NCMBM
01/26/2009, 09:29 AM
I have been fighting with the macro in my refugium. It won't grow and is causing a nitrate problem in my tank. I recently changed my lighting system for the refugium and am having great result with that. My refugium/sump is a DIY and wasn't properly planned out but works. I didn't think about the bubble trap issue and have since added a baffle that forces the water to go under it. So, water enters thru a micron sock into the chamber that holds the skimmer, goes over a baffle into the refugium, goes under a baffle then over a baffle with a comb on top and enters the return chamber. Bubbles are not really an issue. I was having an issue with macro hanging up on the comb which brings us to the possible emergency.
I decided it would be good to put a layer of live rock rubble in the refugium at the base of the under baffle. That way the rock would keep the macro from going under and clogging up the comb or getting into the return chamber and carried into the main tank. Also seems to be a good additional filtering element. I did a water change at this time which allowed me to work in the refugium with no current. I turned the pumps back on after refilling the tank and all seemed well.
I had a pre-filter on the return pump to catch the macro that spilled over and decided to remove it since I feel that problem was now solved by the rubble rock. This is when the panic struck, much macro debris was pumped into the main tank. The tank got quite cloudy. And then the skimmer went crazy pumping bubbles, I mean crazy amount of bubbles. Quickly filling the collection cup and running over and out. Did I say crazy bubbles? Lots of bubbles.
Then it hits me, the bucket I used to rinse the rubble rock, what was it used for last? OMG, washing the car! Did I just introduce car wash into my reef? The rocks did not bubble when I was rinsing them. I rinsed them many times, draining the water between each rinse. The bucket was clean. It is certainly possible that some of the macro debris got caught in the skimmers injector head which would increase the pressure and create more bubbles, I use a AguaC Urchin Pro skimmer. I quickly added some Prime water conditioner, didn't know what else to do. All the fish and corals looked fine, none reacted as if anything was wrong.
This morning all looked well, corals were opening and fish were swimming about. Could the macro debris have caused the increase in bubbles? If soap is in the water what should I do? If I have done something so stupid and killed any of my critters......................
Thanks for any and all input
I decided it would be good to put a layer of live rock rubble in the refugium at the base of the under baffle. That way the rock would keep the macro from going under and clogging up the comb or getting into the return chamber and carried into the main tank. Also seems to be a good additional filtering element. I did a water change at this time which allowed me to work in the refugium with no current. I turned the pumps back on after refilling the tank and all seemed well.
I had a pre-filter on the return pump to catch the macro that spilled over and decided to remove it since I feel that problem was now solved by the rubble rock. This is when the panic struck, much macro debris was pumped into the main tank. The tank got quite cloudy. And then the skimmer went crazy pumping bubbles, I mean crazy amount of bubbles. Quickly filling the collection cup and running over and out. Did I say crazy bubbles? Lots of bubbles.
Then it hits me, the bucket I used to rinse the rubble rock, what was it used for last? OMG, washing the car! Did I just introduce car wash into my reef? The rocks did not bubble when I was rinsing them. I rinsed them many times, draining the water between each rinse. The bucket was clean. It is certainly possible that some of the macro debris got caught in the skimmers injector head which would increase the pressure and create more bubbles, I use a AguaC Urchin Pro skimmer. I quickly added some Prime water conditioner, didn't know what else to do. All the fish and corals looked fine, none reacted as if anything was wrong.
This morning all looked well, corals were opening and fish were swimming about. Could the macro debris have caused the increase in bubbles? If soap is in the water what should I do? If I have done something so stupid and killed any of my critters......................
Thanks for any and all input