t5's running 24/7 in sump ... can i put my zoa frags in there???

[Gseclipse02]

will it be bad for them to get lighting 24/7 ??? im tired of having my frags inside my main tank it looks ugly to me ... any help will be great thanks

[JimD]

Why not run your fuge lights onb a reverse schedule?

[jc]

Can you run your sump t-5's on an opposite cycle to the main tank? I'm assuming you are growing some type of fuge plants. If its cheato you don't have to run them 24 hours.

[Gseclipse02]

i have some grape caulerpa, Caulerpa Prolifera and cheato..... i didnt think i could turn off my lights with caulerpa ???

but will it be bad if i do run them 24/7 with the zoa's

[JimD]

Anything that utilizes photosynthasis would appreciate a period of darkness. I wouldn't run the lights 24/7.

[jc]

What are the chances that the caulerpa will go sexual? I've read of dozens of seahorse tanks that use it in the main display. I don't recall reading about any specific dangers of it going sexual in those tanks considering they do have a normal light cycle. Maybe the danger is if a large amount of caulerpa goes sexual all at once. If used in a fuge I suppose the purpose would be to have a large amount for nutrient export. How much do you have in your tank? Maybe if you don't have that much you could switch to an on/off cycle and keep your zoa frags down there. I think that is the main reason Cheato is popular.

[JimD]

You run the risk of it 'going A sexual' no matter what. Chaeto is the export algae of choice for that reason.

'i have some grape caulerpa, Caulerpa Prolifera and cheato.....'

Get rid of all other algaes except the Chaeto, the others will quickly out compete it (especially the grape) for available nutrients and wither away.. Also, if a piece of grape happens to get into the display and begins to grow, it can take over the whole tank and its a real pain to get rid of once it gets a foothold in the rocks...

[msmith619]

I have Caulerpa Prolifera in my main tank. I keep the lights on 12 hours a day. It has never gone sexual. My understanding (and I may be wrong) is that it only goes sexual when the lighting is inadequate.
Mike

[seamonkey2]

hmmm I run t5s 24/7 in my sump, the cheato grows like crazy, the razor culerpa grows semi fast, the prolifera does ok.

just me

Jose

[BIGBIRD123]

Grape calerpa is the one you need to worry about going asexual. When it does, the grapes will turn clear or white. Prolifera, Razor and Chaeto can be done on a reverse light cycle. This also helps stop Ph swings.

S