Refugium question

[Kyle954]

Hey guys/gals, I have a question for you more expierence reefers. I currently have had a weird slime algae growing in my Refugium area and have no idea if it's bad or good.
I've read on other posts that people say to leave stuff alone if it's in the Refugium since its there vs not in the main display tank. Also just picked up a mangrove pod yesterday, did what they said and got a small piece of foam and have it floating around
Just wanted to see what you had to say about this issue.
Excuse the mess, my jebao pump took a dump last night and I have a backup pump running and my piping it just laying there lol

 

[rovster]

Did you dose anything? That happened to me once after I dosed a coral booster. It was the nastiest snottiness slime. Also are you carbon dosing?

 

[Kyle954]

Did you dose anything? That happened to me once after I dosed a coral booster. It was the nastiest snottiness slime. Also are you carbon dosing?

No dosing and no carbon at the moment. and yes it's extremely nasty that's why I'm trying to figure out what to do :lmao::lmao:

 

[McGee10]

I may have the same thing in mine. Best I can tell it is some what normal.

 

[rcypert]

Do you harvest that algae? If not you need to. Chaeto is only removing nutrients from your system if you are removing Chaeto from your system. It should be a constant grow and harvest monthly or every other month depending on bio-load. That will prevent the problem you are seeing.

 

[Rogger Castells]

well, three things come to mind, first is the light, how old are the light bulbs, that could cause nasty algae, the second would be surface water movement in the refugium it looks like the surface movement is minimum or none at all, this would aid to the issue, last would be the pump that broke, see if you can take it apart and check for rust stains on the propeller or shaft, look for signs of water leakage into the motor cavity.

 

[jdantunes]

How water flows into the refugium chamber?

Directly from a drain? Inline sump flow? Off manifold return?

When water flows into the chamber, does it brings any air with it, like bubbles?

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Following.

 

[rovster]

That stuff still there? After looking at pics more carefully that's exactly what I had. Mine went away eventually. Looks like bacteria. Was clear thick snot. The consistency of a jellyfish.

 

[Kyle954]

Do you harvest that algae? If not you need to. Chaeto is only removing nutrients from your system if you are removing Chaeto from your system. It should be a constant grow and harvest monthly or every other month depending on bio-load. That will prevent the problem you are seeing.

No I don't I guess I should start

well, three things come to mind, first is the light, how old are the light bulbs, that could cause nasty algae, the second would be surface water movement in the refugium it looks like the surface movement is minimum or none at all, this would aid to the issue, last would be the pump that broke, see if you can take it apart and check for rust stains on the propeller or shaft, look for signs of water leakage into the motor cavity.

It's a brand new led fixture over the refugium, and yes you are correct the surface water movement is very minimal. Would adding a small powerhead be good or bad?

How water flows into the refugium chamber?

Directly from a drain? Inline sump flow? Off manifold return?

When water flows into the chamber, does it brings any air with it, like bubbles?

It flows into a filter sock. It's the eshopps r300

That stuff still there? After looking at pics more carefully that's exactly what I had. Mine went away eventually. Looks like bacteria. Was clear thick snot. The consistency of a jellyfish.

Yes still there!!!! It's so annoying looking lol

 

[Rogger Castells]

No I don't I guess I should start


It's a brand new led fixture over the refugium, and yes you are correct the surface water movement is very minimal. Would adding a small powerhead be good or bad?

It flows into a filter sock. It's the eshopps r300



Yes still there!!!! It's so annoying looking lol

yes a slow water surface movement will help, especially if it is a form of Cyanobacteria, the harvesting of the algae advice is also a very good one, you should remove at least a third in volume of the algae on a monthly basis, I will add to that that it is important to rinse the algae ball in a container outside the sump to get rid of the detritus that it accumulates.
The way I did it was during water changes I will save 2 gals of tank water in a 5 gal bucket and pull the algae from the refugium out into the bucket and pull out the 2/3 you are going to keep shake it clean inside the bucket and transfer it back to your refugium, a lot of pods are going to be discarded in this way but don't worry there will be plenty to repopulate in no time.