algae growing in sump keep??

[justinm0424]

I have a lot of bright green algae growing in my sump/fuge should I keep it or clean it off. It doesn't bother me being in the sump but just not sure if it's causing the algae in my main tank. Does the algae lower nitrates?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

well the stuff thats just like algae in the main tank wont lower nitrates. It will take them up during the day, but then at night it releases them again, so it doesnt really work. Do you have chaeto in there tho? if not, i highly suggest it. That will lower your nitrates and does NOT release them back into the water at night, so you'll see less algae in the main tank because there will be less nitrates...the chaeto will beat it out.

 

[justinm0424]

yeah I have cheato but it hasn't really grew much. So I should clean it all off??

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8270661#post8270661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
well the stuff thats just like algae in the main tank wont lower nitrates. It will take them up during the day, but then at night it releases them again, so it doesnt really work. Do you have chaeto in there tho? if not, i highly suggest it. That will lower your nitrates and does NOT release them back into the water at night, so you'll see less algae in the main tank because there will be less nitrates...the chaeto will beat it out.

algae doesnt release nitrates at night.

 

[justinm0424]

I don't have a nitrate problem or anything I'm just having a algae problem in the main tank. Does the algae in the sump cause the algae in the tank? Does everyone clean the algae out of the sump?

 

[jarhed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8275630#post8275630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinm0424
I don't have a nitrate problem or anything I'm just having a algae problem in the main tank. Does the algae in the sump cause the algae in the tank? Does everyone clean the algae out of the sump?

I use Turbo snails and an Emerald crab to keep sump algae under control.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

algae doesnt release nitrates at night.

yes it does. It releases nutrients when the lights go out (depending on type of course), and those nutrients would be nitrates and phosphates. And no, it wont release all of it, but it does release some. Thats why some types of algae may appear to fade away during the night and then come back full force during the day. This is why people run their fuges on alternate lighting schedules from the main tank (unless you got caulerpra, in which case you need it on 24/7)

 

[Tobman]

It is my understanding that refugiums are run on a reverse light cycle so that they intake CO2 and release O2 during the night (not nutrients), thereby stabilizing your systems O2 levels and pH 24 hours per day.

 

[dcombs44]

I also was understanding that the alternate lighting cycle was to stabilize pH. I would see why the chaeto wasn't growing. Maybe find a macro that will grow quickly and overcome the other algaes. I would say that spores from your sump could be pumped into the display causing part of the algae problem up top, but you need to find out where the nutrients are that are causing the problem in the first place. best of luck

 

[sir_dudeguy]

yes, the fuge also helps with pH too.