cleaning refugiums

[TWYOUNG]

My fuge has a lot of spirorbid worms, gha and other organisms,(see pics). It's a young system which is still running low on nutrients so I'm not sure if I should clean it. The gha is growing on walls, MarinePure blocks and even on my Chaeto.

 

[blaxsun]

Sponges R Us. Unless it's bothering you aesthetically, most of that stuff is beneficial in some form or another. I generally like a "clean" sump so I don't run refugiums for that reason.

 

[TWYOUNG]

Sponges R Us. Unless it's bothering you aesthetically, most of that stuff is beneficial in some form or another. I generally like a "clean" sump so I don't run refugiums for that reason.

Will gha growing ON my Chaeto harm it in any way?

 

[blaxsun]

Will gha growing ON my Chaeto harm it in any way?

Just throw that chaeto out first when you accumulate too much. Problem solved...

 

[flashsmith]

Will gha growing ON my Chaeto harm it in any way?

Yes it will eventually smother it out and it will turn to mush. I ended up throwing mine out and gave up on a refugium. Like blaxsun I too like a clean looking sump.

 

[TWYOUNG]

Yes it will eventually smother it out and it will turn to mush. I ended up throwing mine out and gave up on a refugium. Like blaxsun I too like a clean looking sump.

I'm primarily interested in a low tech way to create competition for nuisance algae outside of the display tank.

 

[flashsmith]

Well if it's in your sump and not in your display you're already there. I do have some pom pom macroalgae in my sump. For some reason GHA never grows on it. I put a couple golfball size turbo snails in there and a few other assorted snails and a handful of hermits and they pretty much keep it under control. I don't have any gha in my display. I think getting the right livestock is half the battle. Throw your chaeto out and pull what you can. The best way to get rid of nuisance algae is to not have it. You definitely need to clean your sump out. I take out 20 gallons and then scrape the sump and put my pump in with a hose going directly into the filter socks to get all the crud out. I know people have different ways of doing things but keeping your sump clean and getting rid of detritus buildup in there will go a long way to control nutrients in your system.

 

[TWYOUNG]

Well if it's in your sump and not in your display you're already there. I do have some pom pom macroalgae in my sump. For some reason GHA never grows on it. I put a couple golfball size turbo snails in there and a few other assorted snails and a handful of hermits and they pretty much keep it under control. I don't have any gha in my display. I think getting the right livestock is half the battle. Throw your chaeto out and pull what you can. The best way to get rid of nuisance algae is to not have it. You definitely need to clean your sump out. I take out 20 gallons and then scrape the sump and put my pump in with a hose going directly into the filter socks to get all the crud out. I know people have different ways of doing things but keeping your sump clean and getting rid of detritus buildup in there will go a long way to control nutrients in your system.

What do you mean by, "throw your chaeto out and pull what you can"? Are you saying to forget using macro algae in the sump?