HOB Refugium

OK, I have one of those hang-on-the-back fuges with the skimmer built in. I got a used CPR aquafuge for fairly cheap from a friend. It's the larger one. I also put in mineral mud in it, which I got from him since he had never used it.

I have the reefcleaners nano pack in there. Chaeto/gracilaria/and 2 red mangroves.

Now i'm starting to get a coating of what looks to be "white dust" on the top of the mineral mud. Is this normal for mineral mud? I didn't know if it was another type of algae growing over the sand or not? But this stuff is now covering both the chaeto and gracilaria and anytime I move anything it goes straight into my DT. Anyone with any experience with this mineral mud stuff?

 

Normal for MM. I always get a dusting on mine. It will eventually go away. Not sure exactly what it is.

 

should I put a little flow through the fuge? It's going at it's normal rate, but i could speed it along with a small Rio 50 that im not using anymore.

 

It couldn't hurt. I have never done so though. Just make sure to not disturb the mud bed with the flow.

 

And how deep did you make the mineral mud? mine is about 2.5" in the
fuge.

 

mine is almost 6" deep. I do a 1/2 bed change every 9 months or so.

A thinner bed is supposed to be just fine as well though.