"robin.gordon1" wrote in message
news:ddJCc.251$da5.214@newsfe2-win...
my skimmer is a prizm with a full 18 blade impeller and deluxe upgrade so
it
was a standard but now is a deluxe. I am thinking of an upgrade for my
skimming in the sump, I was very disappointed with the performance of this
red sea skimmer even fro the off. the algae is a orangey brown coloured
algae that covers powerheads rocks corals and all.
I think a refugium is the answer.


With refugium added to your whole setup, maybe will fix it. If this is the
case, you are counting on your refugium to do all the work of removing DOC /
nutrient. Using refugium to obsorb nutrient is fine but you still need to do
manual work of cutting down algae from the refugium. This still sound like
your PS is not really doing a really good job of removing nutrient or
effiecient enough. Using PS, nutrient is remove our of your tank circulation
by remove in form of junk / gunk where it get deposit in your drainage
system and not back to your tank.

For refugium to work. You will need DSB / LS and algae like calerpa [or
similar] to absorb and export any nutrient from your main tank. This should
not be necessary if your PS do the job correctly. PS is more efficient and
faster of removing nutrient when compare to refugium.

I would still say your Prizm is not near efficient enough even with the
upgrade you mention. With good water current or flow and PS, those red /
green / purple or even orange should not have the chance to grow that cover
all over the places. Algae should be very limited where water current is
low. Any good current should be able to carry nutrient to PS to be remove
and out of your water circulation system.

I fail to mention from earlier reply. I am make up here.
What is your water parameter?
What source water do you use for your tank?

This is my brand new shiny ¼ cent of a penny for you.

CapFusion,...