What is the best algae for refugium

[DaddyO NJ]

I am adding a refugium to my 8 yr old mixed reef tank. What is the best algae to use?

 

[Malifry97]

I’d say Chaeto. Because it’s fairly easy and grows great. Also it’s great at its job.

 

[splitting_lanes]

Chaeto is easy to control. Carlupa can spread a little too easy....

 

[Murica]

Love gha in the Fuge as long as it’s controlled. I’ve had some really good luck with it compared to chaeto

 

[splitting_lanes]

Love gha in the Fuge as long as it’s controlled. I’ve had some really good luck with it compared to chaeto

I have some mixed in with my chaeto and stuck on the wall of the refugium, guess it’s a benefit and not a pest? Lol.

 

[Mr Fishface]

I've never had much success with chaeto but caulerpa prolifera is doing really well in my refugium.

 

[Murica]

I have some mixed in with my chaeto and stuck on the wall of the refugium, guess it’s a benefit and not a pest? Lol.

If you make your own algae reactor.. which you can do for less than twenty dollars, you can get the gha to grow mostly on that. As long as it’s not in the display, it’s not a pest lol

 

[madweazl]

Caulerpas are hands down the best; I dont even know how chaeto came to be. On top of growth rate, they're actually attractive.

 

[DaddyO NJ]

thanks everyone. I am looking at the Algae Barn site and see the chaeto, but not the other one. Does it hobby a different name? Also, do I need their starter kit or just a waste of $?

 

[splitting_lanes]

Basically it’s a salt water weed, ive Never used any starter kit or anything, just get a hunk from your LFS. The caulerpas, at least what I used to get, is now illegal to sell in the Bay Area because it’s invasive. Don’t know about other areas though, and you can probably find someone selling it in the for sale forum.

 

[symon_say]

Chaeto es the more balanced algae to grow, it might not be the most efficient, but I can do a great work, is easy to harvest and easy to control.

 

[S2G]

Chaeto is the easiest to setup and maintain imo.

 

[Sump Crab]

Whatever grows best for you IMO. I have had tanks that chaeto was the clear winner and choked out caulerpa. In my current tank caulerpa and GHA are the kings of my refugium.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Typically Chaeto, but if properly set up, Mangroves Or macroalgaes.

 

[lapin]

One that will grow in your fuge and not sptead to the rest of your system. Ones that die are not the best. I would not get carried away with trying to keep it alive. The goal here is to reduce nutrients and grow coral.