Scum in refugium ...how do I get rid of it?

K

Kat

www.overzone.com/images/refugium/scum1.jpg
www.overzone.com/images/refugium/scum2.jpg

This scum/muck has been growing in my refugium. I've taken all of the macro out except for some anchored in the sand, but the scum comes right back. I'm also pulling clumps of it out of the water. It has even started growing on the macro underwater besides what is on the water surface. I've got a Mag7 running the refugium/return & have an additional MJ1200 on a closed loop for the refugium only.

What is this stuff & how can I get rid of it? I also saw the macro tank at an LFS have this scum. I asked about it & the guy said all I could do is just keep breaking up the stuff.

Thanks
 
I get that same crud. I think it is due to poor water circulation and possibly water conditions. I always try to scrape it off during trimmings.

A lot of detrious falls off into my fuge and I'm not sure if it is processing it fast enough. I keep some blueleg crabs and nassarius snails in there and lots of bristles worms to help out.
 
That is dinoflagellates for sure. I used to use a soup ladel, pressing it down next to that stuff so it would pour into the ladel with a little bit of tank water.

Part of the solution is to get your macro aglae a little beneath the surface so nothing can gather and collect like it is now. This will keep the surface clean.

If you have one available, take a look a a drop of that stuff under a microscope. There is so much life in dinos; it is truly amazing and almost a shame that we don't want it in our systems.
 
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