Hair algae. Good or bad in sump? Nitrate consumption...

[Japtastic]

I have a fairly new tank (6 months) and have kept Chaeto which initially grew great and tripled in sized under a Kessil H380.

This slowly but surely reduced in size until I have literally nothing left. I found out the cause was undetectable Phosphates and Iron so I have been dosing both for the last week to keep them where they should be.

The issue I have is that my Nitrates are staying at 60-80ppm.

I have 1300 litres and so water changes are very slow...and expensive.

The ideal solution would be a new, decent ball of Chaeto to start soaking the Nitrates up, but it of course could bring in disease without being QT.

I do have some other algae growing in the sump. This (hair algae?) for example, what kind is it and will it do a good a job as Chaeto for the time being to reduce Nitrates?

Thoughts, opinions and options chaps?

 

[Lasse]

Take it slow. The NO3 levels you have will not kill anything. IMO the hairy Algae will help you to take the NO3 level down a little but probably not so much as Chaeto. This type of macro algae (chaeto) often take up 40 to 80 times more pure N compared with the uptake of pure P. I do not know the uptake ratio of your hairy Algae (probably a benthic mikro Algae) A planktonic microalgae can have down to 16:1 in N/P ratio.

Take it slowly and order a new chaeto ball

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Amoo]

i believe Algae Barn has pest free Chaeto available.

 

[Japtastic]

Thanks, no pest free option in the UK as far as I know?

 

[Amoo]

Hmmmm, hey @najer I know you're a Brit. and you should be waking up soon. Got a source on some pest free Chaeto for this guy?

 

[najer]

Google macro algae for sale UK.
They had a great selection, can't remember the name, and I seem to remember it was guaranteed pest free.

 

[Amoo]

Thanks for the help Simon

 

[Japtastic]

Cheers, found a few sites but all had small print to say along the lines of nothing is 100% guarantee.

 

[Lasse]

Cheers, found a few sites but all had small print to say along the lines of nothing is 100% guarantee.

It is never 100% safe. There is always individuals that not follow the normal pattern.

Sincerely Lasse