Algae and Nutrients

sundog101 · Jul 14, 2016

I've been in this hobby for a few years now and feel I have a good understanding of most concepts. However, I will admit that I still struggle with algae. I really don't understand it. I have to keep my nutrients extremely low to fight algae and it still shows up. With my soft and lps corals I would like to keep my levels a little higher but I can't do it. Algae just takes over. So how do tanks run at a higher nutrient level without an algae problem? Even if there is an algae scrubber or refugium, why, if there are nutrients in the water, does the algae not use them and bring them down to zero? I run an algae scrubber and have zero nitrates and phosphate and still can't seem to keep algae away. I always hear the algae will grow in the ats or fuge where conditions are best. But my tank doesn't seem to follow the rules. So, how could I raise my nutrients without causing an algae outbreak?
Thanks for the help!

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 16, 2016

Consider bolstering the bacterial element of the cycle so nutrients process better. Filter socks will help pull large pieces out so you don't have to wait for them to be processed and then sent to the skimmer. On your ats or refugium are you trimming the algae a lot. IF not you may need to look at that in terms o better efficiency by changing rate of flow or lighting spectrum or intensity to increase growth and there fore export.
Even doing that I do still have flare ups of algaes in the DT from time to time.