Growing chaetomorpha or other macroalgae in a dedicated chamber — a refugium-in-a-box, essentially — exports nitrate and phosphate naturally while giving copepods a safe place to multiply. The Reef Octopus LR Light Reactor line offers two chamber sizes for exactly that.
Why a Dedicated Macroalgae Chamber
Macroalgae like chaetomorpha absorb nitrate and phosphate as they grow, and periodically harvesting that growth physically exports those nutrients from the system — a natural complement to skimming and biopellet reactors. A dedicated light reactor gives macroalgae ideal, isolated growing conditions rather than competing with display lighting and flow.
Choosing a Size
- LR-150 — a dedicated macroalgae growing chamber built around a 6-inch body for cultivating chaetomorpha or similar species.
- LR-200 — the larger body in the light reactor line, built with an 8-inch chamber for growing macroalgae on systems with higher nutrient export needs.
Setup Tips
- Run lighting on a reverse photoperiod from your display to help stabilize pH swings across the day-night cycle.
- Harvest macroalgae regularly — the nutrient export only happens when you physically remove grown material.
- Seed with a starter culture of chaetomorpha or your preferred macroalgae species to get growth established.
The Reef Octopus LR Light Reactor line is available at Marine Concept Supply — order online or pick up at our shop in Wheeling, IL. Shop LR-150 or LR-200, and browse more reactors.
