[Todd L]

I have a 38 Gal FOWLR tank with a single clown, 2 cleaner shrimp, 1 scooter blenny, 1 6-line wrasse, feather duster, pink tube worm anenome and the recommended number of snails and hermits.

I made a refugium for the back of the tank modelled after some of the hang-on units I've seen in catalogs. I have it mounted slightly higher than my tank and is fed on the output of a Seaclone 100 skimmer. I placed a few baffles in it, and the output is located onthe opposite end. It simply drains out into the tank via a through-the-hull fitting I picked up in a marine shop. It seems to be working well enough, but I have a few questions I was hoping someone could help me out with.

The dimensions are 20x12x4. I have about 3" of Fiji mud, with a smidgen of live sand, some live rock and 3 types of algae in it. Is this too much mud and not enough sand?
I'm guessing the gph on the skimmer is about 380. I am wondering if this is a fast enough flow of water? I'm worried about dead spots.
Also...I understand I need to have some janitors for it as well? Does anyone have any suggestions as to what type/amount I might need if so?

The overall look in the fuge is I'd say murky...the water is somewhat clear, but all the algae and such have a muddy look to them possibly from my moving things around but this led to my wondering if there is enough water movement through it.

Anyone with any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Todd

[dinor2]

Can you post a few pics of it, from front, sides please? I'm thinking for now anyways it sounds like there isn't enough flow in it...is there a film at the surface of the water in the fuge? If so, definitly not enough flow.

[Todd L]

Hey there Dinor,
Thanks for the thoughts here....
There really isn't any film at the surface in the main section of the fuge, but there is a slight amount in the first baffle area.
I had read somewhere that a flow rate of 300 or so would be perfect for a fuge, but really after thinking about it with the adjusted flow I think it is much less. The Seaclone I am using is rated at 380 at full-bore so it may even be closer to half that.
I'll get some pics posted here tonight when I get in.

[Todd L]

Dinor,

Here are a few pics of the DIY fuge I made. I modelled it after a few units I saw in a catalog.
I'm not sure how well you are going to be able to really see it as the frontal shots I took are through the tank, but hopefully you will be able to. Let me know if clearer shots help.....kind of cramped quarters, and with the skimmer on one of the sides flowing into the fuge there's really only the one side to get a clear pic from.

I'm really not looking to do much other than to lower my nitrate level, so is a really strong flow necessary? I see movement throughout the fuge, and have even noticed some new growth on one type of algae...so hopefully it'll start to do what I need.