on only when the aquarium lights are off.  OK, not only, because I'm too lazy to fix all the timers just right, but mostly, only, when then the aquarium lights are off.

I have been doing a lot of research lately on my planted freshwater tank and find that more hours of light than a normall day does not induce plants to grow more.  In fact they need darkness so that they can respire, (exhale from a long days inhale I guess).  I don't know if this applies to Algea, but I have a stong suspicion that it does at least to most Macro Algae.  If anyone knows different I would be glad to change my mind on algea. (But not plants.)  Thus I think that the Macro Algae in my sump needs the lights off during the day in order for it to grow and do it's job removing nutrients from the water.

Edited by wsinbad1

Wasn't there a post a while back where someone left their refug. light on all the time.  he said it worked great.  Don't remeber who or where he posted.  I know some plants need darkness while some don't.  Take Alaska for example.  It's probably the same with algae some need darkness while other don't.  I keep my refug. light on for about 14 hours at night.  Just haven't experimented with anything else it just works good for me they grow and are a nice dark green.  I think the only way to reach a sucessful conclusion is to do some research, but IMO not worth the effort.  Hey suzy wanna try a phyto culture with 24/7 lighting?

Adam Blundell wrote: BrokeCurmudeon, I wasn't ignoring you, I didn't see the recent posts on this thread until now, sorry.  Okay so to answer your question, yes it is related to members only (as Mark said in the post before this).  So what is the connection you ask???? I'm not going to say.  Not yet.  But in a couple of weeks I will.  So make sure you are a paid member (which you are), because in two weeks I'll tell all the members.  If you are't receiving emails from me at the utahreefs account then let me know so I can add you to our mailing list. Until then, let the suspense build...... Adam

 

It's been more than 2 weeks did I miss something?