Chaeto Balls................Pffffffft...... I've got Chaeto Blocks
 

The refugium section of the sump on my 90g is 27"x12"x15" (21gals) with a 4" sandbed. I grow chaeto in it with a small amount of caulerpa. (The caulerpa is there simply because it is too much work to separate it from the chaeto). Every couple of months I rip a good size chunk of chaeto out for nutrient export. I realized I hadn't done this for awhile so I checked it out. The sump is outside and gets a certain amount of natural sunlight so the macroalgae grows quite fast. Holy Crap! The algae was so thick and dense it had turned into a solid brick, filling the entire refugium. It was so thick I could lift it out as one solid piece. It looked just like a piece of lawn sod except that it was 12" thick. I chopped half of it away and threw it into the garden. Afterwards I realized I should have taken some pics first, Damn it! Maybe I'll grow it again and take some pics to post up. :lol:

Haha, I can just imagine. Around 10 years ago I ran a caulerpa sump for a 20g nano that was sort of the same situation come pruning time. :lol:

No pellets on the 90g? My chaeto was the first casualty to the pellets on my cube..

Well you knew I couldn't resist that of course.

And now I'm left wanting pics. WTH Lance? Sounds pretty risque tho! Tough to hide blocks in a pair of knickers.

Nope. No pellets on the 90g. Haven't had a reason yet Tony. Nutrient level on this tank are always low to nil.

I knew I'd get your attention!
Yeah the pics would be a little off the wall; don't want the nick name of "Sponge Bob Square Pants" :mrgreen:

*blink* *blink* Uhhh....did you say your sump is OUTSIDE !?

Calgary kids don't try that at home!

Yup. It's quite mild here. Sump is on the sundeck in an insulated box. Works great.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/o...p/IMG_2422.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/o...p/IMG_2423.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/o...p/IMG_2424.jpg

What's a typical/average winter temperature out there??

Ah...insulated box -suddenly makes more sense !

Cool ! (and vewy, vewy quiet, no doubt)