GHA in sump

[zelie_dad]

I am running a LED grow light in the fuge section of my sump on a reverse photo period. I have a clump of chaeto in there, some PVC turnings (the lfs said it was filter floss) and a few small peices of LR. I am running Zeovit as well. My Nitrates are ~4-6 ppm and phosphates are basically 0. The GHA is all over the cheato and the filter floss and a few small cumps are on the LR. I'm glad it is in my sump and not in my tank. I'm in the process getting a cyano breakout under control, and I'm glad the GHA isn't in my DT. Should I attempt to remove the chaeto and filter floss and clean the rocks to get rid of it, or should I just leave it be?

 

[pyithar]

i would harvest both algae regularly. you want to take the nutrients out of the system.

 

[zelie_dad]

Aren't any nutrients that the algae absorbed already locked away, used the algae for biological processes?

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[Crush Coral]

I Ave found that my refugium works better with the more algae I have in it. When I get so much it causes a problem will start removing it. If you could remove the gha I would but once it is present removal is tough.

 

[Tisbe]

Yes, the algae has locked away the nutrients. The algae absorbs the nutrients as it grows, then you remove some of the algae out of the system to take the nutrients out of your system permanently. I would leave the Cheato.

I am not sure what the filter floss is you are referring to but filter floss should be changed/cleaned regularly so no algae should be able to grow. Is the PVC thing more like bio balls?

Scrubbing off the rock will make it look better for a little while but it will return unless you can reduce nutrients going into the tank or up your ability to remove them.

 

[pyithar]

Aren't any nutrients that the algae absorbed already locked away, used the algae for biological processes?

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it's the same idea as using algae scrubbers. we try to grow algae somewhere else so that nutrients are used up and algae don't grow in the display tank. but we need to harvest those algae regularly because the lower layers of algae will be blocked off light and some die offs may occur. when that happens, nutrients will be released back into the water column.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php#12

you can read about "phosphate export by organisms: macroalgae" in that link ^^.

 

[zelie_dad]

I am not sure what the filter floss is you are referring to but filter floss should be changed/cleaned regularly so no algae should be able to grow. Is the PVC thing more like bio balls?

After a google search, I found what I have. I bought a bunch from my LFS during my cycle. The owner said it would help with the cycle, because I assumed it was loaded with bacteria. He pulled it directly from one of his sumps.

http://shop.sugarcreekfishery.com/PVC-Bio-Ribbon-1-Cubic-Foot-Biological-Filter-Media-White-PVC-Bio-Ribbon-1-Cubic-Foot.htm

Like I said in my first post, I'm also using zeovit, so according to the zeovit forums, it will start to prevent the algae from going overtime as the system becomes ULN.

 

[Tisbe]

I see now. I had never heard of the PVC stuff, but it is just bio media and all that stuff typically ends up releasing nitrates. How much rock do you have? That should be your bio filter. I personally would remove the PVC if you have enough rock to handle the bio load. Do this slowly over a month or two, say a quarter of it at a time. This will allow time for the other bacteria in the rocks to increase in population. I do agree that the zeovit will knock down the algae over time, but if you have enough rock then you really do not need the PVC IMO and at some point, maybe now, it will release the nutrients back into the system. Filter socks can do the same thing which is why people bleach them to release the build up.

 

[zelie_dad]

I don't have ton of rock in there, few pounds maybe. I think my plan moving forward is to slowly remove the pvc over a month or so, and increase the amount of lr at the same timr.

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[PatW]

I had green hair algae and chaeto in my sump. I reduced the light power. I also cleaned the sump. The chaeto is growing fine but I now have little or no green hair algae. I prefer just the chaeto because it does not get all of ver everything and is easier to harvest.

 

[Tisbe]

I don't have ton of rock in there, few pounds maybe. I think my plan moving forward is to slowly remove the pvc over a month or so, and increase the amount of lr at the same timr.

That is exactly what I would do. It sounds like you are on the right track and doing the things that will get you a beautiful mature tank with time.