Macroalgae Effectiveness?

[dcel22]

I've never used macroalgae so I am curious how effective it can be.

 

I realize water chemistry and lighting are factors.

 

If you were to have good water chemistry, low phosphates, low nitrates, and not too much lighting do you think nuisance algae would grow on glass that isn't cleaned? (Given that you also have macroalgae with a reverse photo period).

[flypenfly]

Yes, you will still have a bit.

[Kailua-Kona]

I think this is my first post here. Hi there!

 

My reef tank was trending up past 10ppm Nitrates and I was considering having to do a 30% water change every two weeks. I have 2 clowns, 3 chromis, 1 diamond goby. I feed twice a day, all the fish can eat for 1.5 minutes each time. I have a 34gallon tank with a 20gallon sump.

 

Last week I traded some Turbo Snails for a ball of Chaeto. I dropped it in my sump lit with a 5000k florescent from Home Depot running 13hrs a day opposite my tank light. My Nitrates were around 6ppm after a 15gallon water change. Two days later they were 2.5ppm. 5 days later they were 0.5ppm. A week later I had 0 Nitrates in my tank!

 

Chaeto is great stuff! I will say some Chaeto may be better than others. The first time I tried to run Chaeto in my sump it died. I don't know why. I almost didn't try it again, but I'm glad I did.

[Subsea]

I also give two thumbs up for effectiveness of algae filtration. Even when you can't measure it with most hobby test kits, both micro algae and macro algae will continue to uptake nutrients. Many fast growing Caulerpa will be dying on one part while the rest is growing faster. I always include grazers of this ebb and flow. Both mollies and tangs graze on this rich source of fresh produce. This is nutrient recycling at its best.

Patrick