Refugium question?

[Mr Neon]

Hey all!

I been wondering about my refugium for my tank... I want to know if there is a standard of how much chaeto to put into the sump of the refugium that is required or rahter needed to make it function correctly.

I mean can you put in too much that you still have a water flow but nothing grows, or can a very little amont be put into the sump so it can grow out?

I have a realtivley small refugium about 12 long by 4 wide by 12 deep. There is a flow control as well so that I can adjust the water flow to be high or low. I started off with mineral mud about 2 inches, added some sand on top, about 1 inch as per the directions, and then on the side put a small handfull of small LR. The rest of the area is full of the chaeto. It grows a bit but just seems bulky and it seems to leave a skim on the surface now and then. I turn it ever 2 weeks or so or trim it but I do not feel it is being effective as it is supposed to be. I am wondering if I have too much Chaeto. Would it be better to take a good portion of it out of the refugium so that what amount is left can grow maybe better or filter better??

Help me out here as I am learning about refugiums since I always used the wet trickle systems on my tanks..

 

[bosworth]

The cheato should have a chance to tumble. If you are getting a film on top of the water then you definately need to increase the flow through the refugium. How much cheato you keep is relative to the size of your system and the space available for it to grow in the fuge. As a rule of thumb it should be trimmed when you cant see from on side to the other. What is your total system volume?

 

[Mr Neon]

It is 30 gals. I bought a Finnex M-tank with the sump and refugium intergrated with the tank. So bascially the back 4 inches is all the skimmer sump, pump sump and refugium. I have a RIO HF10 for the main pump and a RIO 800 int he main tank for circulation. Remora skimmer as well...

I do have the flow turn up all the way...this was the first time for the skim on top, but I think it is because some of the cheato was stuck in the snail guard casunig the flow to decrease.

I stated the size of the refugium wrong inmy first post, it is actually 10 long by 4 inceh wide by 12 inches deep....

 

[Briney Dave]

I don't think there is a hard and fast volume that can be shared due to the numerous variables that make your tank its own.

What I suggest is to put in a few hand fulls make sure there is water circulation withing the mass and it appears to be in good health and be patient.
watch for signs of over crowding or poor water movement. Adjust as needed. Nature should take care of the rest.

 

[Briney Dave]

"within the mass" not what ever spelling bomb and typo I just dropped

sorry

 

[Mr Neon]

yeah, it is kind of tough to determine how much should be in the fuge. I have a decent size ball and on top of that is a more "pen" mass as well of chaeto. I turn it every os often but I get a lot ot detris which leads me to beleive there is too much chaeto and the water flow is no reaching where it should..

I guess I could tak out half of what is in there and go from there, it grows ok so rather less in a way is kind of more...

 

[Briney Dave]

I grab mine out when I do water changes and give it a good dunk in the waste water to shake out anything trapped in it and to judge if the mass is becoming too large. Also helps to keep the million or so bristle worms that live in it a bit of a population controler LOL

Other than that the mass is on auto-piloit

good luck and be patient