Did I let chaeto get into my display?

[DarkSky]

I'm starting to see a lot of strands of algae in my display ever since feeding a lot heavier. My nitrates were always undetectable (salifert), and my phosphates were a bit high (140-170ppb w/ Hanna ULR Phosphate checker).

I run a larger chaeto refugium, and when I started my tank the chaeto wasn't doing so well so it was turning white and breaking off into small chunks. It looks like a bit made it into the rocks and now is going crazy.

If this is chaeto, what can I do beside manual removal? I'm pulling tons of it out when I can, but it's getting annoying.

I now have a few sponge filters between my refuge and return so it won't send more into the tank. I have one yellow tang in the tank, and three more tangs going through QT soon.

 

[sfin52]

Does it have bubbles in it.

How old is your tank.

 

[Dodge Ram]

It's definintely plant based as the bent branch shows. What other fish in there?

 

[Neo Jeo]

Get a tang

 

[DarkSky]

No bubbles, it's not dinos.

Tank has been running since July, rock was curing in salt water for over six months prior to that.

Mostly wrasses in the tank - like I said I have three more tangs going through QT but it'll be 30+ days before they're done in QT.