dwalstad

Aren't plants great!

rlking

Hi,
A little update on the refugium. I left for a short vacation and wondered what to do with the photoperiod when I was gone. I decided to leave it the same (lights on 24 hours) and make any changes when I got back. As soon as I got home I ran out to the fish room to check on things. Every plant except the water lettuce showed significant growth. The watersprite had gone crazy. I had planted some in the substrate and floated some. The planted ones had grown past the surface and had some emergent growth and the floating ones had taken over 50% of the open surface of the tank. Because of the amount of growth and the thread by Diana about "Daylength/photoperid for aquatic plants" on this forum, I decided to keep the photoperiod at 24 hours.
After more than 2 weeks being stocked with fish the system still shows no ammonia. All water parameters are essentially the same as when I started. The water is crystal clear. I have never had a tank that is so clear. Must be partly because of the UV sterilizer. The refugium thing is a success so far. This week I will stock it more heavily and see how things go. If all goes well I'll hook up the other rack when it is finished next month. I'll keep everyone posted on our progress.
Rod

dwalstad

Hello Rod,

Yes, please keep us posted. The refugium concept promotes plants as water purifiers not just tank ornaments. Just like wetland marshes purify waste water (my book, p 143), a refugium will process wastes from fancy guppies. It is all in the plants-- and emersed plants do it better.

Currently, I am writing an article on daylength v. plant growth, which I want to publish in The Aquatic Gardener (for starters). I'm sick of hearing that plants need a "rest period" when all the scientific literature I've found says otherwise.

Your thread ties in with that, because based on scientific literature the refugiums should ideally be run 24 hr per day for maximum plant growth.

For article, I would love to use your experience (and a couple pictures) as a practical application of 24 hr day daylength info and the refugium concept itself. If you are interested, feel free to contact me at: dwalstad@bellsouth.net

Cheers,
Diana

newbie314

What are your Nitrite and Nitrate levels?

I assume NPTs will bring those to zero?
I've never bought the nitrate kit since I'm not overly concerned.

For fish tanks that has been one of the major reasons for water changes.

Have you reduced your water changes due to the refugium?

rlking

Newbie,
I've checked nitrite levels about every three days- each time it's been zero. I only had enough testing materials left to do one nitrate test. Two or three days after I set it up and stocked it with fish. 7 ppm which is what my well water has out of the tap. I am assuming that the plants are using the ammonia before it is converted to nitrite and nitrate. I haven't bothered to get new test kit for nitrate. I guess I'm not too concerned about it either.
I am interested in what the water values do. So far I haven't changed any water on purpose. I lost about 30 gallons when a 20 gallon tank cracked near the hole I drilled for the overflow, it emptied and the water kept running for several hours before I discovered it. I also lost a few gallons when a return hose kinked and the tank overflowed. Besides that I've replaced about 50 gallons due to evaporation. I just installed a drain on the sump and I plan on changing about 50 gallons per week (about 10% of the system) from now on.
Rod