Problem: A smelly refugium

[Eric55]

I have a refugium that has a big clump of chaeto in it. The water flow seems adequate.

There is some thick, dark colored "gunk" growing at the waterline. It smells.

I put a Mexican Turbo snail in there to try to eat some of the smelly junk growing.

What else can I do to keep it clean in there?

Thanks for the answers!

 

[luispa]

try a brittle star and some cleaner shrimps

 

[Eric55]

My refugium is 4 inches wide, 10 inches long, and 10 inches tall.

 

[luispa]

that's good enough

 

[bertoni]

You could put a powerhead into the refugium to get some surface agitation going. Or you could remove the surface film by hand with some paper towels. Either might help.

 

[Eric55]

Should I put more snails in there? I'd rather not put any cleaner shrimp in there.

 

[alizarin]

I'd add a powerhead

 

[plummike]

Id take out some of the brillo to increase water access.
Is the dark material kind of Burgandy with air bubbles? If so you have some Cyano. Just keep your flow up don't let the whole fuge pack full. Remove the biggest areas of slime, do your water changes.

 

[EdKruzel]

I’m not sure what a Cleaner Shrimp is supposed to accomplish, they don’t really clean like the animated one did in “Finding Nemo”.

I’d add a couple of different types of snail to your fuge like Nassarius, Cerith, and Nerites. This will keep the sand stirred and the algae under control. Along with regular maintenance and pruning of the Cheato, I’m sure the problem will subside in no time.