Refugiums: Why they are beneficial to a reef tank

I was inspired to talk about refugiums today, and you get a brand new video. Win-win! If you have questions, ask below. Remember, Live Streams are Saturdays at 2pm CST and the next one is about *Water Quality*!
Follow me here: / melevsreef
Visit my site: www.melevsreef.com
Music by Kevin MacLeod - Music for Manatees
• Kevin MacLeod ~ Music ...

[@2019freddie]

I'm a big fan of refugiums, for all the reasons you mention. They offer a natural alternative to using technology and chemicals. Not only that, when it's mature and full of life it becomes a second viewing area, sometimes as interesting as the main display.

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

3:48 Do copepods and other microfauna indeed not killed by return pump ?!

[@ozarktalent]

Thank you for your honest statement that, even for you, your tank always has "problems/challenges". As a new reefer this helps me enjoy the process.

[@adyp81]

What an awe inspiring reef tank,can't wait to see what you've got in store for it, I'm glued to the edge of my seat. Cheers

[@coinage8356]

I just found your channel today. I had a tragic weekend in my first ever salt tank and I really, REALLY needed to hear this intro today. thank you.

[@melevsreef]

Sorry to hear about the recent losses. Hang in there!

[@cubanreefer1582]

That's very thru , you one of the only ones that actually replied to our comments Great work buddy

[@herper6]

Thank you for sharing. When I build my new sump I will definitely include a bigger section than I had planned for a refugium!

[@spokanesurvivaltrainingand5797]

I don't even have a saltwater tank and I love your videos,intelligence of all things is addictive

[@-8_8-]

This was very informative. After my long water quality issue, it's nice to see how responsible you tubers are. I am frankly surprised and delighted by the instructions on how to destroy invasives. I am thinking of doing a fresh water version of this to support a terrestrial tanks with water features.

[@KillerKev1961]

Thank you for another great video. I now run refugiums in both of my reef tanks. Its absolutely beneficial and another crucial key to a stable, healthy and simple way to maintain water parameters.

[@zerkis69]

Mark, my wife and I love to watch your videos, you help me stay motivated, with our busy life to be a better reef husband.

[@modolla81]

Great vid Mark, you hit it on the nail in the beginning of the vid. I think MANY people can relate. Comes with the hobby I guess, always a work in progress.

[@Chub4Chevy]

Love your videos and experience sharing Mark. Thank you for all you do.

[@kenhickey4730]

Thanks Marc, great information as always. Enjoy your day!

[@Ricardo-ff5wi]

What a great outlook!...So true and very comforting."NATURE IS MESSY!"

[@charlieeagler7639]

Hey... Thank you for sharing all your videos. I dont have a refugium for my tank, but I u used to grow feather caulerpa algae in my sump... I used to grow like crazy, because I had nothing else to filter the nitrates and other nutrients....later on I added some stuff that took my space and I just couldnt keep the plants in it. While I had this algae in my sump, I used to constant give some to my fish... They did love it (not sure is good or not for them, but they DO LOVE eating chaeto and feather algae). A month ago, I found out about this little refugium that I could hang on the side, which I thought I was a super cool thing, so I bought one; I went to get some chaeto, but after a week, it seemed to be getting white and dying, and I had to removed half of it. After doing some research, I got to the conclusion that maybe I didnt have the right light for the chaeto (I was using the light that came with the little refugium box).... Yesterday I got a different kind of light that stimulates plant growing, and I also got the feather algea.. I really hope that works. By the way.. I am in California and I have got the feather caulerpa algae from a local fish store... I didnt know it was a typed as pest in the State. Thank you for all the tips and info. By the way, your tank looks amazing.

Awesome video, explanation and refugium. Cheers!

[@feedthatreefaddiction1508]

Always enjoy seeing your fuge Marc. Macros are cool

[@litoloco4fish]

Love your journey and that you take all who watch with you...ive learned s lot

[@abiel2019]

I love your tank! Can't wait for those days I'm excited now

[@theoriginalgiz]

Thanks as always for your knowledge and experience, invaluable on the journey with this hobby

[@MrLabYoshi]

Excellent video, so much details. thank you for making this.

[@NITRO4KTHOMPSON]

Thanks for the info. I have been considering a refugium for my 120 gallon mixed reef tank. Seems like I have to make some room in the sump now.

[@petemancuso5188]

Very informative video you do a great job keep up the good work

[@ajpogi3794]

You are a big help for us beginner reefers :) Thank You!

[@jaysreef5721]

Always dig your videos man! Thanks

[@michaelmonahan9738]

You don't need to change a thing. I watch just to see the beautiful part of the world you have created and care for. You have truly done a beautiful job of carrying for Gods sea. Thanks.

[@hhinojosareef1]

Awesome information bud. Keep it up!

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

I find your videos very informative! Thanks for all you do :-)

[@headrushproductions1667]

super awesome Mark. Great video. :)

[@jesseharrell4429]

Great video. Very informative. Thank you

[@yearight1800]

Thanks man this is my favorite hobby I use to have just freshwater fish but transitioned to saltwater. It was a little more expensive but well worth it.

[@AnasAnsari-lo8tq]

I always love to see you video.you taught me a lot thanks and keep it up.

[@arbinghising9023]

I needed to hear that. Thank you

[@joeyballz7679]

I am so relaxed after watching that video.

[@prieto08]

You are 1 of my favorite thanks for your help

[@kinsgabil5004]

Gr8 bro....I m impressed with it valuers...it is awesome

[@BarrasAquariumstv]

excellent video!!

[@gflinski]

He's going to do a new aquascape I bet!!! Haha I really like how it is now but it would be cool to see if he does. I know he mentioned in another video that he LOVED his old..200 and something..280 gallon aquarium? Maybe make it similar? Love the videos! Keep em coming!

[@pinkyfilters]

tank looks awesome!

[@denaliglender993]

Thank you for givin us this vídeo 😇👍🏻

[@mujacko2002]

i love the real talk. And yes i love plants and i want macros to be my main tank.

[@tbaloni]

Well said!

[@Cliffepoos]

I used to run my tank with feather calurpa in it. My tangs and angel fish loved it, but as you said, it pretty much stops corals growing. Pretty though.

[@tsurro8086]

Tried cheatomorpha four times myself, never grows, instead I went back to caluerpa!! Same kind as u great stuff!!

[@matsteel2292]

Very interesting vid thank you.

[@reeferexplained8846]

Great 👍Job just starting in sump area for refugium

[@reeferexplained8846]

Mark, great video well informed interesting would like to start flowing algae to remove algae from taken hold of main display.

[@andrewr022488]

Mark, I really enjoyed this video! Sometimes I enjoy the refugium more than the main display! Of course the main display is more beautiful, but seeing the refugium can sometimes be more captivating as its something we don't usually see and is also beautiful in its own way.

[@melevsreef]

I used to spend a lot of time on my belly gazing into the refugium zone. :)

[@andrewr022488]

melevsreef I've done the same thing many times, although the refugiums I've had have never looked as nice as yours, I do love critter watching, it really is a peaceful feeling. I've always liked planted freshwater tanks (I've never owned one) and having a refugium is kind of like having the best of both worlds, reef tank display and a nice macro growth in the fuge. I've got a JBJ 30 RL and I'm growing mangroves in the back at the moment but I'm making my list to upgrade to either a 60 cube or 65 gallon RR. I'll definitely include a nice refugium in the build. I've always wanted to have a dedicated refugium system that would gravity flow down into the sump. I saw one that my LFS was using and I loved the idea of having a sumo that had to stay behind closed stand doors. Having a display refugium is like having a clean engine bay on your car, compared to a refugium that works, but it's really dirty and not something you'd like seeing.

[@melevsreef]

Yes, keeping it clean and appealing and still be practical as well as useful is my plan. I've seen a handful of beautiful display refugiums that were stunners, and you could tell the person knew exactly how to prune the plants for the most pleasing display.

[@andrewr022488]

melevsreef Do you ever worry about your feather caulerpa going "sexual" under your reverse lighting schedule? I started doing some research online and the forums seem to think that a reverse lighting schedule would make it go "sexual" and some said 24 hour lighting would prevent it but as soon as you turn off your 24 hour lighting that would trigger it to go "sexual" as well. I'm drawing up my plans for a sump and I'll probably do something like you've got with the protein skimmer in the back left area, refugium running across the front portion and then the back right portion as the return pump area. I'd like to use some feather caulerpa as well, its an aesthetically pleasing macro algae, I'll probably also run chaeto as you are along side the caulerpa.

[@melevsreef]

No, this type does do that. Never has, which is why I prefer it.

[@litoloco4fish]

Love your videos i learn something..

[@k.3004]

I like your videos! The art of reef-keeping is something that interests me. It shows the complexities and value of these ecosystems. I might take a study on marine-biology to do something to help my country's precious waters. Especially what another country has been doing right now!! Making islands on large coral reefs which took MILLIONS of years to be created, now all gone. (Among many unjustices that face our waters, we must make it live until the future if we want to live in the future at all! For the benefit of the world.) Cheers, K.

[@CescaTheDarkHorse]

Nice video with some good advice. I've just started a 96X24X24 Reef build with a 50 inch sump and will definitely run a Refugium. Have a look at my Reef build if you have time :)

[@ultimaterockpool2400]

True words well said.

[@ljara1978]

i have a 40 gallon tank and have a small HOB maybe 1.5 gallons and it works perfectly fine..

[@COOPERSCICHILDS]

Cool video

[@sixfootswellband]

Great videos. I look forward to them. Are you going to try the triton method?

[@melevsreef]

+Ruby Cadilac I don't know. I'll be talking to them since they have a huge booth at MACNA next week.

[@dennisb5877]

I have 2 maxima clams in my modified 29 gallon biocube. Would growing chaeto in the back chamber harm the clams by possibly removing nitrates the clams need?

[@antmarquez3788]

Like your videos bro

[@willparsons32]

It makes perfect sense why you wouldn't put the algae directly into your display tank.. (12:05) But what about the spores created by the algae? Would they not flow through the return and into your display and eventually take root into your live/base rock?

[@pvt.watson5]

Live in central Florida and I buy from live-plants.com all the time. Great people to buy from.

[@melevsreef]

Thanks for your experience. :)

[@Justthemow]

What about the um mangrove stuff do you not like it in you fuge I think maybe it would look good at the beginning where the water rushes in where it's thin

[@KillerKev1961]

Gorgeous display. Refugiums are for a place for nuisance algae to take refuge-rather than the display!

[@jvgomes73]

Now what about using a protein skimmer doesn't it suck out all of the Copa pods? In the next question is do you use a filter soccer anything to strain out cause I know a lot of copis get trapped in there as well?

[@rdkingjaxfla1423]

Great videos Mark....love them all. Couple questions: 1- did you have you’re refuge tank special build for those dimensions or did you buy it that way ? 2- most refuges that I’ve seen have skimmers and filter socks.....is this a special kind of refuge that doesn’t need skimmers or socks ? 3- what kind of light are you running for that refuge ? Thanks so much for all your info.

[@melevsreef]

I build sumps for a living, and this is one I made back in 2010: www.melevsreef.com/tanks/melevs-reef-custom-acrylic-sump The light is 6500K LEDs from a company that is no longer in business.

[@teddygerstein3575]

Interesting you mentioned seahorses. Would you ever House seahorses in a refugium?

[@Davelembo]

Thanx for the video. I love my fuges and they always do well. Lately I have found myself on the fence with Miracle Mud. I haven't used it, I hear good things but for mud, It is a bit pricey. Any thoughts?

[@melevsreef]

Sand will suffice. If the mud was as great as it implies, we would see lots of proof and everyone would be using it because they'd want the same results.

[@TattooedDancer91]

Looks great. In my future tank I will make very large refugium. I'm thinking to add a couple inches sand, and live rock rubble covering over it a few inches, for the caulerpa to grow in and on. Instead of having them float. What's your take on that? Is it too difficult to trim then?

[@melevsreef]

That's a good plan. Just remember that rock will never be used in your display ever again. The roots will weave their way through the rock and new vines will appear... so if you know that rock is sacrificed to this particular zone forever it's a good plan.

[@TattooedDancer91]

Thanks, well I was planning on making it permanent and maybe even a display refugium. I can imagine a few large rocks with lots of surface area, covered in different algae would look cool. As little islands of algae, and just trim the shoots that try to escape the rock.

[@pk-pj4sz]

I feel that way with my freshwater fish tank

[@ZokomoTV]

Thanks Mark! Do you have suggestions on any critters that can live in the refugium that wouldn't destroy the pod population, as in that can cohabitate with pods?

[@melevsreef]

Snails, cucumbers, starfish all are possible candidates. A fighting conch, a small urchin perhaps. Just consider the size of the refugium before you add things so those items don't starve to death. Or feed the fuge to keep them fed.

[@MauiBigBlue]

Culerpa technically invaded our estuarine environments in several backwater tidal areas in Carlsbad (San Diego) it was no joke and the efforts made to eradicate it was costly and time intensive. It was floridana if my memory serves me correct.

[@HybridHerps]

Great vid! Always interesting to learn more about the other critters that going into keeping a reef tank running. So much focus on the fish and coral it gets hard to grasp some of the more utilitarian things. I'm still confused about the whole thing of algae going sexual, can someone explain that to me? I'm coming more from a background of planted freshwater aquariums so theres lots of little things in salt water that are still mysterious to me.

[@melevsreef]

It's when the plant bleeds out all of its green fluid within into the water column, and the mass turns clear. Within a few days, the clear plant collapses, falling apart as you try to remove it. There's more to it, but that's the gist of it. No-one wants that to happen, and this particular species I showcased does not do this.

[@HybridHerps]

Is there a good list of what species do and don't go sexual and what causes them to go sexual?

[@vanhalenman60]

im not 100 percent on california but i just bought calerpa two days ago but the shop us closer to nevada than the coast i think its a county or city thing more than a state law

[@cubanreefer1582]

Mark you convinced me of cleaning all the gunk on my back glass and just leave it plain black wish by the way looks way better ( just the way my wife want it to have it , when we set up the tank) But my friend you need to clean your side of the tank is not going to be tank of the month!! Just kidding you have a great tank and is beautiful Keep teaching us please don't stop making videos Thank you!

[@melevsreef]

+CUBAN REEFER I totally agree and have been putting it off. Time to set up the Walkboard again and get it scraped.

[@melevsreef]

+CUBAN REEFER check my instagram. Hehe

[@cubanreefer1582]

How about putting miracle mud under the algae?

[@psteeleb]

Marc - Assuming no other plans, I'd be happy to lend a hand when you work on your tank in September. Let me know

[@melevsreef]

+psteeleb That would be awesome, Pete. Haven't seen you in forever.

[@thewell-roundednovice8852]

For running a deep sand bed for denitrification, is there any benefit to different grain sizes of sand? (Like putting a couple of inches of finer sand on the bottom and larger towards the top....)

[@thewell-roundednovice8852]

Also... for the refugium... do you see any problem with having a tight lid to limit evaporation?

[@cheekeongng4608]

Hi. Nice video. Would like seek some advice from you. If i am dosing trace element to the reef tank. Do i need to dose more if i have a refugium? The algae will absorb some of the trace element in the tank i suppose? Please correct me if i am wrong.

[@melevsreef]

Just dose what the tank needs. Don't add extra 'to be safe', and consider that if you can't test for what you are dosing you could very well be using too much as it is.

[@matthewgreen2931]

Hi Mark, I run bio pellets and wondered is there still a benefit of setting up a refugium in my sump? I do like the way you can grow your own pods though :)

[@melevsreef]

I run both since each offers benefits to my reef. If you have the space, incorporating a refugium is a good choice.

[@ArrickthaRed]

Mark have you used refugium mud like miracle mud in your refugium or just sand. I used it and had really good results but i think the tank thrived cuz the refugium was very healthy it had a ridiculous amount of life. Btw going to macna for the first time. See you there.

[@melevsreef]

Be sure to find me and introduce yourself. :) I've only used sand.

[@mad_incognito]

I have a 250gal tank with a sump where I have a chaeto in the middle section with a Neptune Gro light. After switching of my skimmer due to lack of nutrients for the chaeto I started to see some growth. Is there a big different between an in-sump vs an external refugiums?

[@melevsreef]

No, in sump or separate yet tied in to the main system doesn't make any difference.

[@CoralReefkid]

Hey I’ve been doing a lot of research about refugiums and I’ve come across a question: is it okay if you make the entire sump a refugium? I was curious to hear your thoughts. Love the videos btw

[@melevsreef]

A big refugium is very nice, but what about other things like heaters, reactors, dosers, skimmer and more? All of those need to go somewhere too.

[@CoralReefkid]

melevsreef good point. Thanks for the reply!!

[@cheseenlo]

what happened with turf scrubbers; were that one company held the patent to the design. and recently the patent expired on it, so now the big company are allowed to make it. GREAT VIDEO

[@melevsreef]

That makes sense. Thanks!

[@LuSilvabv]

Hi, Mark ! Why don't you like the pink refugium light ?

[@melevsreef]

I hate the look, that's the only reason. If we lived in a world where the daylight was pink and all the plants grew, I'd accept it without question. lol

[@bigrazzer]

were did you get the led light for your refugium

[@melevsreef]

That company is no longer around.

[@jessebrown1400]

The "Hot Pink" light you mentioned is usually a blue LED with a red filter and garbage and I agree. HOWEVER, there are some lights and cob chips you can buy that are true multidiode lights. The best ones have reds blues etc but also infrared and ultraviolet diodes. Those are the real deal, they do have a pinkish hue because of the red and blue but the ultraviolet (which you don't get from white LED's) actually penetrates deeper into the chloroplast layers of the plant tissues. My friend has a tank with t5's and he switched one of the 2 bulbs to a UV and noticed his carpeting plants were growing faster in his freshwater. 395nm+ is great for plants, the diodes with UVB's can be too much and also bad for human and animals eyes. Staying higher in the wavelengths is safe while still reaping benefits. BTW, your video was very good and you explained everything very well and I also love the feather caulerpa!

[@NationalReefing]

Is feather caulerpa considered a Marine Plant or micro-algae like Chaetomorpha Algae? and Do you think the larger the refugium the less light-intensity matters? Thank you!

[@melevsreef]

Micro algae is Hair Algae (derbasia) or Bryopsis. Caulerpa and Cheato are macro algaes. The taller the refugium, the more lighting is needed to penetrate the water. Some have reportedly thrown tons of wattage at their refugium and see massive growth, so there is validity to lighting choices. People have used T5s, VHOs, Metal Halides to grow these plants, but LEDs are the less energy-consuming choice of course.

[@Emmanuel-rs7eu]

I currently have a very small refugium with Chaeto in my sump. My overall system is 29 gallon and i was thinking of adding a separate 29 gallon refugium side to my tank with chaeto. If I add dry sand in it, will it cause a cycle if i add it with my existing tank? Ive been hearing about Trion and its benefits...

[@melevsreef]

No, dry sand does not cause a cycle, ever. Nor does adding live sand. Sand is sand.

[@bubbasrcworld8353]

I know it's a little off topic from this video but I figured I would ask since refugiums deal with nutrients. I am having a dino issue ONLY in my sand bad. I don't really get bubbles with it and I would 100% think it's diatoms if I didn't look at it with a microscope. I can not get rid of it to save my life. po4 is .02 and no3 is below 2ppm. I have dosed peroxide also at 1ml to 10 gallons but doesn't help. Any tips?

[@melevsreef]

Dinoflagellates? Have you considered turning the lights off for three days (simply unplug them from your timers), and continue dosing 3% peroxide the entire time. How big is the area affected?

[@truthfulboy1993]

hello sir, big fan of your reefs, i'm going to set a tank with 1 display tank, 1 refugium tank(same size like 90x45x45centimeter), and 1 sump, so i'm relly confused about the waterflow. what should i do wwith it , sir? like water from display tank ---to>> refugium--to>> sump then back to display or some else? which is better way plz , i cant figure it out, best regard!

[@melevsreef]

Yes, that’s how I have mine running. Unfiltered reef water drains into refugium and the refugium flows into the return zone, to be pumped back up to the display.

[@TerraReef]

I would try to remove the red bubble algae while you can. If the one fish in the display that eats it gets sick you are going to have some problems in the display. Also if you trade coral with someone who has a nano and a tiny bit of algae is on the base... They might not be able to ethically put a tang in their tank that will eat it.

[@melevsreef]

Thanks for the tip, I might as well since it isn't doing anything good for the system.

[@screamingchowman]

Hey there Marc, great video. I'm growing chaeto like crazy in my fuge. I'm adding a calcium reactor this week, and I'd like to remove my GFO (Rowaphos) reactor from the system (one less thing to clog), and just rely on my refugium to continue to control algae in the display. What do you think?

[@melevsreef]

It definitely will outcompete the micro algae that tries to take hold in your tank. And that's what I've been doing with my reefs for years. :)

[@screamingchowman]

melevsreef cool, so removing the GFO might not have a negative effect, just let the macro algae do its job?

[@melevsreef]

It won't have a negative effect, it just won't be there to remove phosphate like you are used to. I simply dose Phosphate Rx as needed.

[@screamingchowman]

melevsreef - Just ordered Phosphate RX, 10 micron socks, Hana checker, and studying - thanks man

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

Hello facebook, I didn't realize you were a person with aquariums; I thought you were just a social media website.

[@melevsreef]

😉

[@reeflivebeareraquatics8180]

Wish you were coming to reefapalooza ca :( I wish I can have a fuge, but I got a AIO! argh. Time for a bigger tank? :)

[@melevsreef]

When is that one happening?

[@reeflivebeareraquatics8180]

melevsreef October 7th and 8th in Anaheim.

[@TerraReef]

Cool vid. I would bet if you lowered your drain pipe into the water so the 90* elbow is at least 80% below the surface you would get a lot more algae through out. The water dumping in degases some CO2 that the "plants" (algae) could use. I wish my refugium on my personal system looked that good.(dealing with some heavy metals)

[@melevsreef]

I will be changing how the water enters the refugium in the near future.

[@HybridHerps]

Does algae actually benefit from increased co2 levels? I thought it was only true plants that did...but my background is more in high tech planted tanks where we run excess co2 to give the true plants more growth potential over the algae that we deal with so perhaps in a system without true plants algae can utilize the co2 better? (shrug)

[@TerraReef]

Algae does use CO2. If you use a calcium reactor it is wise to have the effluent lead into the beginning of the refugium section.

[@mr.reeftank1456]

Do you run your Fuge light 24/7? I thought calerpa will spread all over if not run 24/7? thanks

[@melevsreef]

I think you may have skipped over that section where I discussed it. :) No, I run them 9 hours a day, and this type doesn't misbehave like other species of caulerpa.

[@siondaneshrad6761]

Whats your opinion on sulfer reactor to help control nitrate? Or do you think adding a larger portion of the sump to more macro would be more effective?

[@melevsreef]

I've still never used one. I borrowed one to try out, but my tank was back to nearly 0 nitrate so that test would have been pointless. I like biopellets, they have made nitrates a non-issue for my reef. Macroalgae does all the nice things I mentioned, but you'll notice I didn't discuss it helping reduce nitrate since it never did in my own system.

[@siondaneshrad6761]

melevsreef thanks! Any article or video you suggest on biopelets? And seriously, you replying is amazing. Keep up the great channel!

[@melevsreef]

Here's my video, and in the video description on links to some articles too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4Orl2uYZq1oq5Y

[@g22leon]

Hey hi there, will you be live for the whole week

[@melevsreef]

I do a live stream every Saturday at 2pm Central Standard Time, unless I'm unavailable to do so.

[@tehol1]

I have a 75 gallon tank I am going to use for my refugium and I was wondering how many hours you run your light. Would it benefit it at all to run a powerhead to move water around? Or just use the discharge from my overflow?

[@melevsreef]

9 hours a day should suffice. That's how long mine is on. A powerhead could help with some nice circulation, provided the plant doesn't clog that pump's intake port.

[@kasonf2176]

With running your biopellets to reduce your nitrates do you find that it's tough to grow the macro?

[@melevsreef]

I haven't seen any issue despite running biopellets. I expected it to be a serious competition, but that hasn't been the case at all.

[@kasonf2176]

Thank you for your response. I started using bio pellets on some of my clients tanks and was hesitant to add macro. I added cheato to one system on a reverse daylight cycle. It slowly deteriorated on me. After seeing how your macro is thriving in spite of the pellets, I am going to look into what else could have been the issue so that we can get it going on all of these tanks. Thanks for these videos. I've been a long time fan of you before I found you on here, and honestly your videos far exceed the informative. Thank you!

[@googIereallysucks]

Marc, I am getting hair algae growing on my macro algae. How do you suggest I get rid of the hair algae growing on it? I've keep cutting it off but it comes back.

[@melevsreef]

In the refugium? It doesn't matter if you find any down there.

[@googIereallysucks]

melevsreef it's much easier to just throw half the chaeto away instead of continue to scarp it off all the walls and off everything else.

[@hunter555]

I have been fighting a gha invasion for about a year. I've got my nutrients so low now that my chaeto in the refugium melted away but I'm still fighting off the gha! Thinking of shutting down the refugium, what do you think?

[@melevsreef]

You may need to clean it out and reset that zone. I've done that in the past if it got beyond messy. GHA needs to be manually removed in bulk (have you watched that video yet?) and then add a lot of clean up crew to get the last of it. If you have a 100g tank, you need 100 critters. New hungry ones will do far better than the few you have in the tank now that are worthless slugs. ;)