Refugium complete and working

Changed out a few things to get AGA 5.5 refugium going more efficiently.
As the output to refugium from 20nano display is only 100-gph in order to allow plenty of contact time for algae to process organics and oxygenate water auto top-off (kalk) was leaving a film on surface of refugium. I took an unused Aquaclear 30, removed pump and added fuge return pump (maxijet 400) in place and set AC 30 inside fuge to act as surface skimmer. Placed sponge at top to keep floaters out and blocked side basket so as to force water-flow through bottom. Works great. Can now place mech/chem/bio whatever, into basket before return to display. Algae has doubled in a week.
Could have come-up with a more practical skimmer, but the AC 30 was available and I like tinkering.

 

Nice work.
I am curious... have you noticed a drop in your calcium levels since you moved the float switch in there?

 

No, seems to be holding steady so far. I am testing with Hagen test kit, but don't know how reliable it is. It is a drop for drop color change test kit.
But even before I set up a refugium my calcium level. according to the test kit, ran at 300-350. I haven't been able to get it any higher. I was using Seachem reef buffer when I first started this nano and stopped as the alk was way high and calcium wouldn't go above 200.
I am using Purple-up now with Kent Nano Reef A/B, but I am seriously concidering stopping both and going to Kent Iodine, Strot/Moly and liquid calcium as in every reef in the past (along with kalk) I have had perfect results with those.