What algae is this growing in my Refugium

[EakTheFreak]

Does anyone know what type of algae this is? It has bubbles in it and is on my glass in the refugium?

I have Chaeto & Caulerpa both that are sort of growing.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Parameters below:
131 Gallon DT
40 gallon sump
Salinity - 1.025
PH - 8.00 - 8.10
KH - 9.0 dkh
Phosphate - 0.04 - 0.10
Nitrate - 15 ppm
Calcium - 400
Magnesium - 1300

 

[Dan_P]

Looks like dinoflagellates. These type of things grew in my sump when my macro algae wasn’t doing well or dying back.

One of many possibilities is that the algae is stressed because the amount of light is too high or on too long for the amount of availble nitrogen, i.e., the nitrogen level is too low. As a result the algae dumps organic carbon to the water because it cannot use the fixed carbon it generates and it cannot turn off photosynthesis.

 

[EakTheFreak]

Looks like dinoflagellates. These type of things grew in my sump when my macro algae wasn’t doing well or dying back.

One of many possibilities is that the algae is stressed because the amount of light is too high or on too long for the amount of availble nitrogen, i.e., the nitrogen level is too low. As a result the algae dumps organic carbon to the water because it cannot use the fixed carbon it generates and it cannot turn off photosynthesis.

Thanks for the reply. How would I go about fixing this? Phosphates & Nitrates at good level. The photo period for refugium light is opposite the display tank.

Let me know if you have any good suggestions!

 

[Dan_P]

Thanks for the reply. How would I go about fixing this? Phosphates & Nitrates at good level. The photo period for refugium light is opposite the display tank.

Let me know if you have any good suggestions!

Now that you mentioned nitrate and phosphate levels, I went back and looked at your levels. I would not say the algae is starved. I still wonder about the light intensity being too high. you could try moving the ligt fixture further away or shading the light.

On a separate subject, how is the water flow in the refugium? Mine started to resemble yours when there wasn’t vigorous flow around the plants. Algae needs flow or it will suffer.

 

[EakTheFreak]

Now that you mentioned nitrate and phosphate levels, I went back and looked at your levels. I would not say the algae is starved. I still wonder about the light intensity being too high. you could try moving the ligt fixture further away or shading the light.

On a separate subject, how is the water flow in the refugium? Mine started to resemble yours when there wasn’t vigorous flow around the plants. Algae needs flow or it will suffer.

It’s part of the sump in my Waterbox 170.4/5. It’s not good flow at all. Any pumps you would recommend for it?

 

[Dan_P]

It’s part of the sump in my Waterbox 170.4/5. It’s not good flow at all. Any pumps you would recommend for it?

Sorry, I have no ideas.

 

[EakTheFreak]

#ReefSquad any ideas?

 

[Marc2952]

#ReefSquad any ideas?

Stick a cheap and small powerhead there heard that helps.

 

[EakTheFreak]

@Marc2952 You thinking something like this?
SUNSUN Aquarium Submersible Water Pump (106 GPH)

 

[Marc2952]

@Marc2952 You thinking something like this?
SUNSUN Aquarium Submersible Water Pump (106 GPH)

Thats fine although a powerhead like the cheap SUNSUN or a hydor koralia could work well too.

 

[Miller535]

Thats fine although a powerhead like the cheap SUNSUN or a hydor koralia could work well too.

I would go with a powerhead, as it would be directional more then the pump you are looking at. Maybe even like a cheap Jaebo that has a speed controller on it so you can dial in the flow.

 

[Mhart032]

A cheap nano koraiia would be good, you have a kessil h380 over it?

 

[jeffchapok]

I use one of these, works great.

 

[EakTheFreak]

A cheap nano koraiia would be good, you have a kessil h380 over it?

I have the Kessil H80 over it

 

[Crustaceon]

Manually remove it until the other algae can get a better foothold to outcompete it.