Refugium overrun with algae!! Help!

[bunzaroo]

i just setup a refugium about t1 month ago. The tank had been running for one year with just a sump and skimmer. i decided to add a refugium to grow pods and add some chaeto. One month later my refugium is overun with hair algae and red slime algae. I have (2) 13 watt pc's thata run 12 hrs reverse schedule. The red slime algae is all over the chaeto, and their is also hair algae on the sides. the flow through the refugium is kind of slow. The display tank itself is ok. My water parameters are:

o- ammonia
o- nitrite
15 - nitrates
phospates undetectable

I do not overfeed, any ideas, what should I do.

 

[ellevan11]

Red slime may be from the slow flow, food and fish waste that accumulates there may be the issue. I keep a couple hermits and snails in my fuge to keep the top layer of sand churned. Depending on the light spectrum in the fuge, that could also play a roll.

 

[ludnix]

I would leave it alone. You're refugium is meant to grow algae so all is well. Just keep harvesting what you need to and there shouldn't be an issue.

 

[lecher]

I agree with ludnix. Thats the point of a fuge. Eventually the chaeto should out compete the hair.

 

[jimmy n]

Agree with above. Your refuge should be set up to harvest, so harvest. If you do it on a regular basis, your nitrates will zero out.

My refugium is a 70 gallon stock tank with a 10k ushio 250 Watt DE bulb for lighting. I keep a clam, several pounds of rock and a chaeto ball. I harvest whatever I can at each water change.

JME