My fuge... Is this a problem?

kchristensen8064 · Mar 30, 2013

So my tank has been running for just about 4 months now and I recently started having this issue in my sump, pretty sure it's cyno, but the only place it is growing is the sump not the display. Is it something I should worry about? Do I need to add something to the sump? Right now it has a peppermint, a red legged hermit or two and two astrea snail's. I have chaeto in there but it has been struggling to grow lately. Before the cyno the chaeto had to be cut back weekly or it would take over the fuge. It's been 3 weeks now since I last cut it back. So just trying to figure out if this is something I need to worry about or if I need to change something up to take care of it.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

kchristensen8064 · Mar 30, 2013

Here's a couple of pictures.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

Mrfresh · Mar 30, 2013

I would add a power head to keep better flow mixing in the fug. Try and clean out the cyno u can as well
What kind of light are you using as well?....
I would go to Home Depot and get the led 38 what bulb, the k should be somewhere between 5500k to 6500k.
I use that on my fug and I have amazing growth of algae with that and no cyno.
Also I have a power head in mine, it's just to help flow inside the fug.
It's good to have slow flow in and out that way the algae has time to filter out the waste... If that makes sence

Cyno typically grows bc of low flow, so the waste will sit in one place and then will become toxic producing cyno...

Good luck!

bfam4t6 · Mar 30, 2013

+1 to adding a powerhead, or increasing flow by any means for that matter.

If all else fails, I've had great luck with Chemiclean. If you do use Chemiclean, just be sure to follow all instructions i.e. do a 20% water change within 48 hours of use to ensure proper oxygen levels in the water, and TURN OF YOUR SKIMMER or else you're going to have a big mess.

Mrfresh · Mar 30, 2013

Chemiclean does work but I would use that as a last resort type of a thing.

Try to siphon out what u can add a power head and maybe some fresh carbon...
I love blue life carbon and phos remover.

kchristensen8064 · Mar 30, 2013

So I have GFO going in my reactor, I will try to find a way to plumb in some more flow and see if that solves the problem. With the carbon can I just put some in a mesh bag and set it in there?

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

Dana · Mar 30, 2013

I've tried power heads with cyano. Didn't help me at all. Not sure who this works for.
What's your temp at?
How long are lights on in refuge?

kchristensen8064 · Mar 30, 2013

Temp sits at about 80 and the lights are on for about 13 hours. I run the fuge lights opposite of the display the bulb is a Sylvania cfl 23w 6500k 1450 lumens.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

Mrfresh · Mar 30, 2013

This is just my opinion but I would bring the temp down to 78...
How often do u do water changes?
R u using rodi water or tap and decloridading It?

Do u typically have big ph swing? Is that why u run the light at night opp the display lights?

Yah carbons fine in a bad. For me I stick it in the bubble trap bc I know waters flowing though there in that spot.

Good luck

Mrfresh · Mar 30, 2013

This is just my opinion but I would bring the temp down to 78...
How often do u do water changes?
R u using rodi water or tap and decloridading It?

Do u typically have big ph swing? Is that why u run the light at night opp the display lights?

Yah carbons fine in a bad. For me I stick it in the bubble trap bc I know waters flowing though there in that spot.

Good luck

Dana · Mar 30, 2013

Bring temp down as said. Also you might think about way less hours on lighting.

kchristensen8064 · Mar 30, 2013

Ok, so I turned down the heaters a little bit. I don't have ph swings although it has been a little low lately (8.0). I have been using tap water the TDS is about 58 on it. But I understand that could be part of my issue. I plan on doing ro/di from this point on. I added some flow by t-ing off the pump going to the reactor. Seems to be just the right amount of flow to keep everything moving.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

kchristensen8064 · Mar 30, 2013

Oh and I do water changes every 2 weeks. There's about 70 gallons of water in the system and I do 15 gallon changes.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

Mrfresh · Mar 30, 2013

Yeah u will see a bug change by going to rodi water. The corals will look happier and everything over all will do better.

15 gallons on a 70 is about 20% water change. To make it easy you could do 10% every week. So in your case u could do just a 5 gallon water change a week. Just an idea. I know for some people it's hard to do weekly water changes...

Mrfresh · Mar 30, 2013

Yeah u will see a bug change by going to rodi water. The corals will look happier and everything over all will do better.

15 gallons on a 70 is about 20% water change. To make it easy you could do 10% every week. So in your case u could do just a 5 gallon water change a week. Just an idea. I know for some people it's hard to do weekly water changes...

Mrfresh · Mar 30, 2013

Keep us up dated and let us know how things go.

fragmatic · Mar 30, 2013

LOL.. I have loads of it in my under tank refugium, none in my display refugium, and none in my display tank. .. I embrace it... I have changed to new kind of lamps and it is changing and improving now. I have three worm type bulbs inside their own glass cases with built in reflector. They are 5000k frequency. You may try that. They are cheap and effective. As far as I am concerned if it "ain't" in my display I'm OK with it.

Someone on here put us onto those bulbs and I can't for the life of me remember who it was or what the thread was.

Everything in my reef system is healthy and growing. ..................If that helps.

Pappy · Mar 30, 2013

Def plus 1 on rodi only never tap water! Tds isn't the only thing to worry about but 58 is very high. As far as it being in fuge...a funky fuge is great IMO. The more funk down there the less in dt. And wouldn't recommend power head in fuge as I made that mistake of adding a few months in and nitrates went through the roof.

fragmatic · Mar 30, 2013

Pappy said:
Def plus 1 on rodi only never tap water! Tds isn't the only thing to worry about but 58 is very high. As far as it being in fuge...a funky fuge is great IMO. The more funk down there the less in dt. And wouldn't recommend power head in fuge as I made that mistake of adding a few months in and nitrates went through the roof.

+1, +1, +1

eeeeek....NO POWER HEADS IN A REFUGIUM... I keep the flow slow and steady... let the water have some hang time... don't be stirring that thing up!!! I even have slow flow in my display refugium.. in it I squirt the water across the top to gain ox2 at one end and exit at the other end. Let the PODs live there without all being blown to kingdom come and out to the tank in a big hurry. Lots of flow in the display slow and lazy in the refugium... (this is in a separate refugium from the sump, a refugium in a sump doesn't have any choice about flow)

kchristensen8064 · Mar 30, 2013

Ok so can the water be too stagnant in a refugium? If so I think that might be my case? Could some circulation be good in that situation as long as it's very moderate? I am curious if people would be willing to post pictures of there fuges. I want to see what others look like?

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP