Nutrient xport - How much do you harvest?

[Henry1]

Frequency aside (as regrowth rate varies), how much algae do you remove at any one time.

I'm trying to figure out the 'effective amount' that would be considered adequate in nutrient removal.

Assumming its a 30g refugium with a healthy crop of macroalgae serving a 120G display.

TIA

 

[Mac1]

My setup is a 29 Gal Tall Refugium w/ a 90 Gal Reef... so pretty close.

I like the Chaetomorpha (Brill-O Pad Algae) best, as it grows in nice clumps, and is real easy to harvest. Just grab a handful! It ends up getting loaded w/ bugs and worms too, so I usually open the tops to both tank, take the algae out of the refugium in handfuls, rinse it real good in the reef (I figure it gets most of the live stuff out), and then chuck it in the garbage. I've already exhausted all the local reefers who want some, and can't find enough people to ship it to, so... But I prolly pull out a Reef Crystals Salt bucket 2/3rds full of the stuff every 4-6 weeks. Grows back quite quickly, too.

- Mac

 

[reefland]

Ditto. I use the same algae and it works fantastic for nutrient exporting. I rip out handfuls at a time. This is about what I remove from my sump every week / every other week:

Looks like a seaweed salad from the sushi bar.


Mac - What lighting and how many hours a day are you using over the refugium?

 

[adwilk420]

Hey Mac I'd love to get some of that algae if you'd ship some to me. I wouldn't need much I have a small hang on the back refugium on my 55. I live in Boston.

Alex

 

[Henry1]

Mac wrote

I like the Chaetomorpha (Brill-O Pad Algae) best, as it grows in nice clumps, and is real easy to harvest. Just grab a handful! It ends up getting loaded w/ bugs and worms too, so I usually open the tops to both tank, take the algae out of the refugium in handfuls, rinse it real good in the reef (I figure it gets most of the live stuff out),

Mac, do you have pic of the 'Brill-O Pad Algae'
thanks for the tip on rinsing all the live stuff out before discarding.

 

[Henry1]

Mac, Rich

Roughly, how many percent would those handful of algae amount to in relative to the crop in the refugium.

 

[buff1]

My email is [email protected]. I will pay whatever you think is fair.

 

[SPC]

I don't know about the % thing but I harvest about 1.5 gallons/ 3 weeks. 180 reef with a 75 sump/ref.
Steve

 

[reefland]

Mac, Rich

Roughly, how many percent would those handful of algae amount to in relative to the crop in the refugium.

I would guess I remove 30% at a time.

 

[Mac1]

I'm pretty lazy, so I usually rip out roughly 50% of the mass... sometimes more.

Sorry Henry, I don't have any pics.... It grows in a tight mass of spirals. Literally, looks just like a Brill-O pad, except it's green.

- Mac