AIO macroalgae recommendations

[eagerreefer]

Hi all, looking for a good macroalgae to use in conjunction with IM chaetomax light and inTank refugium basket. I've had some success with chaeto but is pretty inconsistent. Currently it's being out competed by hair algae in the basket and as a result I'm having an algae outbreak in the display side. I am thinking that the lack of room to tumble is contributing to this. Wondering what other reefers are using successful in a similar set up to mine. Thanks!

 

[AZReef13]

I tried to do something with my IM40, and couldn't get anything to take either. I do know Algaebarn sells a variety of different types of algae you might want to explore.

Waiting to see your results, I may revisist this idea, good luck

 

[eagerreefer]

Forgot to mention, there definitely are enough nitrates and phosphates in the system. Iron I am not sure about, but I am hesistant to start dosing iron while the small chaeto clump I have left seems to be on it's way out and the pest algae is thriving.

 

[alimac122]

Hi all, looking for a good macroalgae to use in conjunction with IM chaetomax light and inTank refugium basket. I've had some success with chaeto but is pretty inconsistent. Currently it's being out competed by hair algae in the basket and as a result I'm having an algae outbreak in the display side. I am thinking that the lack of room to tumble is contributing to this. Wondering what other reefers are using successful in a similar set up to mine. Thanks!

I bought chaeto and sea lettuce from reefcleaners. The chaeto did not make it past a month, but the sea lettuce is still going strong. It has not grown in excess, it will get large, break off, die back, then grown again. Everyone I have read worries about it getting caught in the filtration, but i have never had any problems (it tends to float). My nitrates have been at a steady 20ppm, I follow the BRS heavy in/ heavy out rule of thumb.
I asked Reefcleaners when they would have more sea lettuce back in stock, they said this fall/winter (so soon-ish!)

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Hello, so i would try to manually remove as much as the gha as much as possible. I had the same exact setup and same issue and once i got most of the gha removed the chaeto took off. If you post your parameters I can be more of a help ~shaun K

 

[eagerreefer]

Hello, so i would try to manually remove as much as the gha as much as possible. I had the same exact setup and same issue and once i got most of the gha removed the chaeto took off. If you post your parameters I can be more of a help ~shaun K

Hey Shaun, thanks for the help! Parameters are as follows:

Temp: 78-80
Salinity: 1.026
pH: 7.9-8.4
Alk: 7.4
Calcium: 462
Mg: 1340
Phosphates: 0.04 (down from 0.14 about 2 weeks ago)
Nitrates: 1 (down from 5 about 1 month ago)
Iron unsure

Admittedly I have not been testing Nitrates and Phosphates as much as I should... so they are a bit lower than I had thought. However the algae issue is still just as prevalent even with the reduction in nutrients. Mostly GHA and what I believe to be Chrysophytes. I have been doing manual removals as much as I can but it seems to be back within 2-3 days. Chaeto still has not grown. Thanks for any advice