Do your refugiums looks like mine?

[sanzz18]

I know the goal of the refugiums is to grow macro algae and let other algae grow in there versus your display, but does your grow turf algae and bubble algae like this? lol I just wish it would actually outcompete the turf growing all over my rocks .

 

[h20cyclone]

How long have you had the refugium going? I know mine took some time before I saw a noticeable difference in the tank. I had turf algae in there for awhile till it got out competed. It did take awhile though. I think it helped to just keep picking out what I didn't want in there till it was finally gone for good.

 

[Lavey29]

Mine grew some funky algae the first month or two before the chaeto took over. I attribute it to switching to a better light using a neptune gro.

 

[sanzz18]

Mine grew some funky algae the first month or two before the chaeto took over. I attribute it to switching to a better light using a neptune gro.

Yeah I actually am using the Neptune Gro. My chaeto grows very nicely and fast but it is not competing with turf algae I got in my display and now I got more turf/bubble algae growing in the sump. Getting ahold of this is stressful lol.

 

[mdb_talon]

I would say refugiums are (or can be) for more than just outcompeting algae in display. In that regard though I would say the best way to have a refugium outcompete display tank algae is to help it out.... through appropriate cuc and/or manual removal from display. If you have algae, light, and nutrients in the display it probably going to stay there no matter what you do in the refugium. If an urchin comes by and eats that algae in display and recycles those nutrients then ideally your refugium algae consumes it and prevents the regrowth and spread in the display.

 

[Lavey29]

Yeah I actually am using the Neptune Gro. My chaeto grows very nicely and fast but it is not competing with turf algae I got in my display and now I got more turf/bubble algae growing in the sump. Getting ahold of this is stressful lol.

Give it time nothing in this hobby happens fast. Do your manual removal, cleaner crew, good parameters, etc... give it a few months to turn around. I had a GHA jungle and was able to defeat it and never put harsh chemicals in the tank at all for it. Clean the nuisance algae out of your fuge too.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I would say refugiums are (or can be) for more than just outcompeting algae in display. In that regard though I would say the best way to have a refugium outcompete display tank algae is to help it out.... through appropriate cuc and/or manual removal from display. If you have algae, light, and nutrients in the display it probably going to stay there no matter what you do in the refugium. If an urchin comes by and eats that algae in display and recycles those nutrients then ideally your refugium algae consumes it and prevents the regrowth and spread in the display.

This right here.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I know the goal of the refugiums is to grow macro algae and let other algae grow in there versus your display, but does your grow turf algae and bubble algae like this? lol I just wish it would actually outcompete the turf growing all over my rocks .

Really, if you're using the fuge to grow algae hoping it will use the nutrients before the algae in the display can, I'd keep whatever grows BEST in the fuge. It can definitely take time for it to work, and generally works best as a way to prevent algae in the display as opposed to removing it (i.e. having it die off due to not having nutrients). Whether your fuge grows gha, bubble algae, or chaeto/caulerpa, just remember to prune it regularly to truly export the nutrients.

Edit: and what @mdb_talon said

 

[Eagle_Steve]

just remember to prune it regularly to truly export the nutrients.

And this is another very important thing. Good catch made there @Erin1971Texas

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Give it time nothing in this hobby happens fast. Do your manual removal, cleaner crew, good parameters, etc... give it a few months to turn around. I had a GHA jungle and was able to defeat it and never put harsh chemicals in the tank at all for it. Clean the nuisance algae out of your fuge too.

Nuisance algae often grows best, so removing it from the fuge is counterproductive.
Why do you think so many people use ATS?

 

[Dan_P]

I know the goal of the refugiums is to grow macro algae and let other algae grow in there versus your display, but does your grow turf algae and bubble algae like this? lol I just wish it would actually outcompete the turf growing all over my rocks .

Snails not refugiums get rid of algae in the display tank.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Nuisance algae often grows best, so removing it from the fuge is counterproductive.
Why do you think so many people use ATS?

I am going to pick on you so be forewarned lol. (On a boring conf call, so just popping here and there and poking fun, feel free to poke back lol)

You remove nuisance algae so a fuge looks like this lol.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I am going to pick on you so be forewarned lol. (On a boring conf call, so just popping here and there and poking fun, feel free to poke back lol)

You remove nuisance algae so a fuge looks like this lol.

Lol! Yes, that's a good reason! Your fuge looks better than some displays I've seen recently

I know you know this, but my point was, IF the goal of the fuge is to reduce algae in the display (at optimum efficiency), then whatever grows best should probably be used.

Heck, at one point before I broke down my tank when I moved, my fuge was completely covered in cyano. Zero cyano visible in the display and other algae was very minimal. dang fuge looked like a placenta!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I am going to pick on you so be forewarned lol. (On a boring conf call, so just popping here and there and poking fun, feel free to poke back lol)

You remove nuisance algae so a fuge looks like this lol.

And, I'm not on a boring call and need to get back to work, so any further poking will likely go unanswered

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Whether your fuge grows gha, bubble algae, or chaeto/caulerpa, just remember to prune it regularly to truly export the nutrients.

Looking at the OP's video... You really should remove about 1/2 of that chaeto...

 

[h20cyclone]

I am going to pick on you so be forewarned lol. (On a boring conf call, so just popping here and there and poking fun, feel free to poke back lol)

You remove nuisance algae so a fuge looks like this lol.

Welp! 10/10 I never thought to scape in the fuge. I know what my next side project is lol.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Welp! 10/10 I never thought to scape in the fuge. I know what my next side project is lol.

While it was more to be funny and pick on a friend. I will move to a serious note.

The main nutrient export for this setup is the caulerpa prolifera behind the rocks. That section back there is about 26x13 where it grows. I trim this once a week and either mix it in with my DIY fish food or just stick it on a clip and feed the tangs. I prefer "Nutrient recycling" in this tank, as it has found a balance.

This sump is also custom built by @Joe Glass Cages and team (thanks again Joe and team). It was designed to be a display fuge, but also to be the main source of nutrient export. The fact that I am using one of the fastest growing macros for that nutrient export is why I prefer to keep all other algae like gha and such out of it. This was accomplished via manual removal and dove snails. There are a few hermits down there, but they would rather munch on the gracilliria than the gha lol.

When this thing was setup, I did have algae show up in the DT. This was to be expected, as most of the macro was smaller and I knew it would take time to grow. Luckily, I have a lot of tangs and herbivores. That helped a lot, but the algae in the display still had to be managed with snails and manual removal, so that the macro had access to the things it needed that the other algae was consuming. With some time, this thing took off, algae int he DT is minimal (I like to have a little, as it is part of the reef and food for the fishes) and the fuge keeps things in check. It also provides a home for a ton of micro fauna that also benefit the tank.

 

[EugeneVan]

THis is mine look like with all kinds of copepods living in there . I have to trim them every week.

 

[rsumner]

I dumped a half dozen Trochus snails in my fuge and a few crabs to solve this problem. I also make sure the amphipod population is healthy to help also.

 

[Lavey29]

Nuisance algae often grows best, so removing it from the fuge is counterproductive.
Why do you think so many people use ATS?

If your trying to have your chaeto or other macro algae be your dominant source in your fuge then obviously removing the competition makes sense. Basic common sense approach which worked perfectly in my situation so I share my knowledge and experience with those seeking to improve their fuge resource.