Fuge Alge Question

[Mdwannabe]

Since down-sizing the fuge/sump (in the basement due to a tank leak), fuge area algae growth is out of control. Green on the fuge area walls, slime on macro (as well as return piping) in the fuge area. No problem in the display or inlet/outlet of sump, but with the 75 gallon fuge/sump never had this happen. I could always see into the fuge with no problems.
Fuge light cycle is 12 hours (opposite of display) with 2-19 watt "TCP" Par 38, 5100K bulbs.
I can clean the fuge walls in the morning, and you can't see through the green algae growth by the next morning.
Again, no problems in display, but fudge looks bad (what you can see of it), though life in it seems happy (plenty of critters swimming around, and sand bed has bristle worms out the a**).
Any ideas, or should I just let it do it's thing?
Again, display tank looks fine and all chem param's are fine.

Just Wondering:
Rick

 

[gflat65]

Personally... I think you need a cracked 180 as a sump/fuge.

 

[TitansFan]

Yes, I think you are doing it all wrong. Maybe you just need to start over. If I have to I can keep your current setup for you. No really... Me personally I think your display is beautiful. I wouldnt change a thing. Whatever you are doing is working for you. You have the kind of tank I don't want my wife to see. "You spent all that money!! Why doesn't your tank look like his?"

-Chris
Proud card carrying member of Chris' Reef Club.

 

[Mdwannabe]

Bump, just to see if I can get a real answer

 

[Mdwannabe]

Gflat:

For the right price (read...FREE!), I just may try it, though I'll have to bring a "defib unit" home from the hospital, when Lisa sees it sitting around.

 

[luckyfish]

Could it be that the algae was always there but in the larger sump the good stuff out competed it for nutrients and now that the sump is smaller the algae has a shot at avaliable nutrients? (this theory only works if you actually decreased the amount of macro algae)

 

[Mdwannabe]

"Macro" moved 1 for 1 into smaller fuge area.
Again, nothing seem's wrong in the display tank, I'm just not used to looking into the fuge and seeing all this out of controll alge growth.
I'll keep a close eye on the display, but so far the outlet side of the sump shows no sign of alge.
PLEASE, keep input coming! Any thought's appreciated.

Rick

 

[TitansFan]

Ok sorry for not a real answer
With the smaller space are you using the same flow rate? Maybe with the smaller space the flow is exponentially increased even though you are using the same pumps. The water does not have the space to "slow" down. Is it possible the macro algae needs a longer contact time to pull out the bads?

 

[TitansFan]

sorry for the double post ..
how long was your sandbed in the fuge?
did you do a new one or move the old disturbing it?
my second guess... the sand was disturbed releasing extra baddies not normally found in your old sump thus increasing the waste seaping from the sand. Your macro algae can't keep up. The baddies are diluted in your large display so no noticeable effects there.

 

[danieljames]

Anytime you disturb a balanced, established ecosystem i think you'll see some affects man. Moving a sandbed would definately be a possibility imo. It should balance itself out shortly. With your daily cleaning, I bet your getting an increase of phyto in your main. That would be a positive. I don't see anything but positive (save for the coating on your macro). You might even get a small increase of small fanworms in your main. That would be cool.

 

[Mdwannabe]

New sand bed, same pumps, same lights, same light cycle.

 

[danieljames]

New sandbed? Well there ya go.