Aquaclear 50 Refugium

Hmmm, is there a light?

Yes.... for now I am using an Ikea 20w halogen for lighting. I would like to go LED some time soon, as well as swap the heater for something smaller. LR rubble at the bottom and surrounding heater, cheato, small sponge to catch debris (and will use space for carbon or other media as needed).

I converted by AC50 into a small fuge as well. Its been running for about a month. I was told I have enough rock in display that I don't need rubble in fuge. I have a baffle area that holds floss. I placed chemi-pure elite on bottom with a ball of cheato on top. Have seen a slight decrease in nitrates from 20 to 15. Now I have an unfavorable algea outbreak. looks like a combo of diatoms and cyano. fuge runs from 7a to 7p. any advice??

cmonti, I just started this particular tank yesterday... my other doesn't have a fuge... so I don't really have any advice... how are your phosphate levels? how much light are you giving your tank... and what do you mean by running it from 7-7... is that the refugium light? or the actual pump?

cmonti can you post a photo of your ac50? I am interested in the baffle.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=601201

above is a link that explains the conversion and is illustrated by images. This is what I followed. I did not add the light as seen in the images. I added a reptile clip on light fixture to the back of the tank that hangs a few inches above the fuge. I have a 6500K, low wattage light from Home Depot. Have not checked phosphates. Need to do this. No algea problems in tank just fuge..?? I only run the lights 7a-7p and cheato seems to be growing fine. Dont want to light to leak into display at night

Where do you get this cheato from? LFS? Can nerver find it.I'm thing of doing a refuge for my 2nd chamber of biocube 14. How log must the led lights stay on for?

I saw a mini heater at walmart or petsmart for a 5 gallon tank. Perfect for you.

As for the led lights, check this out:http://www.petsolutions.com/storefront/fish/aquarium-supplies/nano-cube-28-magnetic-refugium-light/prodNanoCube28MagneticRefugiumLight.html

I got the chaeto from a LFS... most of them have their's hidden in their refugiums so you should ask...

I am not too sure about how long you should keep a refugium light on... I am experimenting/researching... right now I am keeping it on as long as the main tank lights... 9 hours, which will bump to 12 once tank is cycled/acclimated etc.

Oh and the black thing is the heater... its a marineland... and imo kind of big... it stick out an inch or two and although it is submersible, it won't fit into the chamber.