Keep Macro Algae IN sump, OUT of Display

[cjpitt80]

Hi,
How do you guys keep your algae IN the fuge and OUT of the display? I have chaeto, red ogo, and sea lettuce in the sump. I'm trying to keep the little pieces from getting to the return and into the display tank. Right now I have them in those plastic containers strawberries come in and I have a coarse filter pad on top of the baffles to try and catch most of the strands. I figure because it's so coarse, it won't be much of a nutrient factory, as I can rinse it off weekly. What do most of you guys do to keep your display looking pretty and not a bunch of algae strands in it?

Thanks

 

[Whiskylen]

I have a course foam block in the baffle before my return chamber. It catches everything big and is course enough to not really clog with detritus.


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[mcgyvr]

In the past I've used "plastic canvas" or "knitting mesh" sold at the Fabric/Craft stores..
Same stuff people were using for turf scrubber screens.. In general your algae should stay large enough that its never a problem..

And forget you every heard the term "nutrient factory".. Its silly nonsense..
Clogging is one thing.. Thinking it increases nutrients is just incorrect..

 

[cjpitt80]

In the past I've used "plastic canvas" or "knitting mesh" sold at the Fabric/Craft stores..
Same stuff people were using for turf scrubber screens.. In general your algae should stay large enough that its never a problem..

And forget you every heard the term "nutrient factory".. Its silly nonsense..
Clogging is one thing.. Thinking it increases nutrients is just incorrect..

Thanks guys. I figured as much, especially with the coarse filter, but hey I'm still new. I see that many people don't use filter socks for that reason. Personally, I like having some kinda mechanical filtration, just to get out the big stuff and keep the display nice and pretty. The chaeto so far stays in a ball for the most part, but there are a few loose strands that get away. Is it okay to keep the algae like I have it? There's definitely flow going thru as I can see the little bubbles in the container. The algae isn't "floating" or "tumbling" in the fuge, if that matters.