Refugium help...

[GarrDen79]

Recently redid my refugium, tank got overran with hair algae and so did refugium. It's a CPR medium 3.6 gal HOB on a 46 gal bowfront. I have Miracle Mud , couple pieces of rubble rock and fresh chaeto. Running 6500K led for 3 hours at night but yesterday changed lights to 8 hrs at night, since hair algae is now under control thanks to Vibrant.

It's been running now for 3 weeks and does look right. See picture.... Or is that how it is suppose to look?

Oh, media bag in picture is holding carbon and last bit of Purigen, recently upgraded to Aquamaxx HOB-1 skimmer from hob filter and just using up last of the media that was in there. It had Phosoguard in there until last WC on Friday.

Will adding a few CUC help?

 

[ahiggins]

Water movement will help, or turn off the flow and shake it out and change the little bit of water in there. Ive had that happen before. It's just buildup of gunk on top.

 

[GarrDen79]

Water movement will help, or turn off the flow and shake it out and change the little bit of water in there. Ive had that happen before. It's just buildup of gunk on top.

Thanks. So put a powerhead in there? Is my media bag restricting flow?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

if you were running it while dosing the vibrant, it may take some time to recover. Consider running the fuge the entire time the dt lights are off.
snails in there will help, pods will be coming in soon Id guess. Id bet some of that is mud dust on the glass.
the purigen and gfo etc was competing for nutrints the chato needs, so its likely itll perk up soon.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

is the bag in the way of the flow?

 

[ahiggins]

Thanks. So put a powerhead in there? Is my media bag restricting flow?

I'm not sure, I can't tell from the pic.
You don't want too much though. I would shake it out and change the water in there first before you tried a power head

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm not sure, I can't tell from the pic.
You don't want too much though. I would shake it out and change the water in there first before you tried a power head

that hob provides a pretty good constant laminar flow. A powerhead in there may also blow mud

 

[GarrDen79]

is the bag in the way of the flow?

The bag is at the bottom of the intake pipe. I'll remove bag and see if that helps. Thanks

 

[GarrDen79]

if you were running it while dosing the vibrant, it may take some time to recover. Consider running the fuge the entire time the dt lights are off.
snails in there will help, pods will be coming in soon Id guess. Id bet some of that is mud dust on the glass.
the purigen and gfo etc was competing for nutrints the chato needs, so its likely itll perk up soon.

Yes cods going in next week. The Vibrant really cleaned up the algae, and was considering reducing dosage but continue using. Is it better to stop Vibrant all together if tank is clean?

 

[NanaReefer]

IMO that chaeto does not look healthy. FYI-Vibrant is known to kill chaeto. Best remove what you have there least the die off causes a nitrate spike. Add new chaeto, reduce Vibrant dosing to maintenance only if you're still using it.
I ran that exact HOB fuge on my 26g for 3yrs. Very nice [emoji4]

 

[GarrDen79]

IMO that chaeto does not look healthy. FYI-Vibrant is known to kill chaeto. Best remove what you have there least the die off causes a nitrate spike. Add new chaeto, reduce Vibrant dosing to maintenance only if you're still using it.
I ran that exact HOB fuge on my 26g for 3yrs. Very nice [emoji4]

Ok will do.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Is it better to stop Vibrant all together if tank is clean?

FYI-Vibrant is known to kill chaeto

yup. this.

the Vibrant will kill the bad algae, the fuge will take care of the extra nutrints in the tank and help stop it from coming back.

 

[alex.mccann99]

I would ditch the miracle mud and sand. Get some MarinePure in there. Less mess and much more useful.

 

[Susan Bates]

My refugium keeps getting a green film on the glass is that normal? look terrible

 

[NanaReefer]

My refugium keeps getting a green film on the glass is that normal? look terrible

Add some Snails. Mexican Turbos are awesome! But yes it's normal. Better in the refugium than your DT [emoji16]

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My refugium keeps getting a green film on the glass is that normal? look terrible

yea you want the funk down stairs for sure. itll go in phases

 

[NanaReefer]

Also what type of light are you using on your fuge?

 

[Susan Bates]

Also what type of light are you using on your fuge?

It is just a cheap one that i got on Ebay, could it be to strong?

 

[NanaReefer]

It is just a cheap one that i got on Ebay, could it be to strong?

More likely the wrong spectrum. I've had great success with the 7-8w LED's. 2 of our sponsors sell the ones I like.
Reef Radiance http://reefradiance.com/lumentek-7-watt-par-model.html

MelevsReef.com sells the new Phillips 8w LED for refugiums. http://melevsreef.com/catalog/equipment