Need help understand how microalgae helps control nuisance algae

[rowenaad]

Hi, I need some help to understand the relationship here. I just cant work my head around it.

If I understand correctly, macroalgae helps remove "excessive" nutrients and competes with nuisance algae for nutrient. Thus it controls the growth of nuisance algae. Since the recommended level of NO3 is 5-10 ppm and PO4 is 0.03-0.05ppm, "excessive" nutrients should be the amount beyond that. But thats a lot of nutrient and I dont understand how this can be a competition as nuisance algae can just use up the 5ppm NO3 and 0.03ppm PO4 and leave the tank with 0 nutrient. Any I missing something here?

The reason why this came up to me is I'm currently experiencing a diatoms bloom started at 3 weeks mark. It used all my 0.05 ppm of PO4 and brought my NO3 down from 7.1 to 4.1 in 4 days. After I fed heavily with frozen food trying to bring PO4 back up, it went up to 0.06 in 2 days but NO3 is exhausted at a dead 0.

I started to see green spots on LR and I think that means diatoms will fade out soon? But should I add macroalgae to my tank and hope to reduce that green algae or it will make my situation worth even if I feed more pellets and add phosguard and end up with 0 nutrient?

 

[vetteguy53081]

It absorbs nitrates which fuel and support algae as well as a small trace of phosphate

 

[sixty_reefer]

Have you got a pic? It doesn’t sound like diatoms, most algae will prefer ammonia over nitrate.

 

[rowenaad]

Have you got a pic? It doesn’t sound like diatoms, most algae will prefer ammonia over nitrate.

Diatom? Dino?

Hi my tank is ~3 wks old, and recently seeing growth of these brown stuff. Small patches has showed up a few days after i had turned on the light (which is about a week ago) and i think its growing a lot faster these 2 days. I would like to think its diatoms cuz my params are Salinity: 1.025...

www.reef2reef.com

this is when it started out and looks a lot worth now but im sure its diatoms. My trochus snail has been having a feast as well as my clownfish had some snack out of it.

 

[rowenaad]

It absorbs nitrates which fuel and support algae as well as a small trace of phosphate

I understand that. I guess my question is more around why nuisance algae is not using up all the nitrate/phosphates left by the macro

 

[sixty_reefer]

Diatom? Dino?

Hi my tank is ~3 wks old, and recently seeing growth of these brown stuff. Small patches has showed up a few days after i had turned on the light (which is about a week ago) and i think its growing a lot faster these 2 days. I would like to think its diatoms cuz my params are Salinity: 1.025...

www.reef2reef.com

this is when it started out and looks a lot worth now but im sure its diatoms. My trochus snail has been having a feast as well as my clownfish had some snack out of it.

Yes it is diatoms, you shouldn’t add the coral, and I would advise to not add any more until the diatoms are gone and the tank is stable, could take more than a month In some cases. There’s no reason to start worrying about algae that doesn’t exist yet.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I understand that. I guess my question is more around why nuisance algae is not using up all the nitrate/phosphates left by the macro

Because unlike macro and micro algae, they do not require nitrates for survival
The growth of algae is triggered by excess nutrients and not necessarily nitrate.
It’s the nitrogen produced that supports algae growth