Salt_ee
Community Member
Hi all! I have a Landen 26g AIO and I recently added IM custom media caddy fuge in the middle chamber which almost fits perfectly. I have a copepod hotel/motel/holiday inn 
on the bottom rack and above it have a ball of chaeto powered for 12 hours by a JBJ 4W white light. It was growing some chaeto for a week, however was not really dropping my nutrients much and due to the fact that I had to use the magnet and have it hang on the back tinted panel I was barely getting par levels of 50. I decided to go with a submersible full spectrum hygger 6W so I can stick it inside the chamber/in front of the caddy facing the back. It is on a 12hr wifi plug on alternate from my main display. I believe there are 5-6 intensity levels on full spectrum and I am starting it somewhat easy to see how it goes - par ~ 150 mid caddy. I am seeing all kinds of mixed opinions on this topic and all reef related topics really. I will probably be hung for what I am about to say. I am leaving for the FL keys tomorrow for 13 days and due to my nutrients running somewhat on the higher side and climbing I am somewhat desperate to remedy the situation so my wifey doesn't have to go through a reefing bootcamp FaceTime session with me. I just installed and set schedules and smart plugs/strips/battery UPS (live in FL) plus EcoFlow Delta 2 2700W on standby if all hell breaks loose. Back to the point.. I turned to GPT-4 for answers and here is what I asked and it's response. Don't laugh, I use on the regular and seems like the nicer I am, the better responses I get. LOL.
Seems legit - thoughts?
Me: Howdy! Hope you are in the mood to provide me with some much needed advice and thanks in advance! I have a Landen 26g AIO saltwater reef tank and running a refugium in the middle chamber. I have a full spectrum hygger 6w LED light which is submersible and I can adjust the par levels from 50-600. In your opinion what color should I be running in my refugium, at what par level and what schedule to grow healthy chaeto and reduce nutrients, increase Ph and prevent nuisance algae etc
GPT-4:
Howdy! For growing healthy Chaetomorpha (chaeto) in your refugium and achieving your goals of nutrient reduction, pH increase, and preventing nuisance algae, here are some recommendations:
1. **Lighting Color:**
- Use a full spectrum that is heavy in the red and blue wavelengths. A combination of these will promote healthy plant growth. Look for around 6500K to 7000K if you have control over the color temperature.
2. **PAR Levels:**
- Aim for a PAR level between 100-200. This is generally sufficient for chaeto growth without being excessive.
3. **Lighting Schedule:**
- Run the refugium light on a reverse light cycle from your main tank lights, usually 12 hours on, 12 hours off. This helps stabilize pH levels by providing oxygen and consuming CO2 at night.
- If you're experiencing high nutrient levels, you might extend the light cycle slightly to 14 hours.
4. **Additional Tips:**
- Ensure good water flow in the refugium to prevent detritus buildup and improve nutrient uptake.
- Regularly harvest the chaeto to encourage new growth and maximize nutrient export.
Adjust these parameters based on how your specific setup responds. Every tank is different, so monitoring and tweaking will help you find the perfect balance.
on the bottom rack and above it have a ball of chaeto powered for 12 hours by a JBJ 4W white light. It was growing some chaeto for a week, however was not really dropping my nutrients much and due to the fact that I had to use the magnet and have it hang on the back tinted panel I was barely getting par levels of 50. I decided to go with a submersible full spectrum hygger 6W so I can stick it inside the chamber/in front of the caddy facing the back. It is on a 12hr wifi plug on alternate from my main display. I believe there are 5-6 intensity levels on full spectrum and I am starting it somewhat easy to see how it goes - par ~ 150 mid caddy. I am seeing all kinds of mixed opinions on this topic and all reef related topics really. I will probably be hung for what I am about to say. I am leaving for the FL keys tomorrow for 13 days and due to my nutrients running somewhat on the higher side and climbing I am somewhat desperate to remedy the situation so my wifey doesn't have to go through a reefing bootcamp FaceTime session with me. I just installed and set schedules and smart plugs/strips/battery UPS (live in FL) plus EcoFlow Delta 2 2700W on standby if all hell breaks loose. Back to the point.. I turned to GPT-4 for answers and here is what I asked and it's response. Don't laugh, I use on the regular and seems like the nicer I am, the better responses I get. LOL. Seems legit - thoughts?
Me: Howdy! Hope you are in the mood to provide me with some much needed advice and thanks in advance! I have a Landen 26g AIO saltwater reef tank and running a refugium in the middle chamber. I have a full spectrum hygger 6w LED light which is submersible and I can adjust the par levels from 50-600. In your opinion what color should I be running in my refugium, at what par level and what schedule to grow healthy chaeto and reduce nutrients, increase Ph and prevent nuisance algae etc
GPT-4:
Howdy! For growing healthy Chaetomorpha (chaeto) in your refugium and achieving your goals of nutrient reduction, pH increase, and preventing nuisance algae, here are some recommendations:
1. **Lighting Color:**
- Use a full spectrum that is heavy in the red and blue wavelengths. A combination of these will promote healthy plant growth. Look for around 6500K to 7000K if you have control over the color temperature.
2. **PAR Levels:**
- Aim for a PAR level between 100-200. This is generally sufficient for chaeto growth without being excessive.
3. **Lighting Schedule:**
- Run the refugium light on a reverse light cycle from your main tank lights, usually 12 hours on, 12 hours off. This helps stabilize pH levels by providing oxygen and consuming CO2 at night.
- If you're experiencing high nutrient levels, you might extend the light cycle slightly to 14 hours.
4. **Additional Tips:**
- Ensure good water flow in the refugium to prevent detritus buildup and improve nutrient uptake.
- Regularly harvest the chaeto to encourage new growth and maximize nutrient export.
Adjust these parameters based on how your specific setup responds. Every tank is different, so monitoring and tweaking will help you find the perfect balance.
