Sump, skimmer, refugium and hair algae

Shark888 · 03/20/2018, 12:36 PM

Hello,

I have read somewhere that refugium strong light could spread hair algae inside skimmer, can someone confirm this.

My refugium is next chamber of the skimmer and skimmer is getting light from it.

Should I cover refugium glass to avoid too much light getting to the skimmer ?

mcgyvr · 03/20/2018, 03:52 PM

If a skimmer is put in a brightly lit area then yes algae can/will grow in it..

Same reason why its not the best to use clear vinyl tube for your return pump plumbing. Any light will cause algae to grow in it..

Seeing your setup I doubt its really going to be a serious problem but you can certainly get some algae growing in the skimmer.. But you should be cleaning it on occasion and can easily remove what grows..
If it becomes a real problem then simply use something opaque to block the light.

Bryan3536 · 03/20/2018, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

If it becomes a real problem then simply use something opaque to block the light.

What’s something opaque that would work?

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AlSimmons · 03/20/2018, 04:36 PM

I wouldn't even worry about shading the skimmer. Just clean the chamber every 6 months or so and you should be set. Pretty much everything down there is going to be covered in some form of algae eventually.

Shark888 · 03/21/2018, 01:28 AM

Well received, thanks all for answering.

03/20/2018, 03:52 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	If a skimmer is put in a brightly lit area then yes algae can/will grow in it.. Same reason why its not the best to use clear vinyl tube for your return pump plumbing. Any light will cause algae to grow in it.. Seeing your setup I doubt its really going to be a serious problem but you can certainly get some algae growing in the skimmer.. But you should be cleaning it on occasion and can easily remove what grows.. If it becomes a real problem then simply use something opaque to block the light. __________________ Who me?

03/20/2018, 04:36 PM	#4
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	I wouldn't even worry about shading the skimmer. Just clean the chamber every 6 months or so and you should be set. Pretty much everything down there is going to be covered in some form of algae eventually.

03/21/2018, 01:28 AM	#5
Shark888 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: French in China Posts: 178	Well received, thanks all for answering.