gunk in refugium

MOBlueDevil · 01/16/2006, 12:36 PM

My refugium (about 18 months old, mostly caulerpa, razor.. - no chaeto) has been developing a thick, tenacious mucous that floats on the surface. This is not a thin, oily covering, but like very thick snot - when I pull it off, it all stays together until I have a large handful of it. It is clear and no bad odor. Tank is fine except a slight outbreak of hair algea.

Anyone have a clue what this could be?

Thanks

Airman · 01/16/2006, 02:17 PM

How does water exist your refugium?

MOBlueDevil · 01/16/2006, 03:08 PM

Water from tank overflow goes to refugium which overflows into sump with skimmer, then thru charcoal (in a bag in bubble trap) then back to tank. Lighting on sump is just a grow light from Home Depot.

coralnut99 · 01/16/2006, 03:35 PM

My guess would be dinoflagelates (sp?), a bunch of different types. I've had a bout or two with them. They generally indicate a change of some sort. Alkalinity swing, temp. phosphates, even the age of the bulb over the fuge. A pic would be helpful.

coralnut99 · 01/16/2006, 03:37 PM

one thing I've learned about my fuges is that they either need to be pruned regularly, or the macro needs to be stirred up a bit periodically if not ready for pruning.

MOBlueDevil · 01/16/2006, 03:47 PM

I do prune about every 10 - 14 days, whenever it gets full looking!
It really doesn't look like dinoflag. - it's completely colorless, but thick. Reminds me of Slime we used to play with as kids, except for clear. The macro, bristleworms and pod population seem unaffected. I'm not sure if any actually got into the sump - it looks too thick to get thru the strainer.

FloridaFishMan · 01/16/2006, 04:07 PM

I think it is the bubbles mixing with some type of dinoflagelates. I get the same thing in my sump with the cheato. I think the bubbles get trapped in the dinoflagelates and mix with tank waste and make a slimey layer..

coralnut99 · 01/16/2006, 04:25 PM

Two other things I can think of. Again dino's, they do take on more than one form. Sponges come to miind also. One of my refugiums has had a similar problem, except it was a pale green/ yellow. I plucked it out a couple of times, and then it just disappeared on its own.

coralnut99 · 01/16/2006, 04:27 PM

Floridafishman's description is what I meant to say made me believe dino's of some sort. That's why I just poke the macros around in the fuges when I see bubbles starting to collected at the top, I know then that pruning's the next step.

MOBlueDevil · 01/16/2006, 04:50 PM

Thanks guys - I pulled it all out and pruned the macro yesterday, and so far no sign of reaccumulation. Doesn't seem to have caused any adverse effects.

01/16/2006, 12:36 PM	#1
MOBlueDevil Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lees Summit Posts: 101	gunk in refugium My refugium (about 18 months old, mostly caulerpa, razor.. - no chaeto) has been developing a thick, tenacious mucous that floats on the surface. This is not a thin, oily covering, but like very thick snot - when I pull it off, it all stays together until I have a large handful of it. It is clear and no bad odor. Tank is fine except a slight outbreak of hair algea. Anyone have a clue what this could be? Thanks

01/16/2006, 02:17 PM	#2
Airman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 643	How does water exist your refugium? __________________ What is man, that thou art mindful of him?...:) Current Tank Info: 55 Gal, DSB, protein skimmer, UV light, Sump/Refugium

01/16/2006, 03:35 PM	#4
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	My guess would be dinoflagelates (sp?), a bunch of different types. I've had a bout or two with them. They generally indicate a change of some sort. Alkalinity swing, temp. phosphates, even the age of the bulb over the fuge. A pic would be helpful. __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

01/16/2006, 03:37 PM	#5
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	one thing I've learned about my fuges is that they either need to be pruned regularly, or the macro needs to be stirred up a bit periodically if not ready for pruning. __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

01/16/2006, 04:07 PM	#7
FloridaFishMan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 452	I think it is the bubbles mixing with some type of dinoflagelates. I get the same thing in my sump with the cheato. I think the bubbles get trapped in the dinoflagelates and mix with tank waste and make a slimey layer.. __________________ Is this guy reef safe? Current Tank Info: 30 gal reef tank

01/16/2006, 03:08 PM	#3
MOBlueDevil Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lees Summit Posts: 101	Water from tank overflow goes to refugium which overflows into sump with skimmer, then thru charcoal (in a bag in bubble trap) then back to tank. Lighting on sump is just a grow light from Home Depot.

01/16/2006, 03:47 PM	#6
MOBlueDevil Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lees Summit Posts: 101	I do prune about every 10 - 14 days, whenever it gets full looking! It really doesn't look like dinoflag. - it's completely colorless, but thick. Reminds me of Slime we used to play with as kids, except for clear. The macro, bristleworms and pod population seem unaffected. I'm not sure if any actually got into the sump - it looks too thick to get thru the strainer.

01/16/2006, 04:25 PM	#8
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	Two other things I can think of. Again dino's, they do take on more than one form. Sponges come to miind also. One of my refugiums has had a similar problem, except it was a pale green/ yellow. I plucked it out a couple of times, and then it just disappeared on its own. __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

01/16/2006, 04:27 PM	#9
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	Floridafishman's description is what I meant to say made me believe dino's of some sort. That's why I just poke the macros around in the fuges when I see bubbles starting to collected at the top, I know then that pruning's the next step. __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

01/16/2006, 04:50 PM	#10
MOBlueDevil Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lees Summit Posts: 101	Thanks guys - I pulled it all out and pruned the macro yesterday, and so far no sign of reaccumulation. Doesn't seem to have caused any adverse effects.