How often do you maintain your sump/chaeto?

[WallyTime7]

My tank is probably 7 months old - have had an AI Fuge light going since 3 months. My algae growth is insane in the sump (any type really) with good pod life along with bristleworms. (I don't add pods either).

Every two three weeks I've been turning the red/green chaeto ball and taking 10% out. Then maybe every two months I'll scrape the glass of hair algae so I can view what's going on inside (always interested to see).

Inside my display is great, no algae growth. Assume that's the case because of my sump having everything under the sun grow down there.

What's normal to everyone's maintenance on the sump? Little clean up? Let it completely go? Just curious.

 

[Lavey29]

My chaeto dominates the fuge so really no other algae except coraline and occasional light film on glass. I keep snails in my fuge. The sump in general though the first 2 chambers are teaming with life. I try to keep skimmer and return chamber clear except for pods.

 

[WallyTime7]

My chaeto dominates the fuge so really no other algae except coraline and occasional light film on glass. I keep snails in my fuge. The sump in general though the first 2 chambers are teaming with life. I try to keep skimmer and return chamber clear except for pods.

Love your idea of moving the ATO over to the right. What set-up did you use to have it there along with the line back to return pump? Looks like we have the same RedSea size under there.

Last question, you really only have the chaeto? I guess, is it alarming that I have multiple types of algae in my sump?

 

[Lavey29]

Love your idea of moving the ATO over to the right. What set-up did you use to have it there along with the line back to return pump? Looks like we have the same RedSea size under there.

Last question, you really only have the chaeto? I guess, is it alarming that I have multiple types of algae in my sump?

I use a 10g banshee ATO reservoir. Fits perfectly and helps conceal wires. My red sea doser and a fan sit right on top in the back.

I had other algae to when my fuge first got going but the neptune gro light and chaeto gro once a week made the chaeto grow huge and outcompete the other algae into extinction. There is nothing wrong with various types of algae in your fuge because it's still helping lower nitrates and phosphate and keeps it out of your DT. Put a couple trochus in there to munch it back. That's what I have. I never scraps the glass either. You can manually remove the other algae to which would allow your chaeto to dominate the fuge then

 

[WallyTime7]

I'm still new to this obviously - thank you. Why the fan in the sump? Just temp control?

Thank you!

 

[MarshallB]

My maintance is throwing on a filter socks and mixing the hell out of the refugium. The handful of snails i keep in there do a good job of keeping it clean enough that I don't feel a need to vaccum it out.

Basically if it looks gross, clean it up if you feel like it. If all the grossness is in the refugium and the DT looks great, then the refugium is doing its job.

It's ok to have multiple types of algae in there. I had a heck of a time trying to keep just cheato alive for whatever reason. I halve ulva, cheato, and red spike spheres.

 

[Lavey29]

I'm still new to this obviously - thank you. Why the fan in the sump? Just temp control?

Thank you!

I just try to keep humidity and odor in check with a small fan to keep the air circulating in there.

 

[shakacuz]

i vacuum the detritus at least once a month. i trim the chaeto once i cannot see through the glass. my urchin does a good job of cleaning algae off the glass

 

[WallyTime7]

My maintance is throwing on a filter socks and mixing the hell out of the refugium. The handful of snails i keep in there do a good job of keeping it clean enough that I don't feel a need to vaccum it out.

Basically if it looks gross, clean it up if you feel like it. If all the grossness is in the refugium and the DT looks great, then the refugium is doing its job.

It's ok to have multiple types of algae in there. I had a heck of a time trying to keep just cheato alive for whatever reason. I halve ulva, cheato, and red spike spheres.

What does 'mixing' the refugium do?

 

[WallyTime7]

I just try to keep humidity and odor in check with a small fan to keep the air circulating in there.

Good to know! I definitely have cyano in my fuge that goes on my chaeto. Again, my Display is all good. Would removing it in the fuge have it grow into the Display?

 

[davidcalgary29]

I don't want to touch the chaeto in my sump. Isn't that what Pennywise's hair was made out of in "It"?

 

[Lavey29]

Good to know! I definitely have cyano in my fuge that goes on my chaeto. Again, my Display is all good. Would removing it in the fuge have it grow into the Display?

I had it in mine and I just cleaned it out. It did not move back up to the DT but all of this is consistent on your DT parameters, lighting and flow too.