Nuisance algae

IDAN · Jan 17, 2019

As far as I know, 0.1 ppm of phosphate and 10 ppm of nitrate will prevent phosphate.
but isn't phosphate levels can cause nuisance algae?

Ocelaris · Jan 17, 2019

Algae can grow in very phosphate limited water. Your best bet is to get a clean up crew and tang that help. Make sure you have good nutrient export (skimmer, chaeto etc...) and keep the water changes and carbon up.

IDAN · Jan 18, 2019

Ocelaris said:
Algae can grow in very phosphate limited water. Your best bet is to get a clean up crew and tang that help. Make sure you have good nutrient export (skimmer, chaeto etc...) and keep the water changes and carbon up.

chaeto will lower the nitrate down like algae scrubber?
I am trying to keep nitrate at 10ppm

Ocelaris · Jan 18, 2019

If you have nuisance algae, you don't actually have that low of nutrients that the test is showing, it's just being taken up by the nuisance algaes before being registered by the test. Chaeto is a preferred algae for a refugium.

IDAN · Jan 18, 2019

Ocelaris said:
If you have nuisance algae, you don't actually have that low of nutrients that the test is showing, it's just being taken up by the nuisance algaes before being registered by the test. Chaeto is a preferred algae for a refugium.

Why chaeto is preferred over scrubber?

Cory · Jan 18, 2019

IDAN said:
Why chaeto is preferred over scrubber?

In a refugium not a scrubber. That said a scrubber will outperorm chaeto. I personally dont like chaeto because it grabs everything like filter floss. I really like caulerpa

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 19, 2019

IDAN said:
As far as I know, 0.1 ppm of phosphate and 10 ppm of nitrate will prevent phosphate.
but isn't phosphate levels can cause nuisance algae?

Sorry, but I do not understand what you are asking. Those levels are fine targets for a reef tank, but will also allow algae to grow.

IDAN · Jan 19, 2019

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Sorry, but I do not understand what you are asking. Those levels are fine targets for a reef tank, but will also allow algae to grow.

sorry I meant "will prevent Dino.."
My question is if scrubber\chaeto will lower your parameters (Phosphate and Nitrate) to zero and that can cause Dino algae, what is the point to have them? sound to me they can cause bigger problems dealing with Dino.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 19, 2019

Yes, those are good levels to deter dinos. FWIW, the levels themselves are certainly not harming dinos, but more likely allow other organisms to thrive that outcompete dinos for something else.