What is this algea?

[sergifed91]

This is In my sump? Don't know what exactly what it is.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is In my sump? Don't know what exactly what it is.

This is not algae but rather Chaeto used for nitrate removal and used in refugiums. You will have to pull, pull and keep pulling by hand until it has been fully removed. You can add it to sump

 

[sergifed91]

This is not algae but rather Chaeto used for nitrate removal and used in refugiums. You will have to pull, pull and keep pulling by hand until it has been fully removed. You can add it to sump

I'm referring to the red stuff.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm referring to the red stuff.

cyano. You have to scrape or shave off and siphon. Often caused by elevated phosphates and even nitrates, skimmer overflowing

 

[Dan_P]

This is In my sump? Don't know what exactly what it is.

When macroalgae becomes crowded it becomes stressed and cyanobacteria can start to grow. You can net out the cyanobacteria rafts if you wish but more importantly thin out the macro algae now and on a regular basis.

By the way vigorous macro algae growth can deplete trace metals. Are you dosing any? How are the nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[Lavey29]

When macroalgae becomes crowded it becomes stressed and cyanobacteria can start to grow. You can net out the cyanobacteria rafts if you wish but more importantly thin out the macro algae now and on a regular basis.

By the way vigorous macro algae growth can deplete trace metals. Are you dosing any? How are the nitrate and phosphate levels?

Since we can't routinely test for trace elements, how often should one be dosing for trace like chaeto gro?

 

[Dan_P]

Since we can't routinely test for trace elements, how often should one be dosing for trace like chaeto gro?

Oh boy, that‘s the $60,000 question in the hobby. Here was my experience.

My Ulva was growing very aggressively and then started to decline. So, I guessed that trace elements were needed since nitrate and phosphate were plentiful. I started with the recommended daily dose of Chaeto Gro and ended up making my snails sick. I stopped dosing completely until the snails recovered. I then guessed that one daily dose per week might be safe. It was, and Ulva continues to double in size every week and the snails are healthy.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[Lavey29]

Oh boy, that‘s the $60,000 question in the hobby. Here was my experience.

My Ulva was growing very aggressively and then started to decline. So, I guessed that trace elements were needed since nitrate and phosphate were plentiful. I started with the recommended daily dose of Chaeto Gro and ended up making my snails sick. I stopped dosing completely until the snails recovered. I then guessed that one daily dose per week might be safe. It was, and Ulva continues to double in size every week and the snails are healthy.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Interesting, I've lost a few small snails recently and perhaps it is related to chaeto gro I dose twice a week.

 

[Dan_P]

Interesting, I've lost a few small snails recently and perhaps it is related to chaeto gro I dose twice a week.

Maybe. Could the snails have starved?

 

[Lavey29]

Maybe. Could the snails have starved?

Nah, one thing I'm really good at is inverts for some reason.