New refugium sump getting skummy

[Tuscany Bob]

I am relatively new to the hobby. (compared to many her that are way advanced)

I have a 90 gal that is 15 years old. I just performed an overhaul. New tank Fiji sand and rock. New sump and Apex system.

Trigger systems 26 sump, with skimmer.
refugium has miracle mud some rock and cheto.

The cheto has been getting brown and shrinking. the refugium is now (3 weeks after new sump install) very skummy.

The main tank gets a little brown on the rocks and sand. I suspect I am feeding pellets and this is overfeeding syndrome. otherwise the tank seems to be doing ok.

Load; two tomato clowns, Blue Tang wrasse , one soft coral and a few frags

Question. shouldn't the cheto be growing and there be less algae skum in the refugium

 

[mcgyvr]

I'm not sure what a skummy refugium is...

What are your nitrate and phosphate readings?
I would not expect good growth of chaeto on a new tank..

 

[Tuscany Bob]

Not a very technical term skummy, sorry. (Green bubbly slime on sides of refugium)

Phosphate is zero. I don't have a nitrate test kit. (yet)

 

[Rilelen]

Can you take a pic and show us?

 

[mcgyvr]

So likely green cyano?
What light are you using?
How big is fuge?
Pics?

 

[Tuscany Bob]

Refugium

Refugium

here is a top view

 

[Tuscany Bob]

2nd photo

2nd photo

side view

 

[Tuscany Bob]

this is the light


Roll over image to zoom in


Wave-point Mirco Sun 6,500 k Daylight High Output 8-Watt LED Fixture Lighting for Aquarium, 6-Inch

 

[Tuscany Bob]

This is the Sump
EMERALD26
Dimensions: 26″ long x 13″ wide x 15″ high
Skimmer Section: 8.25″ x 10″
Center/Refugium Section: 7.75″ x 12.5″
Return Pump Section: 5″ x 12.5″
Total Water Volume: 20.4 gallons
Skimmer Water Level: 7″ to 9.5″ adjustable
Drain Input Fittings: 1″ (x1)
Filter Socks: 4″ (x1)

 

[Tuscany Bob]

I am also finding these in the sump

Eunicid worms

 

[mcgyvr]

Welcome to cyano..
Happens quite often in a new tank usually after the diatom bloom and green film/hair algae stages..
Usually blamed on higher levels of organic waste..
Seems to pop up in heavily lit fuge sections too quite often...
Siphon it out with water changes and see how it goes..
You can likely reduce light too in the fuge.


Its also probably harmless/beneficial bristle worms and not eunicid worms..

 

[Tuscany Bob]

Just cut back refugium light time to 8 hrs

 

[Tuscany Bob]

Nitrates still High

Nitrates still High

Water testing has the nitrate level above 50. been treating with Red Sea for a week and level is still above 50. brown algae has halted its increase. but the nitrate is way high. Skimmer running full time. Doing a water change today.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

Skummy is a good description of your fuge!

 

[Cymonous]

Not sure about everyone else, but I don't expect a sump/refugium to stay pretty. I pretty much let my refugium walls get covered in stuff. I also wouldn't cut hours on refugium, this is where you want algae and other green stuff to grow. Not in your display tank.

 

[cscultho]

I would dose P04 to get levels above 0. This will also encourage cheato growth in the refugium. Once i got my P04 levels up to 0.10 my growth took off.