Fine Tuning Algae Growth

[Eric45]

I just noticed that I had very little flow going from the gfo reactor into the sump and my PO has risen to .04 - .06. I turned the flow up and this morning the PO measured .02.

My question is: can you actually use your flow adjustment valve on the gfo reactor to control how much or how little algae you grow?

(all other parameters being correct)

 

[Eric45]

couple of clarifications: 1) first noticed it two days ago; 2) hair and regular algae became noticable which is why I noticed the valve being mostly closed.

 

[brandon429]

no it can't be timed there are too many other confounding variables. Its good to aim for a range we know is restrictive to growth but still allows enough nutrients in the system not to bleach corals.

The algae can continue growing for a while even after you reset the previous condition is one reason, and there are a few others too. Another one being changes in lighting spectrum. I can put in my 6000 kelvin metal halide over anyone's ulns and grow algae regardless of their nutrients so its factors like these that will influence and change growth, the best you can do is be consistent and make adjustments as your bioload changes etc.

 

[brandon429]

I do think you can affect the algae rates clearly by your outflow amounts, I just predict a long term ability to keep a given amount of algae alive but not thriving is more luck than planning. I know some people who have the ideal outflow and po4 rates and still have algae. they then migrate over to our nano reef thread for other algae cures lol glad your system works.