Fuge getting scary

BrklynArch · 10/09/2012, 01:47 PM

So i have part of my sump dedicated to a fuge with some cheato, live rock rubble and a DSB @ 4.5" deep. It is fed off a split in my return with a gate valve to control the flow. I also have an Eheim AquaLight LED for lighting.
For the past month or so ive been getting terrible cyano / dino covering most of the fuge contents....i manually remove as much as i can during WC and it will come back in a few days.....im thinking detritus is accumulating on the sand and is causing a nutrient trap....should i remove the sand bed? and if so will i just be causing the algea to grow in the display rather than the fuge?

thegrun · 10/09/2012, 02:23 PM

I'm not a big fan of sand in my refugiums. Detritus tends to naturally settle in a refugium and the sand make clean-up difficult. That said I would first think about increasing the water flow in the refugium and see if that helps clear things up.

Sk8r · 10/09/2012, 02:38 PM

I use sand and don't have that problem. Cyano usually thrives in off-spectrum lighting. I use a plain superbright 6000k CFL bulb in a shop light. Cheap, and cheato grows like mad.

BrklynArch · 10/09/2012, 02:39 PM

I upped the flow about 2 weeks ago and still nothing......im going to try cutting down the light cycle for a week or 2 and see if that helps right now im at 12 on 12 off ill try 8 on for a while see if that helps...if not i will remove the sand bed little by little with weekly WC unless someone thinks i might make the cyano angry and it will just mosey on over to the display instead

BrklynArch · 10/09/2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

I use sand and don't have that problem. Cyano usually thrives in off-spectrum lighting. I use a plain superbright 6000k CFL bulb in a shop light. Cheap, and cheato grows like mad.

It might be my choice of lighting.....it only started taking hold after i made the switch to the eheim (or at least thats what i remember)...it says its 6500k...but its a little 2 close to the water for my liking...the mounting bracket sucks.

BrklynArch · 10/10/2012, 07:51 AM

did a 20% water change last night and siphoned out a ton of that black/red crud out of the fuge. Changed out the GFO and GAC....I also upped the flow a bit more and cut down the on time from 12 hours to 8.....I plan on testing the water parameters tonight after work to see if anything is out of wack.

sponger0 · 10/10/2012, 08:29 AM

Better its in your fuge than your display.

Sugar Magnolia · 10/10/2012, 08:58 AM

Cut your fuge lighting off for a few days. The chaeto will do fine without light for a few days. Keep syphoning daily as well.

freeswimmingfis · 10/10/2012, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sponger0

Better its in your fuge than your display.

+1000 on this!!
I have a red fuzzy algae in my fuge, but my DT is algae free. At times it out competes the cheato for light and nutrients. I manually remove it from time to time.
As long as its in the fuge only I am happy.
BTW, it's been like this for years, so I am not worried about it.

10/09/2012, 01:47 PM	#1
BrklynArch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: brooklyn NY Posts: 529	Fuge getting scary So i have part of my sump dedicated to a fuge with some cheato, live rock rubble and a DSB @ 4.5" deep. It is fed off a split in my return with a gate valve to control the flow. I also have an Eheim AquaLight LED for lighting. For the past month or so ive been getting terrible cyano / dino covering most of the fuge contents....i manually remove as much as i can during WC and it will come back in a few days.....im thinking detritus is accumulating on the sand and is causing a nutrient trap....should i remove the sand bed? and if so will i just be causing the algea to grow in the display rather than the fuge?

10/09/2012, 02:38 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I use sand and don't have that problem. Cyano usually thrives in off-spectrum lighting. I use a plain superbright 6000k CFL bulb in a shop light. Cheap, and cheato grows like mad. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/10/2012, 08:58 AM	#8
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Cut your fuge lighting off for a few days. The chaeto will do fine without light for a few days. Keep syphoning daily as well. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

10/09/2012, 02:23 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I'm not a big fan of sand in my refugiums. Detritus tends to naturally settle in a refugium and the sand make clean-up difficult. That said I would first think about increasing the water flow in the refugium and see if that helps clear things up.

10/09/2012, 02:39 PM	#4
BrklynArch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: brooklyn NY Posts: 529	I upped the flow about 2 weeks ago and still nothing......im going to try cutting down the light cycle for a week or 2 and see if that helps right now im at 12 on 12 off ill try 8 on for a while see if that helps...if not i will remove the sand bed little by little with weekly WC unless someone thinks i might make the cyano angry and it will just mosey on over to the display instead

10/10/2012, 07:51 AM	#6
BrklynArch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: brooklyn NY Posts: 529	did a 20% water change last night and siphoned out a ton of that black/red crud out of the fuge. Changed out the GFO and GAC....I also upped the flow a bit more and cut down the on time from 12 hours to 8.....I plan on testing the water parameters tonight after work to see if anything is out of wack.

10/10/2012, 08:29 AM	#7
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Better its in your fuge than your display.