Chaeto caught in grate

[mattyg]

I just changed my sump to a custom sump/refugium I made out of a 30 gallon AGA. I'm new to the whole refugium thing, so don't laugh. I bought some macro algae from a LFS, I think it is "Chaeto"(the LFS didn't know what type of refugium algae it was), and put it in my small refugium. It wasn't stirring around much, so I added a small acrylic water diverter as seen in following photos. Now my "chaeto" is slowly tumbling, but the stuff is falling apart and getting stuck in the grate I attached to the side/top of last baffle. What do I do? Do I try and ball it back up?

How good is this stuff for my fish?(my 2 tang are going crazy for it as it gets blown into the tank)
Do I want/need to add a sand base to my fuge?

Any advise for a first time refugium?

BTW - My fuge is small(7"W x 12"D x 9"H) until I can get an automatic top off unit, at which time I plan on moving the last baffle over and making it much larger.

 

[jjakes24]

bump on this, I am curious

 

[Reefmedic79]

Do what you can to keep it from entering any pumps as it could clog them up. Its a perfect food for the tangs BTW. If suffecient light is over your fuge CHeato will grow very quick and it will re-bundle itself in time.

 

[WaterKeeper]

I'd just reduce the flow it is exposed to. Chaeto is tough however and will grow back.

 

[DCoats]

Fiji Gold Refugium Starter Mud is a good choice...

 

[GobyJohnKenobi]

Is it breaking apart as it tumbles against the grate?

I know that the expert advice is to have it tumbling, but mine is just stuffed behind one of my rocks in an area of good flow in my tank. It does fine, grows like crazy, and is a very dense ball.

Sounds like you have good enough flow thru the sump to not worry about the tumbling. Just a thought.