[ramous]

I have a CPR hang-on refugium on my 75 gall reef tank and for some odd reason the water isn't passing through like I think it is supposed to. In the return compartment of the refugium, the water is level with the water that is pumped into the middle compartment and the intake compartment. Isn't the water supposed to flow over the plastic divider that separates the return section from the other 2 compartments. Sort of like a run-off effect. Since the water isn't flowing through properly it is causing red slime and sludge to cover the waters surface and smoother my caluapera causing it to die off. The slime algae is also starting to grow on my sand bed in the refugium and in the main tank. How can I correct this? I have been doing weekly water changes using R.O. water from my lfs and I've also been using black diamond carbon. My choice of salt mix has been Oceanic Salt. My lights are JBJ 4-55 white/actinics.

[Samper]

I don't know why the cpr does this but mine did it also. I turned the pump off and removed it for a good cleaning even though it was brand new and it works fine now.

I also don't think that any of the cpr hang on's are large enough to make much of a difference on something as large as a 75 gallon although any little bit helps I guess. The slime algae on your sand bed could be a number of things but if the slime on the surface is causing your Caulerpa to die that could be a big factor.

The Caulerpa is awesome at exporting nutrients but when it dies guess where all those nutrients that it collected goes......right back in the water column.

[ramous]

Originally Posted by Samper

I don't know why the cpr does this but mine did it also. I turned the pump off and removed it for a good cleaning even though it was brand new and it works fine now.

I also don't think that any of the cpr hang on's are large enough to make much of a difference on something as large as a 75 gallon although any little bit helps I guess. The slime algae on your sand bed could be a number of things but if the slime on the surface is causing your Caulerpa to die that could be a big factor.

The Caulerpa is awesome at exporting nutrients but when it dies guess where all those nutrients that it collected goes......right back in the water column.

Thanks for the reply. I took the remaining dying algae out this morning because I knew that was what would happen when it died off. I will give the pump a good cleaning and then see what happens then.

[Samper]

Keep me posted on your results and if you find an alternate fix let me know just in case it happens again.